BBC Sports Personality of the Year to honour AP McCoy
AP McCoy will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year the beeb have announced.
McCoy was Champion Jockey for every season of his 20-year professional career before finally retiring in April 2015 having ridden over 4,300 jump racing winners – including the Grand National, two Cheltenham Gold Cups, three Champion Hurdles and the Champion Chase.
“A previous Sports Personality of the Year winner and widely regarded as one of the greatest jockeys of all time, AP was the biggest superstar of racing until his retirement this year. It’s an honour to celebrate his illustrious career here in Belfast, Northern Ireland, his home nation, with the Lifetime Achievement award.” – Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport
In November this year AP McCoy joined Channel 4 Racing as one of the experts working on events such as The Open, the Hennessy Gold Cup, the William Hill King George, Cheltenham’s January Trials meeting, two days from Cheltenham Festival, the Crabbie’s Grand National and the Investec Derby. He will also take in two days from Royal Ascot, additional days from York’s Ebor Festival and will re-join for the flat season finale QIPCO British Champions Day.
McCoy was crowned Sports Personality of the Year in 2010 after winning the Grand National at his 15th attempt, which was the first time a jockey has been presented with the award. Three years, later after surpassing the milestone of 4,000 jump racing winners, McCoy claimed third place at the prestigious BBC awards ceremony.
“To be receiving the Lifetime Achievement award is a big highlight of what has been an incredible year. It’s a huge honour and I’m thrilled to be accepting it so close to home in Belfast. I’m looking forward to what will be a very special night.” – AP McCoy
The gong show will be hosted by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan in front of a crowd of 7,500 at The SSE Arena, Belfast, in what is the first time the event has been hosted in the country.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year airs o Sunday 20th December, live on BBC One, 6.50pm-9pm
