McCoy, a 36-year-old from Northern Ireland - also known as 'AP' - beat world darts champion Phil 'The Power' Taylor and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis to take the award, which was decided by a public vote.

McCoy polled 293,152 votes, 41.98 per cent of those cast, while Taylor got 72,095, 10.33 per cent, and Ennis 62,953, 9.03 per cent.

Amy Williams, the Olympic skeleton champion, finished a surprisingly low eighth, polling 43,056 votes.

Mark Cavendish, the Isle of Man cyclist who won five stages of this year's Tour de France, was seventh with 44,170 votes.

McCoy's Grand National triumph on Don't Push It earlier this year came on his 15th attempt at the race, and he has ridden 3,383 winners.

He has also suffered more than 700 falls and suffered numerous broken bones and injuries.

McCoy said: "This is an unbelievable feeling standing here in front of all these amazing people.

"To win this award is very surreal. My daughter Eve, who is three, was shouting at me when she knew I was going to be on television this evening.

"When I started off as a jockey I wanted to be champion jockey in my mind, and I have been lucky enough to be champion jockey for 15 years.

"But the Grand National is the biggest horse race in the world and everyone knows I had won all the other races and to finally achieve that...it was just an unbelievable day."



A teary-eyed Beckham, England's most capped outfield player, picked up the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to football.

"I'm humbled by this award," he said, shortly after a lingering standing ovation during which Beckham wiped away tears.

He again began to well up as he thanked wife Victoria - who was in tears shortly after his name was announced - and his three children.

Award presenter Sir Bobby Charlton, who coached Beckham as a child, added: "He deserves everything he gets - he's a wonderful man and an example to everyone.

"I said to the coaches when he first came to the club he was going to be something special, and he is."

Tennis star Rafael Nadal won the overseas sports personality prize - the 24-year-old won the French Open, Wimbledon and then the US Open, the last of the grand slams that the Spaniard had not won.

The Team of the Year award was won by the European Ryder Cup team for their achievement in regaining the trophy from the USA in October in such thrilling fashion at Celtic Manor.

Montgomerie was also named coach of the year for his Ryder Cup success, beating Blackpool manager Ian Holloway and England cricket coach Andy Flower to the award.

Teenage diver Tom Daley was named the BBC's young sports personality of the year for the third time. Daley became double Commonwealth Games champion in Delhi in October, winning the 10-metre individual and 10m synchro with diving partner Max Brick.

Daley later finished sixth in the main award, with 50,763 votes.

BBC Sports Personality voting results:
1. Tony McCoy 293,152 (41.98%)
2. Phil Taylor 72,095 (10.33)
3. Jessica Ennis 62,953 (9.02)
4. Lee Westwood 58,640 (8.4)
5. Graeme McDowell 52,108 (7.46)
6. Tom Daley 50,763 (7.27%)
7. Mark Cavendish 44,170 (6.33)
8. Amy Williams 43,056 (6.17)
9. Graeme Swann 13,767 (1.97)
10. David Haye 7,538 (1.08)


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December 2010: Legendary jockey named sports journalists' Sportsman of the Year