Tony McCoy

Couldn't let the announcement that he is retiring at the end of this season pass without a comment.

He never seems the easiest person to get along with even though he is humble and friendlyenough but one must take your hat off to, in my very humble opinion, the best sportsperson we have produced, year on year, for the last 20 years.

To be champion jockey for 20 consecutive years in a sport where death, paralysis or serious injury are all too familiar and where you are followed by ambulances every time you race, to bounce back after those injuries (and he's had a few) and still find the drive and willpower to win takes some doing. I've seen footage of his gruelling rehabilitation regimes and I was left astounded by his courage. I would love to see how the namby pamby footballers would have responded to the injuries these jockeys suffer and often ignore.

I know horse racing, particularly jump racing is not every ones cup of tea, but this still shouldn't detract from one man's courage, drive and skill to stay at the very top of his profession for 20 years.

Mind you I don't know what he'll do after he's finished. I do feel sorry for his wife.