BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014 Nominees Prediction: Bale, McIlroy and Hamilton Lead Shortlist

The BBC will announce the 10 contenders for the prestigious sports personality of the year award tonight (24 November) following another successful year for British sport.

The Ashes and the football World Cup may have grabbed the majority of our attention in 2014, but it was elsewhere where Britain excelled on the global stage.

From the Commonwealth Games to the Women's Rugby World Cup, and the Ryder Cup to the Winter Olympics, Britain were again at the forefront of sporting achievement.

Looking for some value ahead of the announcement tonight? Look no further than my 10 nominees for this year's prestigious award.

Gareth Bale - Odds: 20/1

Having taken the plunge in joining Real Madrid last summer, the Welsh wing wizard has flourished in his first year at his boyhood club. Scoring in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively, Bale has also been influential in Wales' unbeaten start to Euro 2016 qualifying. He will be hoping to follow in Ryan Giggs' footsteps and become the latest footballer to claim the award.

Fran Halsall - 200/1

As British swimming enjoyed a renaissance in the summer, Halsall acted as the standard bearer. The 24 year old left the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as the 50m freestyle and butterfly champion, while in British colours she won both titles again at the European Championships in Berlin, as well as the 4x100m mixed medley, to cap a remarkable 2014.

Lewis Hamilton - 5/2

Hamilton prevailed in perhaps the most documented sporting rivalry of the year over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in winning a second world drivers' championship after collecting an 11<sup>th race win of the season in Abu Dhabi. Having eclipsed Nigel Mansell as the British driver with the most Formula 1 race wins, a period of dominance awaits.

Jenny Jones - 100/1

For years forced to live in the shadow of the Olympics as the queen of slopestyle at the X Games, Jones was given her chance at the age of 33 to make up for lost time in Sochi, and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. In winning bronze, she claimed Britain's first ever medal on snow in Winter Olympic history and with it is likely to provide a genuine legacy.

Rory McIlroy - 1/5

Despite breaking up with fiancée Caroline Wozniacki in May, 2014 will be remembered fondly by the Northern Irish golfer. The split set in motion a phenomenal run of results that included victory at the Open Championship and the USPGA Championship, as well as a crucial contribution as Europe retained the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. The world No.1 was also the dominant player on the European Tour, winning the Road to Dubai crown and is the overwhelming favourite for another annual prize.

Jo Pavey - 33/1

At the age of 40, and less than a year after giving birth to her second child, Pavey won 10,000m gold at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich. Less than a month before her 41<sup>st birthday, Pavey – for so long the bridesmaid on the world stage – became the oldest female gold medallist in the championships' history. After having her National Lottery funding cut, Pavey's fight against adversity continues ahead of Rio 2016.

Adam Peaty - N/A

If the 2014 turns out to be the making of future British Olympic champions, then no athlete emerged better prepared for Rio than swimmer Adam Peaty. Two golds at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow were added to with four titles at the European Championships, including a world record in the 50m breaststroke.

Greg Rutherford - 100/1

One third of London 2012's "Super Saturday" left no stone unturned this year. Long jumper Rutherford first equalled Chris Tomlinson's British record of 8.31m in San Diego before a gold rush in the summer saw him add Commonwealth and European titles to his Olympic gold two years previous. A favourite among fans, a world title in Beijing next year separates him from sporting immortality.

Claudia Fragapane - 33/1

After an injury-ridden 2013, Fragapane showed the world her potential in his first full year of competition by dominating gymnastics in Glasgow. In winning titles in the team, all-around, vault and floor exercise events, the 17 year old became the first female England athlete to win four golds at the Commonwealth Games for 84 years. Though success didn't follow at the World Championships, a marker has been well and truly laid down.

Lizzy Yarnold – 80/1

Great Britain's dominance of the skeleton continued in Sochi as Yarnold coped with the pressure to claim the only gold of the Games for Team GB. Leading going into the final run of four, Yarnold kept her nerve to win GB's 10<sup>th gold medal in the history of the Games, following in the footsteps of landlady Amy Williams.