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Picture perfect 2012 from photo shortlists

A sample of some of the outstanding photography entered for the SJA Sports Journalism Award - this image from the 2012 London Olympics by Mark Pain of the Mail on Sunday
A sample of some of the outstanding photography entered for the SJA Sports Journalism Award – this image from the 2012 London Olympics by Mark Pain of the Mail on Sunday

After 10 hours in a darkened room, apparently without a blow being thrown (never mind landed), the judges of the photography categories for the 2012 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards have emerged, and their verdicts are in.

With a record entry and with an extra category, the London Games Portfolio, to review, judging was a tougher task than ever, with the leading portfolio entries being considered for the ultimate prize, the SJA British Sports Photographer of the Year, which will be announced with all other winners at our gala prize-giving dinner at the Grand Connaught Rooms in central London on Monday, March 25.

“It was a great entry,” said Mike King, a former Sports Photographer of the Year himself and this year’s chairman of the sports photography judges.

“Across all five categories, the winners stood clearly above the rest.”

Dylan Martinez, of Reuters, captures the joy of Didier Drogba after scoring the clicnhing penalty in last May's Champions League final in Munich
Dylan Martinez, of Reuters, captures the joy of Didier Drogba after scoring the clinching penalty in last May’s Champions League final in Munich

King’s distinguished panel of judges comprised, Paul Radford, the former global sports editor at Reuters;
David Ashdown, The Independent‘s former sports photographer and another past winner of our top prize; Ben Radford, a director of Visionhaus Photographic Agency; Brendan Monks, the former chief sports photographer and picture editor at the Daily Mail; and Frank Coppi, the former Daily Telegraph photographer.

In all, the judges viewed more than 1,500 sporting images, from some of the finest sports photographers in the world, with the pictures telling the story of what is widely acknowledged as the greatest year in British sport.

UK Sport had once again been kind enough to allow the SJA the use of their facilities, which fortunately comes with an excellent coffee vending machine and a projector, the two essential items for a successful judging session.

There was, as always, productive and constructive discussion as the judges whittled down the entries to the chosen, exceptional few before arguing out the final positions. Occasional raised voices occurred, usually if the coffee was running low.

As the list of shortlisted entries shows below, the usual “battle” between the photo agencies is a close one again, with Action Images having six nominations and Getty five.

Freelancer Ian MacNichol created a splash with this picture from his specialist portfolio
Freelancer Ian MacNichol created a splash with this picture from his specialist portfolio

The news agencies – Reuters, AFP and the Press Association – have between them picked up nine shortlistings, and that “endangered species”, the national newspaper sports photographer, gets a look-in, too, with five entries being shortlisted from the Daily Express, the Mail on Sunday and the Guardian/Observer, plus four freelances being in the reckoning for awards.

“The jury found the business of sifting through the entries very enjoyable due to the high standard of photography,” King said.

“But this also made the task more difficult as there was so much excellent work on view. Eventually, when the categories came down to the final selections, it became an easy task as the panel were all in agreement as to who the winners should be.

“We thank everyone who entered and we congratulate everyone who made it on to these shortlists – making it this far alone means that you are among the cream of the crop,” the chairman of judges said.

The shortlisted photography entries for the 2012 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards are:

  • Sports Portfolio
    Andrew Boyers (Action Images)
    Adrian Dennis (AFP)
    Tom Jenkins (Guardian and Observer)
    Eddie Keogh (Reuters)
    Dylan Martinez (Reuters)
    Mark Pain (Mail on Sunday)
  • Specialist Sports Portfolio
    Philip Brown (Reuters)
    Paul Childs (Action Images)
    Paul Gilham (Getty Images)
    Ian MacNicol (Freelance)
    Mark Robinson (Freelance)
    Clive Rose (Getty Images)
  • Sports News Picture
    Paul Childs (Action Images)
    Andrew Couldridge (Action Images)
    Richard Heathcote (Getty Images)
    Eddie Keogh (Reuters)
    Michael Regan (Getty Images)
    Stefan Wermuth (Reuters)
  • Sports Picture
    Andrew Boyers (Action Images)
    David Davies (Press Association)
    Tom Jenkins (Guardian and Observer)
    Lawrence Lustig (Freelance)
    Stuart Robinson (Daily Express)
    Mark Robinson (Freelance)
  • London Games Portfolio
    Andrew Boyers (Action Images)
    Adrian Dennis (AFP)
    Dylan Martinez (Reuters)
    Mark Pain (Mail on Sunday)
    Clive Rose (Getty Images)
    Dan Rowley (Colorsport)

Make sure you don’t miss out on the gala celebration of the best of British Sports Journalism by booking your ticket – or even a table – for Monday March 25 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden.

The event begins at 6pm, with a champagne reception and opportunity to view an exhibition of many of the leading entries in the photography categories, prior to a three-course dinner followed by the presentation of the awards.

There are special ticket discounts available to paid-up SJA members. But hurry – tickets are already selling fast.

Click here for a booking form, or contact our event organisers, Start2Finish, on 020 8916 2492 or by email to martin@s2fevents.co.uk for more details.


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