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SJA Annual Journalism Awards - Winners

To view Scott Heavey’s Sports Portfolio of the Year, click his image.

On Monday night at the SJA Sports Journalists Association awards the winners were:
-Sports Photographer of the Year: Scott Heavey (Action Images)
-News Picture: Eddie Keogh (freelance). Highly commended: Andrew Couldridge (Action Images), Mike Hewitt (Getty Images)
-Specialist Photographer: Toby Melville (Reuters). Highly commended: Laurence Griffiths (Getty Images), Scott Heavey (Action Images) and Eddie Keogh (freelance) -
-Picture of the Year: Gareth Copley (Press Association). Highly commended: Andrew Couldridge (Action Images) and Hugh Routledge (freelance)
The Sports Photographer of the Year award resulted in a "photo-finish" with the judges finally giving the decision to Heavey ahead of Toby Melville of Reuters, the first time that an Action Images photographer has scooped first prize. Sports picture of the year went to an image by PA Sport's Gareth Copley which captured a tense moment in the Ashes series for England batsman Jonathan Trott.
Full report here: Sports Journalist Association

Chairman of the judges David Jacobs explains the task the judges faced:
The arduous and time consuming job of judging the awards was yet again, as in recent years, done over two sessions the first a half day prejudging where an attempt was made to reduce down the folios and single picture categories to the best, this was made extremely hard by the sheer nature of the highly competent, consistent and compelling content entered. It was also clear at this point that there few outright winners.

The main judging was carried out over a full day with judges Neil Sullivan, Times Sports Picture Editor, Eammon McCabe & Mike King both Photographer’s and previous winners, Simon Flavin Action Images Picture Editor, all overseen by chairman of the panel David Jacobs.
The first category, in previously years considered as the easiest to judge, was Young Photographer of the year, the age limit had been increased from 23 to 30 years of age, we were immediately looking at eleven exceptional folios most of which were so good the same photographers images were later seen close to or shortlisted in the main sports folio awards. The ultimate winner was Andrew Matthews of the Press Association.
The following category was News picture of the year won by Eddie Keogh of Reuters, here judge Neil Sullivan commented “this well published image really stood out of the page”.
Then came specialist folio, whilst there was a unanimous winner a special mention goes to Ady Kerry whose Hockey folio proved that an exceptional photographer can produce a worthy folio in this from a minority sport. However on the winning folio Judge Eamonn McCabe himself a multiple award winner of the title commented “this exceptional folio has really excelled in bringing the competition on to a new level”. Sports picture of the year went to Gareth Copley (Press Association) which was also a winner in the World Sports action photo, a “remarkable cricket picture catching the peak of the action” commented Mike King. A special mention went to Bob Thomas (Popperfoto) whose tubby park goalie most humorous.
Sports Folio was another close category where after reviewing each folio numerous occasions, the judges ultimately found a winner with Scott Heavey (Action Images) whose folio was generally felt that “with its diverse range of photographs and techniques - a worthy winner”.
The main award of sports photographer of the year was finally also awarded to Scott Heavey (Action Images) given his strong entries throughout the whole competition.

Posted by Will Carleton
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