Getty Images photographer Shaun Botterill does the double, landing Canon Portfolio and Ed Lacey Trophy at SJA British Sports Journalism Awards; his colleagues Catherine Ivill and Michael Regan claim Football Portfolio and Picture categories respectively; Oli Scarff and Alex Broadway also win awards…
Shaun Botterill had never previously won a Canon Photography Award but after 36 years in the industry, he claimed a category at last – and then promptly followed it up with the Ed Lacey Trophy for SJA Photographer of the Year.
It was a similar story to the previous British Sports Journalism Awards ceremony when David Davies did the same.
The judges hailed Botterill as “one of the most highly respected and versatile sports photographers in the world, and an inspiration to so many in the photographic community”.
Shaun Botterill’s winning entry in Canon Portfolio
It put the seal on an incredible 2022 for Botterill who has seen his shot of Leo Messi lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy in December become the most popular post in Instagram history.
At the time of writing, there are a staggering 75m likes on that post – and it wasn’t even part of Botterill’s winning Canon Portfolio entry!
Instead, he selected a different, wide shot of Messi sitting on the shoulders of Sergio Aguero as Argentina partied at the Lusail Stadium, in his set of 10 photographs in the category representing a variety of sports and disciplines.
That Messi moment also proved a winner for Michael Regan who took first prize in the 10-strong Picture shortlist – a category the judges said was “overflowing with wonderful images”.
They chose Regan’s for its “joy, passion and impact… it’s a celebration centered on the genius of an amazing footballer, pictured in a sea of fans, teammates and media.”
There were plenty more stunners from Qatar among those shortlisted in the Football Portfolio category.
Catherine Ivill was named winner here, her entry also including a joyous shot of the Lionesses’ raising the UEFA Women’s Euros trophy at Wembley. Botterill, Regan and Ivill are all from the Getty Images stable.
An underwater rescue secured AFP’s Oli Scarff the News Picture Award.
His shot of coach Andrea Fuentes assisting US artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez after the latter lost consciousness at the bottom of the pool during the FINA World Championships in Budapest most impressed the judges.
A vibrant and varied selection of cycling photographs saw freelancer Alex Broadway claim the Specialist Portfolio category, and there were also two tremendous track cycling shots in Will Palmer‘s winning entry for Young Photographer, which was announced in advance of awards night.
View all the images in every shortlisted portfolio and category here
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR (Ed Lacey Trophy)
Winner: Shaun Botterill – Getty Images
CANON PORTFOLIO
Alex Pantling – Getty Images; Clive Brunskill – Getty Images; Julian Finney – Getty Images; Oli Scarff – Agence France-Presse (AFP); Ryan Pierse – Getty Images; Shaun Botterill – Getty Images
Bronze: Julian Finney – Getty Images; Silver: Alex Pantling – Getty Images; Winner: Shaun Botterill – Getty Images
FOOTBALL PORTFOLIO
Carl Recine – Reuters; Catherine Ivill – Getty Images; Julian Finney – Getty Images; Martin Rickett – PA Media; Peter Cziborra – Action Images / Reuters; Richard Pelham – The Sun
Bronze: Julian Finney – Getty Images, Martin Rickett – PA Media; Silver: Carl Recine – Reuters; Winner: Catherine Ivill – Getty Images
SPECIALIST PORTFOLIO (PHIL SHELDON TROPHY)
Alex Broadway – Freelance; Clive Mason – Getty Images; Laurence Griffiths – Getty Images; Mike Egerton – PA Media; Oli Scarff – Agence France-Presse (AFP); Richard Heathcote – Getty Images
Bronze: Mike Egerton – PA Media; Silver: Clive Mason – Getty Images; Winner: Alex Broadway – Freelance
NEWS PICTURE
Alex Livesey – Getty Images; Ben Stansall – Agence France-Presse (AFP); Julian Finney – Getty Images; Oli Scarff – Agence France-Presse (AFP); Philip Brown – Popperfoto; Tom Jenkins – The Guardian and The Observer
Bronze: Tom Jenkins – The Guardian and The Observer; Silver: Julian Finney – Getty Images; Winner: Oli Scarff – AFP
PICTURE
Andrew Couldridge – Action Images / Reuters; Ben Stansall – Agence France-Presse (AFP); Clive Brunskill – Getty Images; Ian MacNicol – Freelance; John Walton – PA Media; Justin Setterfield – Getty Images; Martin Rickett – PA Media; Michael Regan – Getty Images; Michael Steele – Getty Images; Paul Childs – Action Images / Reuters
Bronze: Ben Stansall – AFP; John Walton – PA Media; Silver: Ian MacNicol – Freelance; Winner: Michael Regan – Getty Images
YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER
George Wood – Getty Images; Harriet Lander – Getty Images; James Chance – Getty Images; Joseph Portlock – Getty Images; Will Palmer – Freelance; Zac Goodwin – PA Media
Bronze: James Chance – Getty Images; Silver: Zac Goodwin – PA Media; Winner: Will Palmer – Freelance