In Association With

There was an additional award for Joey Dunlop at Monday evenings Presentations, and he knew nothing about it until he received it! Minister for Tourism and Leisure Hon David Cretney MHK presented him with a replica of the Manx Sword of State, only the third to be presented to a road racer, following those presented to Mitsuoh Ito, the only Japenese rider to win a TT Race and the late Stanley Woods, a 10 times TT winner.

The inscription on the Sword read:-

Presented to Joey Dunlop OBE, MBE
on behalf of all his Isle of Man supporters TT2000
"King Of The Mountain"
by David Cretney MHK
Minister for Tourism and Leisure

History of the Sword Of State.

The Sword is traditionally ascribed to Olaf II who, before he became king, is said to have used it in fighting against the Moors in Spain in 1230. It may really be dated 14th Century. It has a fine steel, two edged, blade 29 inches (73.6cm) long. The hard-wood hilt, nine inches (22.8cm) long, tapers from the guard to the pommel which is flattened in order to bear, on either side, the Three Legs of Man. The guard is a thin steel band, circular in section and measuring 11 inches (27.9cm) across. The Legs are again repeated on shields set on either side of the sword where the gaurd intersects the blade. The representation of the Three Legs is the oldest found locally and the direction of the legs has been adopted as the official form of bank notes, stamps and coins. The sword appears at meetings of the Tynwald Court and is carried ceremonially before the Lieut. Governor at St Johns on Tynwald Day, the Manx National Day.

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