Pavey named SJA's Sportswoman of the Year

Pavey was one of a number of Team GB athletes both past and present to be recognised by the SJA at a gala ceremony, sponsored by The National Lottery and held in central London.

The mother of two made history in August by becoming the oldest female European champion with victory at the age of 40 in Zurich, just ten days after claiming bronze in the shorter 5,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Such achievements saw her take home the SJA Sportswoman of the Year award ahead of Sochi 2014 skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold and four-time Commonwealth gold medal winning gymnast Claudia Fragapane - the latter also scooping the SJA Committee Award.

In the men's category, Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford, winner of Commonwealth and European gold this summer, finished third behind golfer Rory McIlroy and F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Swimmer Adam Peaty was given the SJA Pat Besford Award for outstanding performance of the year after winning two Commonwealth titles this summer before four golds at the European Championships and most recently, three silvers at the World Short Course Championships.

The England women's rugby team, winners of the World Cup for the first time this year, were named as the SJA's Team of the Year with Great Britain rowing men's eight crew in third.

And there was also a special nod to Dame Kelly Holmes with the National Lottery handing out its own Spirit of Sport Award to the double Olympic champion for her work with her charitable foundation since retiring from the track while six-time Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy received the SJA President's Award.