Sporting honours

[Wowbagger]

The programme about Gareth Edwards' 70th birthday highlighted the fact that, as an undisputed World Great, it took 30 years after Edwards retired for him to be knighted. An FB friend suggested that it will be Chris Froome's turn to be knighted after his 4th TdF win.

I had a look at people who had received knighthoods for "Services to Sport" and it brought up some interesting anomalies. Why, for example are there 10 times the number of West Indian cricketing Sirs than there are Australian ones? Why are there so many yachting knights (9) when it is such a minority sport - compared to boxing, say, in which Ennery is the only one who has been so ennobled?

A weird business, honours.

[Mr Larrington]

And sadly it is too late for John Surtees.  Shame on you, Missis Kwin (or whoever draws up the list that she signs).

[bobb]

Why, for example are there 10 times the number of West Indian cricketing Sirs than there are Australian ones?

I think it's because Australia has their own system for honouring people whereas the the countries that make up the West Indies do not.

[Psychler]

The programme about Gareth Edwards' 70th birthday highlighted the fact that, as an undisputed World Great, it took 30 years after Edwards retired for him to be knighted.

That's because his knighthood was also for services to charity, not just sport.

[Wowbagger]

The programme about Gareth Edwards' 70th birthday highlighted the fact that, as an undisputed World Great, it took 30 years after Edwards retired for him to be knighted.

That's because his knighthood was also for services to charity, not just sport.

Interesting. So was Botham's apparently. As I mentioned, some sports seem to get far more than their fair share of honours - yachting notably.