The Greatest British Sportspeople 170-161

170. Ian Stark (Three Day Eventing, 1980s-2000s)

In the glory days of Grandstand, there was a lot of three-day eventing, and I have to say I rather loved the versatility, the stamina and the unabashed crazy poshness of it all. Ian Stark won four Olympic silver medals over a very long period, and was clearly a stalwart amongst stalwarts.

169. Chris Froome (Cycling, 2000s)

Kenyan-South African-British he may be, but that doesn't make Chris Froome's achievements any less remarkable. The fact is, he would have achieved the impossible of being the first British winner of the Tour de France if Bradley Wiggins hadn't relegated his team mate to 2nd. Incroyable. I happen to think Wiggo was the stronger rider last year and Froome didn't per se sacrifice his chances for his team leader, but there's no doubt that Froome is the stronger this year, and his winning everything in sight. Do not be surprised if he becomes the 2nd British winner of the Tour in a couple of months time.

168. Jim Laker (Cricket, 1940s-1960s)

Immersed in cricketing lore as I have always been, the name of Jim Laker is legendary in the way that few others are. It is for one particular test match that he has gone into sporting history, though his overall record is also utterly outstanding. 19 for 90. In an Ashes test match. 9 for 37 in the first innings, 10 for 53 in the second. Utterly unparalleled - no one before or since has got more than 17 in one match. This may be cricket's greatest ever single performance, indeed it almost certainly is.

167. Richard Whitehead (Athletics, 2000s)

Although he provided one of the most indelible images of the sporting summer, Richard Whitehead's gold in the 200m was just one of a flood for Team GB across the Olympics and Paralympics, so what qualifies him for greatness? Well, the fact that he's a marathon runner, and the only distance he was allowed to compete in was the 200m - to be able to so utterly alter distance and come away with a world record was incredible, as his Marathon world record of 2 hrs 42. The fact that he has also competed at the Winter Paralympics in ice sledge hockey just adds to his standing.

166. Randolph Turpin (Boxing, 1940s-1960s)

As with my earlier entry on Floyd Honeyghan, if you beat the best, you stake your own claim to greatness, and Turpin beat the very very best, the agreed greatest boxer of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson. And he beat him in his prime. The fact Robinson won it straight back, well, so be it. Turpin never reclaimed the world crown, and died in horrible circumstances, as so many boxers seem to.

165. Henry Taylor (Swimming, 1900s-1920s)

Before Sir Chris Hoy, the only Brit to win three golds at one Olympics, and at the first London Olympics of 1908 too. My list will have a bias towards modern times, of course it will, that's because sport has just got better, so very much better. Taylor's time for the 1500m is one and a half times slower than today's equivalent - over 7 minutes, that's a lot. These really were plucky amateurs giving it a go. But he beat everyone else, and he had a long distinguished career, and so greatness it is on those terms.

164. Mike Kenny(Swimming 1970s-1980s)

16 Paralympic gold medals. 16 over the course of four Olympics. Again, some context holds him back from a higher position. The Paralympics really only got going in a big way in 1988 - in terms of aligning with the Olympics and size and scale etc.

163. Martyn Williams (Rugby union 1990s-2000s)

Three times selected for the Lions and Wales' most capped forward, Martyn Williams was one of those few rugby forwards who in the most casual, uninformed rugby fans could recognise was absolutely brilliant. When a sportsman in such an unpromising context (I kind of loathe rugby, I'm Anglo-Irish, i much prefer back play to forward play) can stop you in your tracks and make you salute him, that's a sign of greatness.

162. Barry Sheene (Motorcycle GP, 1970s-1980s)

Two time Motorcycle GP champion, the last Brit to win the championship, Sheene achieved great fame in his day when sports like this got a bit more terrestrial air time. A sport which must require total bravery and discipline, albeit not one I feel much of an emotional connection to.

161. Dario Franchitti (IndyCar, 2000s)

More motorsport, oh joy. You've probably guessed by now I'm more at ease talking about cricket. But when a Scottish guy goes to America and conquers, that is worthy of note. And he has been IndyCar champion four times, beating all the best American drivers over and over again. Don't get me wrong, it's not that IndyCar isn't spectacularly repetitive and unimaginative, like a vision of hell, but, you know, fair play.