At a star-studded gala lunch at The Brewery in London, champion jump jockey McCoy was presented with his prize by SJA President Sir Michael Parkinson.

Heptathlete Jessica Ennis scooped Sportswoman of the Year for the second time in succession.

McCoy, who saw off fellow Northern Irish star and US Open golf champion Graeme McDowell as well as England cricketer Graham Swann, said: "It is a huge honour to win this fantastic award in what has been a great year for me.

"Winning the Grand National has always been my dream so to finally do it this year at the age of 36 is pretty special.

"I would like to thank everyone at the SJA for voting for me."

Ennis claimed the women's prize ahead of skeleton Winter Olympic gold medal winner Amy Williams and world champion gymnast Beth Tweddle.

She said: "I am delighted to have won this award for the second year in a row and very grateful for everyone that has supported me in what has been another fantastic year for me."

The awards, determined by a ballot among the SJA's 700-plus members, also saw Colin Montgomerie receive the Team of the Year prize on behalf of Europe's Ryder Cup-winning golfers, teenage weightlifter Zoe Smith, a Commonwealth Games medallist, receive the prize for Outstanding International Newcomer and Emma Pooley, winner of the individual time trial at cycling's world championships, getting the SJA Committee Award.

Montgomerie was also personally honoured with the SJA's J L Manning award for an outstanding contribution to sport.

Tickets for Troops was the event's nominated cause and Montgomerie received his award in a special presentation by the charity's patron, Christina Schmid, the widow of Sgt Olaf Schmid GC.

Other awards included the sponsors' UK Sport Award for fair play and inspiration, which went to Tweddle, and the award for outstanding performance of the year which went to Dai Greene, winner of the 400 metres hurdles at the year's three major athletics events, the European Championships, Delhi's Commonwealth Games and the IAAF Continental Cup.


Swimmer Fran Halsall, winner of a record five medals, including the 100m freestyle gold, at the European Championships in Budapest, received the SJA President's Trophy while the Bill McGowran Trophy, recognising the achievements of an athlete with a disability went to a Commonwealth Games champion Danielle Brown, a member of England's victorious archery team.

The award is believed to be the world's longest-established disability sport award of its kind, having first been presented in 1963.

The 2010 SJA British Sports Awards marked the end of an era, with UK Sport, supporters of the event for almost a decade, announcing their withdrawal as sponsors as a result of the Government's cuts and its new policy on marketing by its agencies.

The SJA's British Sports Journalism Awards dinner, to be staged at the same venue on March 7, 2011 will be the last SJA event to be sponsored by UK Sport.

SJA chairman Barry Newcombe expressed the association's thanks for the sponsorship and regret at its ending, saying: "Sponsors like UK Sport are hard to find in the current economic climate.

"We would like to thank Baroness Campbell, Liz Nicholl, Tim Hollingsworth and everyone in the media team at UK Sport who have worked with us over the years for their fantastic support, helping us to celebrate the achievements of British sportsmen and women.

"Everyone at the SJA hopes that, now we are getting so close to realising all the hard work that has gone in to preparing for the London Olympics, we will be seeing our friends and colleagues from UK Sport at future sports awards in 2011 and 2012."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]