AP reigns supreme again
The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland — also known as ‘AP’ — beat darts champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and heptathlete Jessica Ennis to take the award, which was decided by a public vote.
McCoy’s Grand National triumph on Don’t Push It earlier this year came on his 15th attempt at the race, and he has ridden 3,383 winners.
He has also suffered more than 700 falls and suffered numerous broken bones and injuries during his glittering career.
Arsenal fan McCoy was presented with the award by Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas.
McCoy said: “This is an unbelievable feeling to be standing in front of so many amazing sports people — so many people who I look up to.
“To win this award is very surreal.
“I work in a wonderful sport of horse racing and I’d like to thank every one of those (people) because I know that most of the (racing) public spent most of the night voting for me.”
Graeme McDowell may have missed out on the BBC award — failing to come in the top three — but he has plenty of consolation, having been named player of the year by the Golf Writers Association of America.
McDowell became the first European in 40 years to win the US Open in June and also clinched the decisive point in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
McDowell received 87 votes to beat Jim Furyk (61) and Martin Kaymer (51).
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng was named women’s player of the year while Germany’s Bernhard Langer clinched the senior player’s award.
McDowell has already won the British Golf Writers Trophy and was joint winner of the European Tour award with Kaymer.
The Northern Irishman topped the US writers poll with 87 votes ahead of Furyk on 61 and Kaymer’s 51.
In addition to his US Open triumph at Pebble Beach, McDowell won three other titles in 2010, including a play-off victory over Tiger Woods earlier this month at the World Challenge event.
McDowell, Langer and Tseng will receive their awards in Augusta on April 6 on the eve of the Masters, the first major men’s championship of 2011.
