Daniel Taylor, chief football writer for the Guardian and the Observer, was named Sports Writer of the Year at the SJA 2017 British Sports Journalism Awards.
Taylor also took the Football Journalist of the Year accolade, an award sponsored by UEFA Together #WePlayStrong. He had previously won that category in 2015 and 2016.
SJA President Patrick Collins said: “Daniel Taylor (left) is one of the truly distinguished journalists of his generation.
“His courage, persistence and flair make him a worthy winner of the highest honour that British sports journalism has to offer.
“And to win a second trophy in the hotly contested category of Football Journalist is further testimony to Taylor’s brilliance.”
Richard Conway, of BBC Sports News, was named Broadcast Journalist of the Year, while the BBC’s Mark Chapman won the Broadcast Sports Presenter category. The Sun’s Richard Pelham took the award of SJA Sports Photographer of the Year, sponsored by Canon.
The Doug Gardner Award, which honours a member of the SJA who has made an outstanding contribution to sports journalism and the Association, went to the SJA’s former chair David Walker.
The awards were presented at a gala dinner staged at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, hosted by Jim Rosenthal. Sponsored by the National Lottery, the awards were attended by more than 500 guests including 16 places given by the National Lottery to next-generation journalists.
- The Guardian’s Taylor takes top SJA honour
- Red letter day for Guardian, top marks to Chapman and Pelham
- Prize-guy Pelham: A gallery of winning football images
- 2017 shortlists – Broadcast / Writing / Photography
2017 WINNERS
SJA Sports Writer of the Year 2017 (The John Bromley Trophy)
Daniel Taylor – The Guardian and Observer
SJA Sports Photographer of the Year 2017 (The Ed Lacey Trophy) sponsored by Canon
Richard Pelham – The Sun
SJA Sports Newspaper of the Year 2017
The Guardian
Broadcast Sports Presenter
Mark Chapman – BBC Sport
WRITER AWARDS
Cricket Journalist
Winner: Mike Atherton – The Times
Football Journalist sponsored by UEFA Together #WePlayStrong
Winner: Daniel Taylor – The Guardian and Observer
Investigative Sports Reporter
Winner: Jeremy Wilson – The Telegraph
Regional Journalist
Winner: Chris Wathan – Media Wales
Rugby Journalist sponsored by European Professional Club Rugby
Winner: Owen Slot – The Times
Special Sports Edition
Winner: Boxing News – 100 Greatest British Boxers
Specialist Correspondent
Winner: Sean Ingle – The Guardian and Observer
Sports Columnist
Winner: Paul Hayward – Telegraph
Sports Feature Writer
Winner: Donald McRae – The Guardian and Observer
Sports News Reporter
Winner: Matt Lawton – Daily Mail
Sports Scoop
Winner: Martha Kelner & Sean Ingle – The Guardian & Observer – Chris Froome failed drugs test
Sports Website
Winner: The Guardian
Young Sports Writer
Winner: Adam Crafton – Daily Mail / The Mail on Sunday
BROADCAST AWARDS
Broadcast Journalist
Winner: Richard Conway – BBC Sports News
Broadcast Sports Presenter
Winner: Mark Chapman – BBC Sport
Radio Sport Factual or Feature
Winner: Pretty Boy – A tale of bare knuckle boxing – BBC Radio Leeds
Radio Sport Live Broadcast
Winner: Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko – BBC Radio 5Live
Sports Commentator
Winner: David Lloyd – Sky Sports
Television Sport Factual or Feature
Winner: Crossing the Line – Pitch International
Television Sport Live Broadcast
Winner: Europa League Final – A Sunset+Vine production for BT Sport
Broadcast Production Team
Winner: Transfer Deadline Day – Sky Sports
PHOTOGRAPHER AWARDS
Away from the Action
Winner: Oli Scarff – Freelance
Sport Picture
Winner: Richard Pelham – The Sun
Canon Sports Portfolio
Winner: Clive Mason – Getty Images
Specialist Sports Portfolio
Winner: Alan Crowhurst – Getty Images
Football Portfolio
Winner: Richard Pelham – The Sun
SEE THE COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CANON