The multi-talented athlete, who also plays futsal, squash and golf, scooped the award with 24.75 per cent of the vote after becoming the first English woman to compete at the World Deaf Golf Championships for more than 15 years and placed 11th at the competition in the United States in July.

As well as being last year's female champion in Four Nations Golf, Cross was a runner up at this year's National Deaf Squash Championships and was a member of the winning Yorkshire team at the 2014 British Deaf Futsal Tournament.

She was presented with the award at a special ceremony, which featured video speeches from golfer Tony Jacklin, ex-sailor Robin Knox-Johnston and former rugby union player Ben Cohen, at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Footballer Jacob Willis, winner of the 2013 British Deaf Cup final and the England Deaf Football Plate Cup final with Fulham Deaf FC came a close second in the Personality of the Year award stakes after garnering 24.68 per cent of the vote, while golf and badminton star Mike Burris, who captained the British badminton team at the 2013 Deaflympics, came third with 17.37 per cent.

Gerry Hughes received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony ©Jason Steadman


"Congratulations to all the eight worthy winners and 16 shortlisted nominees from across the UK and overseas," read a statement from Deaf Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

"It is good to see this event raising the profile of deaf people playing sport including those who have been successful in mainstream sport.

"We hope our event will continue to raise a positive portrayal of deaf and hard of hearing people in sport."

Scot Gerry Hughes, the world's first deaf yachtsman to sail single-handed around the world, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Team of the Year title went to Doncaster Deaf Trust FC, while their manager Spencer Stevenson took home the Coach of the Year award.

The Young Player of the Year award went to swimmer Danielle Joyce, who won five gold, three silver and one bronze medal at the 2014 World Deaf Short Course Championships, and American football player Derrick Coleman clinched the Overseas Sport of the Year title.

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