Clarke and McIlroy star in sporting New Year Honours

LONDON: Northern Irish golf Major winners Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy were among several sportsmen named in Britain's New Years Honours List here on Saturday.

Clarke, 43, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), five months after winning the British Open while reigning US Open champion McIlroy, 22, received the Member of the Order British (MBE), the first rung on Britain's honours ladder.

McIlroy won the US Open at the Congressional course in June with a record low score of a 16-under-par 268 and his achievement in winning his first major was all the more creditable after his final round collapse while leading in the preceding US Masters.

Former Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis, 88 next month, was knighted, and so can call himself 'Sir Doug' - ridding himself perhaps for ever of the Villa fans nickname 'Deadly Doug' for his habit of sacking managers - for his charity work in the Midlands.

There were knighthoods too for London 2012 Olympic organisers Charles Allen and John Armitt.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke, whose time in charge has coincided with England's rise to the top of the world Test rankings, was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), one rank below a knighthood.

Meanwhile former Test umpire Dickie Bird who, unusually for a match official became a popular figure with fans all round the world, was advanced to an OBE, having already received the MBE.

Another Yorkshire sports star to be honoured was Sarah Stevenson, who this year won a taekwondo world championship in spite of having to cope with the death of both her parents through illness.

In rugby union, Scotland's record points and cap holder Chris Paterson, who recently announced his Test retirement, was made an MBE as was Wales flanker Martyn Williams, capped 99 times by his country.

Former dual code union and league international Bev Risman was made an OBE and current England league captain Jamie Peacock an MBE.

Nigel Mansell, a former Formula One world champion, was made CBE while the work of Adrian Newey, the engineer behind the current world champion Red Bull team, was recognised with an OBE.

Horse racing, the favourite sport of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, took its place in the latest honours list with an MBE for former trainer Peter Walwyn, who saddled Grundy to win the 1975 Epsom Derby. (AFP)