European champion’s husband and coach Gavin Pavey also receives British Milers Club award

Jo Pavey’s achievements in 2014 have been recognised by the British Milers Club as the European champion has been named as the BMC athlete of the year.

The Devon athlete was selected for the award ahead of the likes of European and Commonwealth 800m silver medallist Lynsey Sharp, who was also nominated, with the BMC making the award announcements on the club’s Twitter feed.

It has been a momentous year for Pavey, who claimed her first major title at the age of 40 with European 10,000m gold less than a year after giving birth for the second time. That victory saw her become the oldest ever female European champion. She also battled to bronze in the Commonwealth Games 5000m, her gritty performance in Glasgow also one which will live long in the memory.

“Thank you so much for awarding me the BMC athlete of the year,” the 41-year-old said in a tweet to the British Milers Club. “You all do such a great job and I’m very grateful to the BMC.”

There was further cause for celebration in the Pavey household as Gavin Pavey – the husband and long-time coach of the long-distance star – was named BMC coach of the year. Also nominated were Andy Carter, James Thie and Phil Townsend.

“Very honoured to be named coach of the year,” he tweeted. “Thank you. BMC is crucial to the progress and success of British distance running.”

Also receiving a BMC award is England Athletics under-20 800m champion Kyle Langford who was named the BMC young athlete of the year.

The Frank Horwill award for outstanding services to the BMC went to David Cocksedge, a BMC member since 1970, while the BMC lifetime achievement award for services to coaching went to Gordon Surtees.

Full details on all of these awards will be included in the next edition of BMC News

You can vote for the athletes who have impressed you the most in 2014 via AW’s poll – vote here

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