Tony McCoy rides home Mountain Tunes to his 4,000th career winner
IT’S that time of the year again and the votes are ready set to be cast for next month’s BBCÂ Sports Personality of the Year award.
And Co Antrim jockety AP McCoy – who recently rode his 4,000th winner – is among a short list of ten who are who include athletes Mo Farah, Christine Ohuruogu and Hannah Cockroft, tennis player Andy Murray and cyclist Chris Froome.
Golfer Justin Rose, sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, jockey AP McCoy, cricketer Ian Bell and rugby union player Leigh Halfpenny also make the list.
The public will vote for their favourite on Sunday, 15 December.
Voting for the main award will be by phone and, for the first time, online during the programme, which will be presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan.
In front of an expected 12,000 crowd at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, the latest name to join an illustrious roll of honour will be announced.
With an array of candidates to choose from, an expert panel faced some difficult choices finalising the shortlist.
Ainslie helped mastermind an America’s Cup sailing victory, Bell won cricket’s Ashes with England, and there were World Championship doubles for athletes Cockroft (wheelchair racing) and Farah (5,000m and 10,000m).
Froome ruled in cycling’s Tour de France, Halfpenny starred in the British and Irish Lions’ triumphant tour of Australia and McCoy rode an unprecedented 4,000th winner.
Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s singles winner, Ohuruogu regained her world 400m title and Rose secured his maiden golf major at the US Open.
