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7 July 2009

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Ian Botham's match-winning performance in the 1981 Ashes was yesterday (Mon)
voted Britain's Greatest Sporting Moment.
The England all-rounder famously turned the series on its head against the odds
to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat making 399 runs and taking 34 wickets.
His one-man offensive against the Aussies even beat England's 1966 World Cup
triumph over Germany at Wembley, which was second.
Jonny Wilkinson's last-ditch drop kick v Australia which clinched the 2003
rugby World Cup was third.
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean's gold medal winning show at the 1984 Winter
Olympics was fourth.
And Sir Steve Redgrave's record breaking 5th consecutive Olympic gold medal in
2000 was fifth.
Yesterday David Williams, spokesman for Ladbrokes, which polled 3,100 sports
fans, said: ''Cricket is king right now. It's clearly on people's minds and
Beefy's heroics are still fresh in the memory of many fans.
''We expected Wembley '66 to win by a distance but we hadn't accounted for
Beefy and co. Andrew Strauss could certainly do with a bit of that spirit as
his boys face up to the Aussies this week.
''With only one event making the top five coming in the past eight years it
goes to show how British fans have been starved of real sporting success.
''But if Freddie and KP inspire us to another Ashes victory it might be tiome
for Beefy to move over and hand the crown to one of the current stars.
''All the money in the past week has been from patriotic punters expecting the
boys to do well. It's going to be the biggest betting event in the history of
cricket.''
Other amazing moments which made the top 20 include Lewis Hamilton winning the
F1 World Championship in the dying seconds of the 2008 season.
And Chris Hoy gaining his third gold cycling medal in Beijing 2008 was seventh.
Kelly Holmes achieving her second gold medal at the Olympic games in Athens in
2004 also made the list, as did swimmer Rebecca Adlington's two gold medals at
the 2008 Olympics, breaking the 800m world record.
England's memorable 5-1 defeat of Germany in Munich in the World Cup Qualifier
in 2001 came in at number ten.
Manchester United's incredible comeback in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final
against Bayern Munich in Barcelona in was eleventh.
The oldest event to make the list was Roger Bannister running the mile in under
four minutes in 1954. That was voted into 12th place.
Another F1 triumph, Damon Hills' 1996 world title victory, was 13th and Lennox
Lewis's famous 2002 defeat of Mike Tyson was 14th.
Completing the top 20 was Mark Cavenish winning the Milan-Sanremo cycle race in
2009, Michael Owen's goal for England against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup
and Virginia Wade winning Wimbledon in 1977.
David Beckham scoring from the halfway line for Man Utd against Wimbledon in
1996 also featured as did Red Rum's third Grand National win in 1977
Liverpool winning the UEFA Cup to complete a set of three cups in 2001 came
20th. ENDS
Research conducted by global market research company www.onepoll.com