Nottinghamshire Cricketer Graeme Swann has capped a hugely successful year by being named the BBC’s East Midlands Sports Personality of the Year 2011.

The announcement was made at the BBC East Midlands Sports Awards on Thursday evening.

Swann was awarded the honour after becoming the world’s top ranked one day bowler and helping England to become the number one team in the world.

“The last 12 months could not have gone better for me and to win the BBC East Midlands Sports Personality of the Year is the icing on the cake.”

Swann, who beat team mate Stuart Broad to the award said: “It goes to show it’s not always good looks which win.” 

“The last 12 months could not have gone better for me and to win the BBC East Midlands Sports Personality of the Year is the icing on the cake.”

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell, Captain Chris Read and Chief Executive Derek Brewer attended the event.

The awards night celebrated other major success stories from the East Midlands, over the past 12 months.
Winners on the night included Nottingham athlete Richard Whitehead who was named Disabled Sports Personality of the Year for the second time in three years. The double leg amputee made a sensational switch from marathons to sprinting this year becoming world champion and breaking the 200m world record. 

Derby’s David Brailsford was named Coach of the Year. The British Cycling Performance Director helped Mark Cavendish become the first British male to win a world road cycling championship for 46 years.
Notts County Manager Martin Allen picked up the Football Achievement Award after saving the club from relegation last season and getting them off to a great start in league one this season.

Nottingham Panthers picked up the Team of the Year Award after they won Ice Hockey’s Play-off Championship and Challenge Cup final.

Leicester cyclist Lucy Garner was named the Junior Sportsperson of the Year after becoming the world junior champion.

Derbyshire’s Maddie Thompson picked up the Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year. She was a member of the senior Great Britain Women’s wheelchair basketball team which won gold at the Paralympic World Cup and bronze at the European Championships.

18 year old Derby County defender Mark O'Brien picked up the Brian Clough Breakthrough Award after showing remarkable courage to fight back from heart surgery and become a regular in the first team.
Leicester City legend Alan Birchenall MBE received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his 40 years spent with the club and his relentless fundraising efforts.

Leicestershire’s Lee Penfold took the Judges Special Award for the second time in three years for his continued work in promoting the Special Olympics.

Whilst Derby man Steve Pateman won the BBC East Midlands Unsung Hero for his work involving children in sport in the inner city.

BBC East Midlands Sports Awards
Sports Personality of the Year – Graeme Swann
Disabled Sports Personality of the Year – Richard Whitehead
Junior Sportsperson of the Year - Lucy Garner  
Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year - Maddie Thompson  
Team of the Year – Nottingham Panthers
Coach of the Year - David Brailsford  
Football Achievement of the Year - Martin Allen
Brian Clough Award - Mark O'Brien
Lifetime Achievement Award - Alan Birchenall MBE
Judges Special award - Lee Penfold
BBC Sports Unsung Hero – Steve Pateman