Tony McCoy has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours in recognition of a glittering racing career in which he was crowned champion jockey for 20 consecutive years before his retirement in April.
McCoy won every major prize in his sport, including a Grand National win at the 15th attempt on Don’t Push It in 2010. The 41-year-old from Moneyglass in County Antrim, who announced in February his intention to retire at the end of the National Hunt season, rode a total of 4,358 winners.
He heads a list of high-profile sporting names to be honoured which also includes former the Manchester United forward Denis Law, who has been awarded a CBE along with John Surtees, the only man to win world championships on two and four wheels, who receives his honour for services to motor sport.
The five-times world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has been awarded an OBE, as has Chris Froome, the first Briton to win the Tour de France on two occasions.
The success of England’s women’s footballers in finishing third at the World Cup in Canada in the summer has been also recognised with MBEs for the captain Steph Houghton and her team-mate Fara Williams.
The Football Association director Heather Rabbatts – who became the FA’s first female board member in 2012 – has been made a dame for services to football and equality. Rabbatts, who has campaigned on behalf of women in sport, recently spoke out in support of the former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro in her dispute with the club.
The sports broadcasters Sue Barker and Jacqui Oatley have been awarded an OBE and an MBE respectively while Tracey Neville, the coach of England’s women’s netball team and the sister of the former England football internationals Gary and Phil, has been awarded an MBE.
