And the win goes to Sir ...

[mattc]

Was thinking today  - is Wiggo unique, in starting a Grand Tour as favourite, with a title?

Not many big cycling nations have an honours system, I guess. (Do we knight Aussies?)

Sir Chris of Hoy is the other candidate - but on the track, obviously.

Any other sports had this? It seems to be that we used to give out honours to athletes in the twilight of their career, could be wrong. It must be odd:
"Oi, do your turn on the front Wiggo!"
"That's do your turn SIR Wiggo to you, sonny."

[Manotea]

Was thinking today  - is Wiggo unique, in starting a Grand Tour as favourite, with a title?

Not many big cycling nations have an honours system, I guess. (Do we knight Aussies?)

Sir Chris of Hoy is the other candidate - but on the track, obviously.

Any other sports had this? It seems to be that we used to give out honours to athletes in the twilight of their career, could be wrong. It must be odd:
"Oi, do your turn on the front Wiggo!"
"That's do your turn SIR Wiggo to you, sonny."

I get the feeling that's a line you only get to use once... before the rest of the team/peloton crucify you!

[Andrew]

(Do we knight Aussies?)

Sir Les Patterson?

[clarion]

Oppy?

[andrew_s]

(Do we knight Aussies?)

"Foreign citizens occasionally receive honorary knighthoods; they are not dubbed, and they do not use the style 'Sir'."
We used to award UK honours to Australians (eg Sir Hubert Opperman), up to 1975. After that there was a separate Australian knighthood, but Bob Hawke abolished that in 1986.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Oppy was knighted after his racing days. He went on to be a half-decent pollie.

[clarion]

Thanks.  I wasn't sure.

[Frank9755]

I'm fairly sure that New Zealanders and possibly some of the Caribbean nations still play along with this.  I recall Sir Richard Hadlee being such when still playing and Ritchie McCaw is believed to have turned one down last year.  Did Viv Richards get one...?

[V-J]

Bit of a kiss of death really wasn't it!

[bobb]

Did Viv Richards get one...?

That's Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards to you!

Also Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers...

The three Ws:
Sir Clyde Leopold Walcott
Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell
Sir Everton de Courcy Weekes

Plus a few more. What wonderful names! 

[andyoxon]

Maybe we've done this before, but IMHO, a knighthood should be awarded post career in 'retirement',  or much later on in recognition of everthing etc., etc...., not 'very soon' after a certain number of, albeit amazing, achievements.

[Manotea]

Sir Everton de Courcy Weekes

Wasn't he the one with the bear? No, that was Roger de Courcy. Still, worth a shot.

[Hillbilly]

Why is that bear doing a nazi salute?

And are his eyes that wide because his "master" has his arm in up to the elbow?  That's got to smart....

[clarion]

Why is that bear doing a nazi salute?

Good point.  That's a Crystal Palace rosette*, not a UKIP one...




* I am deeply embarrassed to remember this bizarre piece of trivia