Wellington won her third successive Ironman world title this year

Record-breaking triathlete and Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington has been named sportswoman of the year for 2009.

The 32-year-old from Norfolk, who took her third straight Ironman world title last month, won the Sunday Times award after four weeks of online voting.

Wellington, a long-distance triathlon specialist who set a new world record time this year, beat Jessica Ennis, Britain's world heptathlon champion.

Cyclist Victoria Pendleton came third behind Wellington and Ennis.

Sarah Storey was named disabled sportswoman of the year, and voters handed the team of the year award to England's female cricketers for a second time.

Team member Holly Colvin, 20, picked up the young sportswoman of the year award.

In 2008 that title was awarded to tennis player Laura Robson, while Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Nicole Cooke won last year's main award.

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