We’re backing Nick and Sophie for SPOTY — are you?

The H&H team is backing both Nick Skelton and Sophie Christiansen in the race to be voted this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year and we’re asking you all to show your support — and tell your friends and family, too!

With less than a week to go until the big event in Birmingham, at 6.40pm on Sunday 18 December, it’s time to help spread the word about these two worthy nominees and get behind our heroic equestrians.

For Nick Skelton fans, we want you to print out this mask of the great man himself (you can download a printable version here) and share your pictures on social media using the hashtag #skeltonSPOTY and we’ll retweet some of our favourites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There will of course be an extra special mention for anyone who manages to get a mask #skelfie with the real life version at Olympia!

And to support Sophie, we’ve created this picture of her doing what she does best, which you can download here, and again, get sharing it, using the hashtag #Sophie4SPOTY.

We’ve kicked things off with this team portrait (we’re not quite sure what the collective noun is for a large group of Nick Skeltons?) here at Horse & Hound HQ.

So now it’s over to you — get your friends involved, rope in your children and of course, your horse deserves to be in on the picture, too. So send us your pics and voice your support all over social media!

Nick and Sophie are among 16 sportsmen shortlisted for the annual award, alongside the likes of Mo Farah, Matt Whitlock and Alistair Brownlee, with Andy Murray currently the short-priced favourite. We at H&H are proud to back both our heroes.

Nick, who at 58 is bidding to become the first showjumper to win SPOTY since David Broome in 1960, was crowned Olympic champion in Rio on Big Star, while Sophie added to her Paralympic haul in Rio, taking her tally of gold medals to eight.

Related articles:

• SPOTY — how you can support the equestrian nominees
• Nick Skelton ‘amazed’ by calls for him to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• Britain remains on top of the Paralympic world

Of course, we want you all to vote on the night, too — details of how to register for voting online can be found here and details for voting by phone will be given on the night.

BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be broadcast live on BBC One at 6.40pm on Sunday 18 December.

Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.