Title bid ends in glory for Hanagan

As he made slow progress, stopping to sign autographs in his moment of triumph, he was overcome by the warmth of the reception.

The final day of his titanic struggle for supremacy with Richard Hughes had left both riders winnerless – but it did not matter. It was all over.

There was a tearful embrace with his wife Anna. Words did not need to be spoken.

A snatched bear-hug with his father Geoff, a one-time rider: "Son, we're so proud of you."

Surprise on Hanagan's part that so many childhood friends had come to see him become the third Northern-based rider in 105 years to become champion.

Days like this do not happen often. One female fan yelled: "Hanagan, we love you." Strains of 'Championee' echoed out.

And, as he reached the weighing room, a little voice shouted out 'Daddy' as Hanagan's eldest son Josh, four, jumped into the victor's arms.

As father and son spontaneously gave the thumbs up to the cameras, little Josh's words could not have been more poignant: "Daddy, I want a winner."

Hanagan, Warrington-born but based in Malton, chuckled. He had not seen his children – Sam the youngest is nearly one – in the past week as he tried to hold off Hughes's relentless challenge.

Rarely can such scenes been witnessed in a sport famed for being raw for emotion.

An individual success, it was also a family triumph; the Hanagan family have shared every part of the fluctuating season.

It went on – confirmation that Hanagan will parade his trophy at Anfield, home of his beloved Liverpool FC.

An even more poignant embrace with his close friend Tony Hamilton, the jockey who suffered a season-ending injury in high summer on a horse that Hanagan would have ridden if illness had not intervened. Such twists decide titles.

This was a victory walk like none other.

Hanagan, 30, did not to have to explain his sense of relief, mixed with euphoria, as Kevin Darley, the last Northern champion, finally presented the trophy and weighing room colleagues held aloft the new No 1 before the last race of the season – a contest that simply did not matter.

Yes, the title race had taken its toll. And, yes, it was even more difficult because he had been the leader since the season's opening race 223 days ago.

As Hughes, winner of an unbelievable 23 races in the past 10 days, conceded with characteristic graciousness: "I'm delighted for Paul. He led from the start. He deserves it."

Hanagan returned the compliment. He says he now respects Hughes, 37, even more. This was sportsmanship at its very best.

"I'm gobsmacked, to be honest," he said in a whispered voice exhausted by his marathon seven-month battle. "I've got so many people to thank that I'll be hear all day, but they know who they are.

"From the minute I woke up to the minute I got to bed, it's been non-stop.

If you do your best, you can't do any more. It brings you down to earth when people say I've made history.

"I'm absolutely delighted because every top rider said they were giving it (the title) a go. Everyone had a go and I'm still here."

As Hanagan spoke, Hughes and Kieren Fallon, the six-time champion, slipped almost unnoticed out of the weighing room. They knew that this was Paul Hanagan's day, and a celebration of Yorkshire racing (around 80 of his winners had come on the region's racecourses).

The history-making moment had come at 3.12pm when Hughes failed to win the November Handicap aboard Senate, the day's sixth contest.

After the ironically-named Times Up returned to a low-key reception, a beaming Hanagan waited on Tepmokea before returning to the unsaddling enclosure as a captivated crowd chanted out his name.

Never before has finishing eighth in a race meant so much.

The first person to greet a teary Hanagan was his boss Richard Fahey – the trainer who supplied so many of his rider's 191 winners.

Earlier, he could hardly watch as Hughes repeatedly tried, and failed, to cut the Malton rider's two-winner lead. "I had a runner in the second and didn't even watch it – I was watching Hughesie."

He was not alone. Hanagan's proud mother, Sheila, had been doing likewise. She had even watched the previous week's racing "behind the settee" – she could not watch the television as her son's apparently rock-solid lead was reduced to one on Thursday. As racegoers arrived on Town Moor, owner and trainers manager Rachel Blizzard told diehard Yorkshire racing enthusiasts. "Say your prayers for Paul." They were.

It was that kind of day. Will Hanagan ever put his body, and spirit, on the line again for another title challenge?

Momentarily, the smile broke away, from his face. "Let me enjoy this one first," he said before leaving for a family reunion – and some long-overdue sleep.

He's earned it.