Having won a photography double at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards three years ago, PA’s chief sports photographer David Davies has three to take home this time; Adrian Dennis, Clive Mason, Richard Heathcote and Lee Smith also revealed as category winners at the gala night in London…
By the SJA
David Davies is back in the winners’ enclosure at the SJA Canon Sports Photography Awards, claiming two categories and the biggest prize on offer.
The Press Association’s chief sports photographer has got his hands on the Ed Lacey Trophy for SJA Sports Photographer of the Year for the second time in his career.
The top honour put the seal on a hugely successful evening for Davies, who had been announced earlier in the evening as having taken the gold medals in both Canon Portfolio and Specialist Portfolio (Phil Sheldon Trophy).
Racing was his chosen discipline for the latter, with images that included jockey Paul Townend roaring with joy after winning the Grand National aboard I Am Maximus.
There was superb variety in his other entry, with shots of celebration and collision in the velodrome at the Paris Olympics mingling merrily with F1, rugby union and other sports.
Davies did the Sheldon / Lacey double three years ago, but has gone one better with a tremendous treble this time.
The Photography Awards, which form part of the 2024 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, also saw AFP’s Adrian Dennis score a winner in the Football Portfolio category, which is now named the Matthew Ashton Trophy.
His entry ranged from Euro 2024 emotions to blind football at the Eiffel Tower, under the lights at the Paralympics.
Olympic and Paralympic Portfolio returned for its third appearance at the Awards and was won by Clive Mason of Getty Images, who had also claimed the category after Rio 2016.
Mason’s submission was from the sailing and windsurfing regatta at the Marseille Marina, with a masterful array of shots, often taken from unusual angles.
A Richard Riakporhe uppercut captured by Richard Heathcote (Getty Images) was named Picture of the Year.
“It’s an incredible photograph that looks like something from a movie,” said the judges. “The picture demonstrates the skill of the photographer to capture the perfect and brutal moment.”
The News Picture of 2024 shows the joy and despair of losing a major tournament final, etched on the face of England’s Jude Bellingham after defeat by Spain in Berlin at Euro 2024.
Lee Smith (Action Images Reuters) was praised by the judges for capturing “the emotion that summed up the feelings of the nation, in one of the biggest sporting moments of the year.”
Earlier in the month, Alex Davidson (Getty Images) was named winner of the Canon Young Sports Photographer of the Year award, and collected his prize at the gala evening.
View all the images in every shortlisted portfolio and category here
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR (Ed Lacey Trophy)
Winner: David Davies – PA Media
CANON PORTFOLIO
Alex Pantling – Getty Images; Carl Recine – Getty Images; Chloe Knott – Freelance; Clive Mason – Getty Images; David Davies – PA Media; Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Bronze: Chloe Knott – Freelance, and Clive Mason – Getty Images; Silver: Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters; Winner: David Davies – PA Media
FOOTBALL PORTFOLIO (MATTHEW ASHTON TROPHY)
Adrian Dennis – AFP; Alex Pantling – Getty Images; Carl Recine – Getty Images; Daniel Mullan – Getty Images; Justin Setterfield – Getty Images; Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Bronze: Daniel Mullan – Getty Images; Silver: Carl Recine – Getty Images; Winner: Adrian Dennis – AFP
SPECIALIST PORTFOLIO (PHIL SHELDON TROPHY)
Alex Whitehead – SWpix; David Davies – PA Media; Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters; Mark Thompson – Getty Images; Morgan Harlow – Freelance; Philip Brown – Freelance
Bronze: Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters, and Morgan Harlow – Freelance; Silver: Alex Whitehead – SWpix; Winner: David Davies – PA Media
OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC PORTFOLIO
Clive Mason – Getty Images; Daniel Mullan – Getty Images; David Davies – PA Media; Hannah McKay – Reuters; Michael Steele – Getty Images; Ryan Browne – Shutterstock
Bronze: Michael Steele – Getty Images; Silver: Ryan Browne – Shutterstock; Winner: Clive Mason – Getty Images
NEWS PICTURE
Anna Gowthorpe – Shutterstock; Hannah McKay – Reuters; Ian MacNicol – Freelance; Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters; Richard Pelham – Getty Images; Tom Jenkins – The Guardian
Bronze: Tom Jenkins – The Guardian; Silver: Richard Pelham – Getty Images; Winner: Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
PICTURE
Chloe Knott – Freelance; Chloe Knott – Freelance; Clive Mason – Getty Images; Dan Mullan – Getty Images; David Davies – PA Media; Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters; Michael Steele – Getty Images; Naomi Baker – Getty Images; Richard Heathcote – Getty Images; Tom Jenkins – The Guardian
Silver: Chloe Knott – Freelance, and Clive Mason – Getty Images, and David Davies – PA Media; Winner: Richard Heathcote – Getty Images
YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER
Alex Davidson – Getty Images; Bradley Collyer – PA Media; George Wood – Getty Images; Harriet Lander – Freelance; Isaac Parkin – Manchester City; Megan Dent – Freelance
Bronze: Megan Dent – Freelance; Silver: Isaac Parkin – Manchester City; Winner: Alex Davidson – Getty Images