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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 Cheap Jerseys . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. 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Rob Howley has urged an expectant Welsh public to give teenage sensation Keelan Giles time and space as he prepares for a potential Test match debut.The 18-year-old Ospreys wings blistering pace and dazzling footwork have already drawn comparisons with Wales record international try-scorer Shane Williams.And a Principality Stadium crowd of more than 70,000 could see what all the fuss is about on Saturday after Giles was named among Wales replacements for their autumn series clash against Japan.Wales Under-20 international Giles has scored eight tries in five games this season, earning rave reviews as a rare talent who could have a long Test career ahead of him. If he is capped this weekend, Giles will become Wales 11th youngest senior international.When asked on Thursday what the Welsh public should expect from Giles, Wales interim head coach Howley adopted a cautious stance.Give him time, he said. Dont give him as many headlines as he has had over the last couple of weeks. The Ospreys and (head coach) Steve Tandy have been particularly impressive in how they have developed a young talent.It is important we continue that on the international scene. Hopefully, he will have an opportunity to come on on the wing in an experienced back three, so he can enjoy his first touch of the ball in international rugby.Howley has made 10 changes to the starting XV following last weekends solid 24-20 victory over Argentina. The switches include a recall for centre Jamie Roberts, who was dropped to the bench against the Pumas, and opportunities for the likes of Cardiff Blues half-backs Gareth Anscombe and Lloyd Williams, Ospreys prop Nicky Smith and Newport Gwent Dragons lock Cory Hill.Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, swap positions with Williams moving to full-back and Halfpenny on the wing, with flanker Sam Warburton captaining the team.Halfpenny makes his first Wales start as a wing since the 2011 World Cup, and Robertss is reunited with midfield partner Jonathan Davies for a 46th time.ddddddddddddAmong those players not involved in the matchday 23 as Wales build towards next weeks Cardiff appointment with South Africa are established internationals such as wing George North, fly-half Dan Biggar, prop Gethin Jenkins and lock Luke Charteris.Elsewhere in the team, Anscombe wins his ninth cap, but it will be a first start at fly-half, and Hill makes a full Test debut after going on as a replacement against Australia 12 days ago, when Wales were crushed 32-8.It is an opportunity for some of the players to put their hands up after a disappointing performance against Australia, Howley added. There is also a chance to blood some new players with experienced players around them like Cory Hill alongside Alun Wyn Jones, James King alongside Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton, and Keelan and Sam (Davies) coming on in an experienced back line.We are playing Liam in his preferred 15 role. I feel it is the best three to play in the back three against Japan. It is as simple as that. It is about seeing the combination of Leigh and Liam playing together.George (North) has played the last two games and, as I have said, it is important we give everyone an opportunity to put their hand up for next week.Wales include three starting line-up survivors from the side beaten by Japan in Tokyo three years ago - Liam Williams, Lloyd Williams and back-row forward James King - but the countries four previous Cardiff encounters saw Wales post a total of 289 points.They (Japan) had a really good win against Georgia last weekend (28-22 in Tbilisi), Howley said. The tries they scored in that game sums up Japan over the last couple of years. They play a high-octane game. They are a great counter-attacking side, and we have to be on our mettle. ' ' '