Blackmore wins BBC World Sport Star award Rachael Blackmore's record-breaking achievements this year were further rewarded last night when she became the first Irish person to be named the BBC World Sport Star. The 32-year-old Tipperary rider beat off competition from household names such as Novak Djokovic, Max Verstappen, Tom Brady and sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah. She was in action at Thurles racecourse yesterday but had made the trip over for the ceremony only to be delayed in Manchester Airport from where she accepted the award. “The support has been incredible and I got such a kick out of being on that list of nominees. It’s kind of overwhelming. It’s unbelievable,” said Blackmore. She reached the world stage in April when becoming the first woman jockey to win the Aintree Grand National aboard Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead for owner JP McManus. The previous month she won six races at the Cheltenham Festival including the Champion Hurdle on the unbeaten Honeysuckle to be the leading rider at the four-day meeting. “I never even dreamt they could happen to be honest. It’s far surpassed anything I could have ever imagined. It’s just been an incredible year. “The reaction has been brilliant, obviously for me personally they are such massive things to achieve but I think when you can bring a bit of joy to other people that makes it even more special. “The reaction from everyone at home has been incredible and I feel very privileged to have had the year I’ve add." Blackmore was completing a quick hat-trick of top awards over the past few days having also won The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year and the RTE Sportsperson of the Year. US Open tennis champion Emma Raducanu capped a great year for women in sport when the teenager landed the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
