Times writer Martin Samuel has again been shortlisted as Sports Journalists Association writer of the year after winning the prize last year.
He is joined on the shortlist – voted for by national sports editors – by former England cricket captain Michael Atherton, of The Sunday Telegraph; the Daily Mail’s Paul Hayward; Oliver Holt of the Daily Mirror; The Independent’s James Lawton; and Henry Winter, football correspondent of The Daily Telegraph.
The sports journalism awards take place at The Brewery, London, on Monday (12 March). The shortlists include: Sports columnist: Patrick Collins, Mail on Sunday; Simon Barnes, The Times; Oliver Holt, Daily Mirror; Paul Hayward, Daily Mail; Frank Malley, PA Sport; Sue Mott, Daily Telegraph.
Regional writer: Christopher Bascombe, Liverpool Echo; Matthew Chambers, Evening News, Norwich; Jon Colman, News & Star, Carlisle; Doug Gillon, The Herald, Glasgow; Andrew Smith, Scotland on Sunday; Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun.
Sports news reporter: Neil Ashton, Daily Mail; Mihir Bose, Daily Telegraph; Shaun Custis, The Sun; Rob Draper, Mail on Sunday; Harry Harris, Daily Express; Adrian Warner, Evening Standard.
Sports story: Jason Burke, The Observer – Italy’s football scandal; Harry Harris, Daily Express – Wembley stadium; Stephen Jones, The Sunday Times – World Cup win ‘a disaster’; Paul Kelso, The Guardian – Zara Phillips’ New Year honour; Daniel King, Mail on Sunday – Anfield in £450m Dubai buyout.
Sports broadcaster: Clare Balding, Steve Cram, Peter Alliss, John Inverdale, Garry Richardson, Jeff Stelling.
Sports news picture: Adrian Dennis, AFP; Mike Egerton, Empics; Alex Livesey, Getty Images; Michael Regan, Action Images; John Sibley, Action Images.
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