At 15:35:55 on 29.11.11, quorum wrote:
It was really disappointing to read the list of nominations for BBC Sports Personality of The Year and find that not one woman(equestrian or otherwise) had been put forward to the public vote. They had been chosen by an independent panel of experts comprising of press editors, I know I have to look very hard to find much coverage of equestrian sports! This year was particularly successful for one of the best female jockeys in the country Hayley Turner, winning two Group One races this year, showing she is every bit as good as her male counterparts, it has had the knock on effect of opening the door for more up and coming female jockeys to enter the previously male dominated world of racing. Hayley won the much deserved Inspirational Sportswoman of The Year Award. With a sixth Olympics around the corner for Mary King,who has had a very successful year too, taking the top two places at Kentucky and 3rd places at Badminton and Burghley. Mary is the model of consistencey with a highly competitive instinct She is a real sporting personality! Equestrianism is one of the few sports were women compete against the men on equal terms and usually beat them! What do you have to do to get recognised by the press, oh yeah I've forgotten... wear short skirts and grunt a lot , anyone for tennis?!

At 18:10:28 on 29.11.11, Flicka wrote:
It really p's me off too! I couldn't believe it when Gary Lineker announced the contenders on The One Show last night and there wasn't one woman in it!! Straight away I thought of Mary King-I just think it's amazing what she has achieved. We're lucky in equestrianism that we do have some really good female role models like Mary and Hayley. Who do most girls have to look up to-reality TV stars or WAGS. Being a footballer's wife is what we're supposed to aspire to rather than being a top footballer ourselves. Forget talent, hard graft and intelligence, you don't get rewarded for those-just get yourself some big tits and a trout pout-grrr!

At 11:03:33 on 30.11.11, Dazzle wrote:
I find it hard to take this sort of award seriously when the press editors who nominate are the boys from Zoo and Nuts. We all know, as a woman, you have to grow a pair and a bloody great pair to compete at top level. Listening to this topic on the radio at breakfast made me suddenly spray toast crumbs everywhere - always the lady - when the comment was made that the reason there were no woman nominated was because woman do not take part in popular sports! Tell that to the flat racing world. Did I make up that Zara won this award once? So boys, have it your way this year but with so many women tipped to land gold at next year's Olympics it might just be an all woman award next!