Action Images’s Carl Recine, one of the leading contenders for the SJA’s British Sports Photographer of the Year Award which is being announced later this month, has been named the Vauxhall Home Nations Football Photographer of the Year for 2013.
Recine’s England portfolio enabled him to beat off a strong challenge from the cream of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football photographers.
Lee Smith (Action Images) lifted the Scottish award and Kieran McManus (Back Page Images) took the Welsh title, while Darren Kidd (Press Eye) collected the Irish award for the second successive year.
Judges praised Recine for his compelling portfolio which captured the “essence, passion and patriotism” of international football.
Chris Hornbuckle, Vauxhall head of sponsorship, said; “As lead sponsors of Home Nations football, we are acutely aware of the skill and dedication of all sports photographers.
“Vauxhall are committed to recognising and rewarding this role through our awards and we thank all photographers for submitting their entries and establishing the event on the international footballing calendar.”
Recine succeeds Stuart Robinson (Daily Express), who won the overall crown for 2012.
New for 2013, Vauxhall introduced a category for imagery of fans – designed to reflect and reward the role played by supporters in generating a passionate stage for international football.
Mike Egerton (Press Association) lifted the England Supporter award with an evocative shot of a group of fans at Wembley.
Sammy Turner’s (SNS) image of Scottish fans framed inside the famous Wembley arch took the Scottish award and a picture of Welsh fans capturing their own pictures of their heroes won the Welsh award for Kieran McManus (Back Page Images).
Judges could not split the submissions of fans in their wheelchairs celebrating at Windsor Park, and a group of young fans making their way to Windsor Park, with Darren Kidd (Press Eye) and Mike Egerton (Press Association) sharing the award.
For more information and to see the winning entries go to www.vauxhallfootball.co.uk
Vauxhall Football Photographer of the Year 2013
England
Winner – Carl Recine (Action Images)
Highly Commended – John Sibley (Action Images)
Highly Commended – Michael Regan (Getty)
Northern Ireland
Winner – Darren Kidd – (Press Eye)
Highly Commended – William Cherry (Press Eye)
Highly Commended – Mike Egerton (Press Association)
Scotland
Winner – Lee Smith (Action Images)
Highly Commended – Ian Macnicol (AFP)
Highly Commended – Kenny Ramsey (Scottish Sun)
Wales
Winner – Kieran McManus (Back Page Images)
Highly Commended – Andrew Orchard (Andrew Orchard Sports Photography)
Highly Commended – Gareth John (Signs Print)
Vauxhall Football Individual Photograph of the Year 2013
England
Winner – Adrian Dennis (AFP)
Highly Commended – Daniel Chesterton (Focus Images LTD)
Highly Commended – Carl Recine (Action Images)
Northern Ireland
Winner – Colm Lenaghan (Pacemaker)
Highly Commended – Darren Kidd (Press Eye)
Highly Commended – Jonathan Porter (Press Eye)
Scotland
Winner – Sammy Turner (SNS Group)
Highly Commended – Ian Macnicol (AFP)
Highly Commended – Sammy Turner (SNS Group)
Wales
Winner – David Rawcliffe (Propaganda)
Highly Commended – Simon Stacpoole (Offside)
Highly Commended – Ian Macnicol (AFP)
Northern Ireland
Winner – Colm Lenaghan (Pacemaker)
Highly Commended – Darren Kidd (Press Eye)
Highly Commended – Jonathan Porter (Press Eye)
Vauxhall Football Photograph of Supporters 2013
England
Winner – Mike Egerton (Press Association)
Highly Commended – Kent Gavin (Daily Mirror)
Northern Ireland
Joint Winners – Darren Kidd (Press Eye) & Mike Egerton (Press Association)
Scotland
Winner – Sammy Turner (SNS Group)
Highly Commended – Kenny Ramsey (Scottish Sun)
Wales
Winner – Kieran McManus (Back Page Images)
Highly Commended – Gareth John (Signs Print)
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 the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards on Monday March 24 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 and 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 to make a booking online, 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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UPCOMING SJA EVENTS
Mon Mar 24: SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, Grand Connaught Rooms, London
Mon Apr 14: SJA Spring Golf Day: Croham Hurst GC, Surrey. Booking details to be announced