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Richard Johnson finally achieved a lifetime ambition when he was officially crowned champion jockey at Sandown on Saturday. It is almost 22 years since the popular rider secured his first winner aboard Rusty Bridge in a Hereford hunter chase and in the subsequent two decades he has firmly established himself as one of the most successful National Hunt jockeys in history.Johnson has ridden over 3,000 career winners, including a Cheltenham Gold Cup success aboard Looks Like Trouble (2000), a Queen Mother Champion Chase triumph aboard Flagship Uberalles (2002), Champion Hurdle glory aboard Rooster Booster (2003) and the World Hurdle on Anzum (1999), the biggest four races at the Cheltenham Festival. It is fair to say Johnson has come a long way since growing up on a Herefordshire farm and getting the leg-up on his first pony, Twinkle, and yet he has had to spend most of his career in the giant shadow of the greatest of them all, the recently knighted Sir Anthony McCoy.Johnsons statistics are nothing short of staggering, but they pale into insignificance when put up against 20-times champion McCoys mind-boggling figures.Having finished runner-up to the Ulsterman on no less than 15 occasions in the jockeys title race, Johnson could be forgiven for having felt like his day at the top might never come, but it is a measure of the man that rather than becoming bitter and jealous, he saw his close friend and rival - who retired last year having ridden 4,358 winners - as an example of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.I had years of great racing with AP (McCoy) and it was frustrating not to beat him, but I had a fantastic time. Apart from the fact that I didnt beat him, I wouldnt have changed a thing, said Johnson.You always want to be competitive and you want to win every day. Racing is very unique in that we do all get on very well, were friends and we get changed in the same room, but we are very competitive. Menorah, ridden by Johnson (left), clears the last fence on his way to beating Valseur Lido If youre not competitive, you wouldnt be doing it. I was always chasing AP which spurred me on and hopefully I pushed him.When I was growing up it was Peter Scudamore, followed by Richard Dunwoody. To ride against Richard Dunwoody was an honour for me and to this day I still think hes one of the best jockeys Ive ever seen. He was what I wanted to be.AP has been the role model for the last 20 years and he conducted himself so well. Its actually made me realise in the last two or three months the extras he did for the last 20 years.With his mother Susan still holding a training licence today and both his father Keith and grandfather Ivor successful amateur riders, Johnson was bred to be a jockey.After graduating from riding ponies, he started riding out for the brilliant trainer David Nicholson in the school holidays before becoming pupil after leaving school at 16. After initially riding as an amateur, Johnson turned professional in 1995 and the following year was crowned champion conditional for the one and only time.Married to Fiona Chance, daughter of dual Cheltenham Gold-Cup winning trainer Noel, he was at Sandown, where he had a final day win aboard Menorah, with his family, where he was presented with his champion jockey trophy by McCoy.Its hard to put into words, he said.This season has gone so well and Ive had so much support off the world and their wife. Every owner and trainer in England and Ireland have supported me, which has been amazing.A massive thanks go to Philip Hobbs and Henry Daly, who have been my two longest-serving trainers and have been with me through thick and thin.The Whateleys have been fantastic owners, but all the owners have been very supportive. There are owners that when I started out were at David Nicholsons and are now at Philips.Dave Roberts, my agent, has done a fantastic job for 22 years and particularly for the last 12 months. On a daily basis he makes my life so easy.My family have been very supportive, from mum and dad to my wife and three children. They are very understanding and they dont see me much, but they are the ones who let me do what I love doing and they are always there when it doesnt quite work out.Ive many fond memories. Rusty Bridge and Derring Bridge are two horses that helped me get going and it sounds soft, but its always special to ride a winner for mum, whether it was back then or now.The three stand-out horses though are Rooster Booster, Looks Like Trouble and Anzum, who was my first winner at the Cheltenham Festival and David Nicholsons last. Johnson with the champion jump jockey trophy at Sandown Park Again it sounds so corny but Ive been very spoilt with so many good horses.Winning the title is something that Ive always wanted and its going to be a very special day and bit surreal I think.It was a strange day at Sandown last year with AP finishing (retiring) and its probably going to be a bit strange this year.Its all Ive ever dreamed of.While there was a sense of relief for Johnson after finally being crowned champion, he has no intention of resting on his laurels, with the defence of his crown set to begin almost immediately.He told Racing UK: You cant sit back and think its going to happen, because its not. Youve got to go out there and ride the winners.Theres lots of young lads in the weighing room now - the likes of Aidan Coleman, Sam Twiston-Davies and Brian Hughes - and then the older ones like Noel Fehily, who has had a fantastic season.I want to be champion (again). I think the Thursday after Sandown is the first day back and if Im not in Punchestown, Ill be keen to go wherever and get stuck in again.The important thing for me is to get set off on the right foot again. Every day is important, every week is important.The big meetings are obviously very important, but for me I think the racing in July is just as important as the racing in March.Just like Johnson did for all those years, Coleman, Twiston-Davies and the rest might just have to wait their turn as the new champion, who turns 39 this July, is seemingly in no mood to give up the title he has craved for so long without an almighty fight. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Get Sky Sports Albert Abreu Jersey .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Custom Derek Jeter Jersey . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custom-ron-guidry-jersey-large-1204i.html . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Joe DiMaggio Jersey Large . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Alex Rodriguez Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts second straight win may have cost them quarterback Andrew Luck.Luck entered the concussion protocol after complaining about concussion-like symptoms following Sundays 24-17 victory over Tennessee. Coach Chuck Pagano said Monday he believes the injury concussion occurred in the fourth quarter, but couldnt cite which play Luck was injured on.The surprising news came a little more than 24 hours after Pagano told reporters the Colts had no significant injuries from the game. Indy (5-5) hosts Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving night, leaving little time for Luck to recover. If he cant play the Colts will likely go with backup Scott Tolzien, who hasnt thrown a regular-season pass since the 2013 season.Andrew and (safety) Clayton Geathers, pretty much well after we were all done with media and the locker room and things like that, both guys didnt feel right, Pagano said Monday. Both guys went in the training room and saw our docs and both were evaluated for concussions. Both are in the protocol and its up to the docs and trainers to monitor that situation, so thats where thats at.Geathers also entered the protocol after apparently getting hurt on the final defensive play of the game.Even with Luck healthy and playing pretty well this year, its been a struggle. Indy needed fourth-quarter rallies to win its first two games and had to hold off opponents comeback bids in each of the last three wins.Last year, Luck missed nine games with multiple injuries, the last seven because of a lacerated kidney. To help keep him healthy this season, the Colts reduced his workload at practice. But he has been sacked a league-high 35 times.So when Luck was not taking snaps at practice Monday, it wasnt immediately clear whether it was part of the routine or a new injury.After practice, Pagano clarified what had happened -- and the process Luuck must undergo before playing again.ddddddddddddYou have to feel better, you have to take an impact test and pass an impact test, then practice non-contact, then have another day and then take another impact test and be cleared by an independent, he said. Again, that is our trainers and docs that will handle that.The timing couldnt be worse.Indy just moved back into second place in the AFC South and got back into the playoff hunt by stringing together its first winning streak of the season. A third straight win would be a major step forward for a team that has been inconsistent all season.Now, the Colts will probably face an old nemesis, Pittsburgh (5-5), without their star quarterback.The Steelers have won three straight in the series and 13 of the last 15 since 1984, and they just snapped a four-game losing streak with a win Sunday at Cleveland.Its not the first time the Colts have faced this sort of predicament. Lucks 2015 injuries forced the Colts to rely on four additional quarterbacks to get through a season in which they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2011. And Indy won the final game after signing Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley as replacement quarterbacks the week of the game.Tolzien has two career starts, both in 2013 when he replaced injured Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He finished that season 55 of 90 with 717 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions.But the short week doesnt leave much time for Pagano to fret.He has a limited amount of exposure, but he is a pro, Pagano said. Again, if he has to roll and be the guy then he will do a great job. He prepares really well every single day.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '