Ennis and Idowu in MBE Honour

11 June 2011

World and European Champions Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu have received MBEs for services to athletics in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List released today.

Also recognised is prolific endurance coach Frank Horwill who receives an MBE for voluntary services to sport.

Heptathlete Ennis, who won World Championship gold in 2009 and followed that up with European Gold last summer, is unbeaten in her event for the last two years. Coached by Toni Minichiello and a member of City of Sheffield AC, the 25 year old aims to retain her World Title at Daegu, Korea later this summer.

She said: "When I heard in was to be given an MBE in the Queen's Birthday honours I felt so proud. It is hard to put into words what it feels like to get such an honour in recognition of my sporting achievements. I love my sport and can't think of anything I would want to do more, and to be recognised for the years of hard work and the success I have had over the past two years means so much.

"I would also like to congratulate Phillips Idowu on also getting an MBE - this is so good for the sport of athletics and I hope it will inspire all of the young athletes out there."

Triple jumper Idowu also won World Championship gold and European Gold  the last two seasons and currently holds the world leading mark for 2011 of 17.59m. He is coached by Aston Moore and represents Belgrave Harriers.

Horwill, co founder of the British Milers Club and regular contributor to Athletics Weekly magazine, has coached many successful GB endurance athletes over the years and his five-pace training system has been adopted by many coaches around the world.