It’s that time of year again. The young contenders have put in fantastic performances. The voting campaigns are in full swing. Come Sunday night, millions will be glued to their TVs, eager to see which hopeful will land 2009’s big prize.

No, not the X Factor final, but the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY), which this year goes head-to-head with ITV’s popular talent contest.

Now here at Seven46, we love the manufactured drama of the X Factor – the ‘journey’, the tears, the hair!

But it’s fair to say we know which side we’ll be watching on Sunday night.

For real ambition, dedication and skill, you need look no further than this year’s 10 SPOTY nominees:

• Jenson Button (Motor Racing)
• Mark Cavendish (Cycling)
• Tom Daley (Diving)
• Jessica Ennis (Athletics)
• Ryan Giggs (Football)
• David Haye (Boxing)
• Phillips Idowu (Athletics)
• Andy Murray (Tennis)
• Andrew Strauss (Cricket)
• Beth Tweddle (Gymnastics)

As for who wins –with so many world champions on the shortlist, just take your pick!

I’ve got my money on Jessica Ennis – who yesterday claimed the Sports Journalists’ Association Sportswoman of the Year prize – to triumph in her hometown of Sheffield, where the event’s taking place this year.

But one thing’s for sure, each nominee deserves our support more than Stacey et al. Just don’t tell Simon I said so!