McCoy to keep Champions trophy

The perennial champion jump jockey’s trophy will become Tony McCoy’s personal property after he is crowned number one for the 20th and final time when he retires from the saddle at Sandown on Saturday.

McCoy to keep Champions trophy

The perennial champion jump jockey’s trophy will become Tony McCoy’s personal property after he is crowned number one for the 20th and final time when he retires from the saddle at Sandown on Saturday.

The trophy is to be decommissioned and presented to McCoy to keep permanently in acknowledgement of his number of titles and his contribution to the sport over the past two decades.

Tony McCoy has been champion jump jockey since 1995-1996.

The trophy was commissioned in 2007 and, as McCoy has held the coveted title since 1995-96, the Ulsterman is the only jockey to have ever lifted it.

The trophy lists the winners of the championship since its inception in 1900, when the amateur jockey Mr H S Sidney took the inaugural title.

Since then many notable names have claimed the trophy including jockey-turned-crime novelist Dick Francis (1953-54), Jonjo O’Neill (1977-78-79-80) and Richard Dunwoody (1992-93-94-95) who was the last rider to win the title before McCoy’s reign began.

Ruth Quinn, director of racing at the British Horseracing Authority said: “AP McCoy has won many trophies and accolades over the years, but it is his association with the champion jump jockey title in particular that has symbolised AP as a true champion.

“We therefore felt that retiring the trophy and presenting it permanently to AP would go some way to acknowledging what an outstanding career he has had and to thank him for all he has done for British racing.”

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association said: “AP has redefined what it means to be a champion.

“It is only fitting that the man who has been champion jockey for two decades gets to keep the trophy only he has ever held, in the process recognising what he has given to the sport.”

Rod Street, chief executive of Great British Racing, said: “AP’s achievements over the past 20 years are unparalleled.

“And given that he is the only jockey to have even been presented this trophy, it seems fitting that it should be retired and given to him as a thank you on behalf of British racing for his contribution to the industry.”

The trophy will be on display at Sandown inside the main entrance during racing on Saturday, when racegoers will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with it before it heads home with its rightful owner.

Next season’s champion will be awarded a new trophy, which will be commissioned and designed over the coming year ready for the presentation in April 2016 and will again carry the roll of honour from 1900.

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