HAMPSHIRE golfer Justin Rose and his Ryder Cup colleagues have been voted Laureus World Team of the Year.

Rose was one of seven UK golfers in the Europe and GB team that produced their 'Miracle of Medinah' comeback triumph over the United States last September.

Jessica Ennis was crowned Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year last night, marking the latest high in the period of "ups and downs" she has experienced since the London Olympics.

After savouring the glory of winning a gold medal at a home Games last summer with her triumph in the heptathlon, Ennis has been honoured in various ways, including being made a CBE.

It has not all been good news for the 27-year-old, though, with her coach Toni Minichiello losing his full-time job with UK Athletics, and confirmation that her training base in Sheffield, Don Valley Stadium, is to be demolished later this year.

Ennis has also revealed that she initially struggled for motivation in training after the Olympics, but said her drive is very much back as she looks ahead to the World Championships in Russia in August.

Speaking in Rio de Janeiro - where the 2016 Olympics will be held - yesterday prior to receiving her Laureus award at the city's Theatro Municipal, Ennis said: "There have been a few ups and downs, but you have those.

"Last year was just an incredible high, and things have happened since, but we are just trying to keep our heads down, focus and look towards the Worlds."

Regarding Don Valley Stadium, which Sheffield City Council has decided to close as a cost-cutting measure, Ennis said: "I was shocked, but at the same time it is one of those really difficult situations where all these cuts are being made, and I know Don Valley loses a hell of a lot of money each year.

"It was a great stadium, but it has not been used as much as we perhaps thought it would be.

"It is just going to be really sad to lose it because it is such an iconic stadium, and that is partly why I got involved in athletics - because I had that track there."

The council has proposed that the nearby, smaller Woodbourn Road Stadium be reopened, work Ennis has stressed needs to be done "properly".

She said: "If you see Woodbourn Road at the moment, it is in a terrible state and it needs to be done properly.

"It needs a lot of work doing to it, but if we get the funding to do it, it will be good.

"I'm looking forward to hearing more about it and seeing how it develops and what it is going to be like. I am happy to have input and offer bits of advice where I can."

Several of Ennis' fellow Britons also picked up awards at last night's Laureus ceremony, with Andy Murray claiming the World Breakthrough of the Year gong having followed up his own medal success at the Olympics - gold in the singles and silver in the mixed doubles - by winning his first grand slam title at the US Open.

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the organising committee for London 2012, received the Lifetime Achievement Award..

Among the other winners was Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, named World Sportsman of the Year for a third time after he claimed a treble of gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in London, repeating the hat-trick he pulled off at Beijing 2008.