The Greatest British Sportspeople 110-101

110. Tony Jacklin (Golf, 1960s-1980s)

 This doyen of the British golf scene won two Majors in an absolute desert of an era for European golf - he was the only British major winner in something like a 30 year period, at a time when golf was dominated by those perceived as its all time greats - Palmer, Player, Trevino, Watson and of course Jack Nicklaus. A real lone figurehead and keeper of the flame, whose role as Captain when the Ryder Cup returned to Europe after a similarly long hiatus was utterly fitting.

109. Charlotte Edwards (Cricket, 2000s)

 Captain, opening batter and figurehead for the recent all-conquering England women's team, having held the role now for 8 years.

108. Allan Wells (Athletics, 1970s-1980s)

 This splendid fellow was the 1980 100m Olympic champion, hence the fastest man in the world, surely? Well, perhaps not, as that was the year of the US boycott, thus eliminating his strongest competition. However, to be fair, Wells won a showdown with the US sprinters a few weeks later, as well as winning Olympic 200m silver - he was a formidable athlete, the last white winner of the Olympic 100m, and he's also in a Belle and Sebastian video, so an all-round icon.

107. Katherine Grainger (Rowing, 1990s-2000s)

 The nearer I get to the business end of the list, I'll make my points in more detail, which will occasionally involve some rather sniffy views on why success in some sports is worth more than success in others - but a four-time Olympic medallist and six time World champion deserves consideration, and it was very clear from the coverage of the rowing throughout the Olympics that Grainger is considered Britain's finest ever female rower.

106. Rebecca Romero (Rowing and Cycling, 2000s)

 Another rower, though Romero has the added kudos of retiring from her successful rowing career in order to become an Olympic cycling champion, in the individual pursuit - incroyable? Does one wonder if these power sports have an interchangeable set of qualities? Perhaps a little.

105. Henry Cotton (Golf, 1930s-1950s)

 Three time Open champion winner between 1934-1948 and apparently something of a dandy, Cotton died in between accepting a knighthood and it being announced in 1988. Curses!

104. Kevin Keegan (Football, 1960s-1980s)

 Has become a little bit of a comedy figure for his passion and perpetual sense of outrage, but he was the best English footballer in the decades after the World Cup win. I think my generation doesn't realise quite how good Keegan was - twice winner of the Ballon D'Or, he was just unlucky to be part of a really poor era for the England national team.

103. Nicole Cooke (Cycling, 2000s)

 Britain's first gold medallist of the 2008 Olympics in an absolutely thrilling race, Nicole Cooke managed to rise to the top remarkably often in the relative lottery of one-off road races.

102. Victoria Pendleton (Cycling, 2000s)

 The biggest star of British women's cycling, her haul of two Olympic golds doesn't really reflect the extent to which she was the best track cyclist in the world for many years. Nine World titles, however, does.

101. Tessa Sanderson (Athletics, 1970s-1990s)

 Almost as impressive as the fact she was Olympic champion in 1984 is the fact she appeared in a record six Olympic games - it takes some dedication to throw a spear for 20 years.