BT Sports Action Woman of the Year: Jo Pavey is among an impressive array of athletes up for the award

Ten women nominated from all manner of sports

Jo Pavey soaks up the acclaim after winning gold in the 10,000m at the European Championships in Zurich last month (EPA)

The Independent on Sunday reveals the 10 nominees for this year’s BT Sport Action Woman of the Year – a title won last year by downhill mountain biker Rachel Atherton.

The list features some of the most impressive sportswomen of the year, from 41-year-old distance runner Jo Pavey to Olympic gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold.

As befits an Action Woman, Atherton spent 2014 hurtling down hills, fighting off glandular fever and only missed out on retaining her World Championship title by a gossamer-thin 0.08 seconds.

She despises days-off as a rule but will make an exception in December when her reign as the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year comes to an end and she hands over her trophy to her successor, chosen by public vote from a list of 10 spectacular sporting performances by British female athletes in 2014.

Atherton’s adventures herald a year that has produced medals, records and championships from a varied cast list including mums, plumbers and a potato farmer’s daughter.

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BT SPORT TOP 10 ACTION WOMEN

1. SHAUNA COXSEY

World Cup Bouldering Champion

The 21-year-old rock climber won her second consecutive gold medal in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup series.

2. HELEN GLOVER AND HEATHER STANNING

Team GB Rowers

The golden duo from 2012 had yet to claim a world title together but triumphed in Holland, breaking a 12-year-old world record.

3. LIZZY YARNOLD

Olympic Skeleton Gold Medalist

At 25, she became the Olympic champion in skeleton sledding at the Sochi Games.

Lizzie Yarnold with the Gold medal she won in the Women's Skeleton (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

4. JORDANNE WHILEY

Wheelchair Tennis

Jordanne made history as victory in the women’s wheelchair doubles at the US Open saw her complete a calendar Grand Slam in August.

5. CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN

World, Olympic, European, World Cup Dressage Champion

Competing in her first World Cup in 2014, she swept to victory in both classes and followed up with two near-perfect performances at the World Championships in France.

6. JO PAVEY

Team GB Athlete

Approaching 41, and 11 months on from giving birth to her second child, Pavey took European 10,000m gold – her first major title.

7. EMILY SCARRATT

World Champion Rugby Union

Three times, England had lost in the World Cup final but with 2014 came redemption; Scarratt scoring 16 of England’s 21 points against Canada.

Emily Scarratt scored 16 points as England won the World Cup (Getty)

8. FARA WILLIAMS

England Women’s Football

The midfielder became the most capped England player of all time – male or female – with 130 appearances.

9. CHARLOTTE EDWARDS

England Women’s Cricket Captain

A Wisden Cricketer of the Year and the scorer of more ODI and T20 runs than any other England player (man or woman), she led England to a back-to-back Ashes win.

Charlotte Edwards led England to back-to-back Ashes wins (Getty Images)

10. CLAUDIA FRAGAPANE

Team GB Gymnastics

At 16, she left the Commonwealth Games as British Gymnastics’ new sensation with four gold medals on her 4ft 5in frame.

Clare Balding will present the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year Awards Show to be shown on BT Sport on Tuesday, 10 December. To vote for your favourite go to www.btsport.com/actionwoman