Jonathan Rea: Six-time Superbike World Champion picks up Ulster Tatler Lifetime Achievement award
World Superbike star Jonathan Rea has been presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement accolade at this year’s Ulster Tatler Awards.
One of Northern Ireland’s most successful sporting stars, the east Antrim man is the youngest ever winner of the Lifetime award, at the age of just 39.
He received a standing ovation as he received the award in front of more than 400 guests at Thursday evening’s ceremony at Belfast City Hall.
He joins a growing list of local luminaries who have picked up the award in the past, including Dame Mary Peters OBE, Sir James Galway, Brian Friel, Phil Coulter, Gloria Hunniford, Michael Longley, Gerry Armstrong, Barry McGuigan, Terri Hooley, Marie Jones, Ciaran Hinds, Pat Jennings, John Linehan, pianist Barry Douglas MBE, Pamela Ballantine, Ian McElhinney and last year’s recipient Paul Brady.
Ulster Tatler managing director Chris Sherry said: “In one of the most competitive sports in the world, Jonathan Rea has proved himself a world beater – time and time again.
"On a truly global stage, he has achieved feats in motorcycle racing that nobody else has – including six consecutive Superbike World Championship titles. Despite his incredible achievements, he remains a humble person, but he is highly respected within the sport and leaves an incredible legacy behind him – just as he left the countless rivals he has raced against!”
The motorcycle superstar was born into a family steeped in motorcycle racing. His father Johnny competed in the Isle of Man TT and his grandfather sponsored the late legendary Joey Dunlop.
Jonathan started racing at 16 and quickly caught the bug. He became a professional at just 18 and never looked back.
He is a consecutive six-time champion in the Superbike World Championship - a feat that no one else has ever achieved – and has also won countless accolades and awards in his outstanding career, including an MBE in 2017 and an OBE in 2022.
In 2017, he was runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
His race stats are astonishing and he holds numerous WorldSBK records, including 119 wins and 264 podium finishes, making him the most successful rider in the championship's history.
Last year, he announced his retirement, stating: “If I can’t race to win – then it’s time to step away”.
Outside of sport, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster in 2018 and one from Queen’s University in 2019.
Other big winners on the night, which was hosted by UTV presenter Pamela Ballantine, included Belfast actor Anthony Boyle (House of Guinness, Say Nothing) who won the Celebrity of the Year award, and middle-distance runner and 2024 European Athletics Champion Ciara Mageean from Portaferry, Co Down, who was voted Sportsperson of the Year.
Coleraine-born Iain Ross was presented with a Special Merit award for putting Northern Ireland baking on the map in the ‘Great British Bake Off’, whilst Alison Campbell, from Strabane in Co Tyrone, was recognised for her Outstanding Contribution to the world of fashion and modelling.
The Fashion Designer of the Year award was won by Dior’s creative director Jonathan Anderson from The Loup, outside Magherafelt, who famously designed Taylor Swift’s wedding dress this year. The award was picked up on the night by Jonathan’s father and former Ireland rugby captain Willie Anderson.