LEIGH Adams has been crowned the Swindon Advertiser's Sports Personality of the Year.
The Swindon Robins' speedway captain, currently spending the winter in his Australian homeland, received nearly half of Adver readers' votes on his way to picking up the award for the first time.
Thousands took part in the polls, which also included a Team of the Year award, a Young Sports Personality and an Unsung Hero accolade. And Adams easily took the honours in the main award, scooping 41 per cent of the votes to finish ahead of a host of top names from the local sporting scene.
Professional boxer Jamie Cox was second in the running with 30 per cent, and young amateur golfer Miles Mackman next in the poll, earning 17 per cent.
They were followed by Robins' boss Alun Rossiter (eight per cent), athlete Toby Uln (three per cent) and former Swindon Town FC boss Paul Sturrock (one per cent).
The award caps a remarkable season for Adams, 36, who is currently in his third spell with the Robins. As well as leading his side to the Elite League Grand Final, the Knock-Out Cup Final and the Craven Shield Final, the Australian also recorded yet another double-figure average on the domestic scene.
Significantly, he also had his best-ever season on the global stage, finishing behind Dane Nicki Pedersen in the Speedway Grand Prix series to be crowned the world's No. 2 rider - and will be back in 2008 to try and go one better.
The Aussie ace is currently enjoying a spell of relaxation in Australia, and speaking from a family holiday on a houseboat, he told the Swindon Advertiser: 'I'm very honoured as it's something really big.
'I had a phone call from Rosco (Rossiter) the other day to tell me, and I'm really stoked about it.
'It's pretty cool - you're up against some pretty high-profile sportsmen, so it means a lot.
'It also shows that the profile of speedway is growing, especially in Swindon.
'What we did last year was brilliant, although we ultimately didn't win anything.
'But we are determined to go one better this year.
'We were disappointed to make the finals and not get anything from them, but what the promoters have done for speedway at Swindon is so positive.
'Swindon is, without a doubt, my second home and I feel proud to say that.
'In the same way, it's a nice feeling to be captain of the Robins.
'I take that role very seriously and work very hard at it.
'Hopefully, next season we can give the supporters even more to cheer about.'
Robins' boss Alun Rossiter, who collected the award on behalf of his absent skipper, joined in the tributes.
'I know, having spoken to Leigh about it, that he thinks it is a great honour,'' he said.
'Leigh is a fantastic ambassador for Swindon. It's easy to forget that he's the No. 2 speedway rider in the world.
'When you talk about the top high-profile sporting names from this town, the likes of David Howell, Jon Lewis and Jamie Cox, Leigh is up there with them.'
