Christiansen and Richardson-Walsh come fifth and sixth in Sports Personality vote

A pair of sporting heroes from Maidenhead recorded top six finishes in the vote for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards last night.

Paralympic equestrian star Sophie Christiansen and Olympic hockey gold medallist Kate Richardson-Walsh came fifth and sixth respectively in the vote, which was won by Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.

Christiansen, who lives in Maidenhead and grew up in Sunningdale, received 37,284 votes from the public after winning three gold medals in Rio — the same amount she took home in London four years earlier.

Maidenhead-based Richardson-Walsh captained Team GB's women's hockey team to a historic gold in Rio and received 34,604 votes.

After the glittering ceremony in Birmingham, she tweeted: "You know it's been a good night when you're eating crumpets at 4:30am and @clarebalding has been added to the team what's app group! #SPOTY"

A total of 16 sports stars were up for the award, with triathlete Alistair Brownlee and showjumper Nick Skelton coming second and third.