Jockey Tony McCoy Wins Sports Personality Of The Year

Online, December 20, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The 36-year-old has been the champion jump jockey 15 times and becomes the first rider to win the BBC award after claiming 41.98% of the vote.

"To win this award is surreal," said McCoy, who won the Grand National in April at the 15th attempt.

Darts player Phil Taylor came second, while heptathlete Jessica Ennis finished in third.

Northern Irishman McCoy, who has sustained numerous injuries during his stellar career, won the Grand National at Aintree for the first time in 2010 on Don't Push It.

This is an unbelievable feeling to win this award

Jockey Tony McCoy

He has dominated his sport since he first became champion jockey in 1996, riding more than 3,000 winners, and in 2002 he beat Sir Gordon Richards' all-time record of 269 winners in a season.

"He's dominated racing like Tiger Woods has dominated golf and Roger Federer dominated tennis," said fellow jockey Ruby Walsh.

McCoy has won almost every big race in the National Hunt calendar, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and King George VI Chase.

The Sports Personality award was voted for by the public, who cast just under 700,000 votes. McCoy received 293,152, while nearest rival Taylor polled 72,095.

"This is an unbelievable feeling standing here in front of all these amazing people," added McCoy as he accepted his award.

"It's not something that anyone would be silly enough to dream about, even me.