Shortlists revealed for Photography section of SJA British Sports Journalism Awards; 10 images up for coveted Picture prize; bare-knuckle boxing, skeleton and sumo feature as entrants in six categories get set for gala night at London Palladium on April 27…
From celebrations to collisions, whether close-up or long-distance, the Picture category selection for this year’s SJA British Sports Journalism Awards runs the gamut of action and emotion.
In announcing the shortlists for the Photography section, ahead of the Awards gala at the London Palladium on Monday, April 27, sponsored by Canon UK, the Sports Journalists’ Association congratulates the contenders across the six categories, and thanks all those who submitted entries.
As is tradition, a panel of experienced photographers assessed all the images before making their selections. Chair of judges Paul Ellis said: “The standard of sports photography in the UK is in a fantastic place, and the quality of entries to this competition proves it.
“The judging panel had an incredibly difficult task deliberating across all categories, with the strength and depth of submissions making the process extremely competitive.
“Many outstanding entries were unlucky not to make the final list. We hope this shortlist showcases the exceptional work photographers do every day to capture the magical – and sometimes brutal – moments of sport.”
The shortlists reflect fresh talent alongside a mix of familiar names, including five former winners of the Ed Lacey Trophy for SJA Photographer of the Year. The winner of the top honour will be revealed on Awards night itself.
Before that presentation, there is much to appreciate from the industry showcase, not least the 10 dynamic images vying for the title of Picture of the Year.
Alex Pantling has a pair of winter sports shots on the shortlist – one showing a skeleton racer, the other a ski jumper – while his Getty Images colleague Carl Recine also has a double chance at glory, via Team Europe’s Ryder Cup revels and a memorable Mo Salah moment.
Andrew Boyers and Michael Steele continue the celebrations with their offerings of Red Roses star Ellie Kildunne and American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone respectively, while football is represented by goalkeeping action snaps captured by Hannah McKay and Jacques Feeney.
Julian Finney’s cleverly-framed tennis shot and Richard Pelham’s dramatic over-the-ropes boxing entry complete the line-up.
Here are the 10 images in contention for SJA Picture of the Year…
Boyers and Recine have twice emerged as Picture category champions in previous editions of the Awards, and Pelham is also a former winner.
Meanwhile, Steele is the only photographer on this year’s Picture shortlist to have retained their place from the last line-up, while Finney returns to contention here for the first time in four years.
News Picture shortlist produces golden memories
The best illustration of sports news is the criterion for entries into the News Picture category, and the judges chose six headline-grabbing images to go through.
There’s Carl Recine’s shot of a gleaming FIFA Club World Cup trophy next to a beaming Donald Trump; the poignant tifo tribute to Diogo Jota at Wolves v Manchester City in August, photographed by Catherine Ivill; and Kildunne’s medal-biting celebration after England’s Red Roses won the World Cup is provided by Julian Finney.
Lee Smith, shortlisted in this category for the third time in five years, has a scene from the aftermath of Liverpool’s Premier League title parade; there’s visiting sumo wrestlers opposite the Houses of Parliament from Ryan Pierse; and Richard Heathcote, a former News Picture Award winner, caught Team Europe captain Luke Donald basking in that Ryder Cup-winning feeling at Bethpage Black.
Here are the six images in contention for SJA News Picture of the Year…
While there are undoubtedly some industry heavyweights in Canon Portfolio – Smith, Finney, Steele and Adrian Dennis have all claimed this category before – there is also a former Young Photographer winner in Pantling, while rising star George Wood completes the set.
Finney features five times on this year’s shortlists, the most of any photographer, and like Recine, Smith and Justin Setterfield, he is in contention to become the first-ever two-time winner of the Football Portfolio Award, now known as the Matthew Ashton Trophy. Pantling and Chloe Knott are also in the mix here.
There is great variety in the shortlist for the Phil Sheldon Trophy for Specialist Portfolio, with Dennis (rugby union), Alex Whitehead (cycling), Davies (horse racing), Finney (tennis), Smith (bare-knuckle boxing) and Heathcote (golf) offering something for everyone. Davies has taken the honours here twice in the last four years.
The aforementioned Wood is in the running for Canon Young Photographer for the fourth consecutive edition of the Awards, and is joined on this occasion by Lexy Ilsley, who took News Picture bronze two years ago, and four shortlist newcomers – Annabel Lee-Ellis, George Marriott, Jacques Feeney and Will Cooper.
Click here to see all the images from the shortlisted Photography entries
The winners of the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, sponsored by Canon UK, will be announced at a gala ceremony taking place at the London Palladium on the evening of Monday, 27 April 2026.
Ticketing details are due to be confirmed this week.
CANON SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The Ed Lacey Trophy is awarded to the photographer who, in the opinion of the judges, has been the overall best sports photographer of 2025 and has demonstrated an outstanding range of photographic skills.
This will be judged on submitted entries into the categories listed below.
All other awards are subject to entered submissions which are then put before our panel of experienced judges.
CANON BRITISH SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2025 – CATEGORY SHORTLISTS
CANON PORTFOLIO
Adrian Dennis – AFP
Alex Pantling – Getty Images
George Wood – Getty Images
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Michael Steele – Getty Images
FOOTBALL PORTFOLIO (MATTHEW ASHTON TROPHY)
Alex Pantling – Getty Images
Carl Recine – Getty Images
Chloe Knott – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Justin Setterfield – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
SPECIALIST PORTFOLIO (PHIL SHELDON TROPHY)
Adrian Dennis – AFP
Alex Whitehead – Swpix
David Davies – PA Media
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Richard Heathcote – Getty Images
NEWS PICTURE
Carl Recine – Getty Images
Catherine Ivill – AMA Sports Photo
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Richard Heathcote – Getty Images
Ryan Pierse – Getty Images
PICTURE
Alex Pantling – Getty Images
Alex Pantling – Getty Images
Andrew Boyers – Action Images Reuters
Carl Recine – Getty Images
Carl Recine – Getty Images
Hannah McKay – Reuters
Jacques Feeney – Offside Sports Photography
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Michael Steele – Getty Images
Richard Pelham – Getty Images
CANON YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER
Annabel Lee-Ellis – Freelance
George Marriott – Freelance
George Wood – Getty Images
Jacques Feeney – Offside Sports Photography
Lexy Ilsley – Manchester City Football Club
Will Cooper – Will.T.Photography
The winner of the Canon Young Photographer of the Year Award will be announced on the SJA website on April 13.
All those shortlisted for the Canon Young Photographer Award will be contacted shortly and invited to attend the awards as a guest of the SJA.
- What happened in Photography last year
- View all the images in our Photography Awards gallery
- About the British Sports Journalism Awards
- Past winners
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