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It was a double triumph for Wireless radio station talkSPORT at tonight’s (Monday) SJA British Sports Journalism Awards.
Breakfast show host Laura Woods was named best sport presenter at the online ceremony, with judges praising her ‘real range of skills’.
Laura beat the likes of Gary Lineker, Mark Chapman and Ed Chamberlin to land her first SJA crown. She tweeted: “What a year at talkSPORT and what a team. We did that together. Thanks so much everyone for all the support and a toast to everyone nominated in the maddest of years.” Lineker tweeted his congratulations.
talkSPORT also struck gold in the audio/radio live category for England’s cricket tour of the Rainbow Nation [South Africa]. Judges praised the ‘powerful and brave’ coverage.
The Times’ chief sports writer Matt Dickinson also grabbed gold in the best sports columnist section. Judges spoke of ‘superbly crafted columns’.
News UK also landed six silver and six bronze awards.
Silver: sports network of the year, talkSPORT; cricket journalist, Mike Atherton (Times); sports columnist, Mike Atherton (Times); audio/radio show, White & Jordan (talkSPORT); away from the action photography, Marc Aspland (Times) and sports picture, Bradley Ormesher (Times).
Bronze: football journalist, Henry Winter (Times); rugby journalist, Stephen Jones (Sunday Times); sports columnist, David Walsh (Sunday Times); audio/radio documentary, Coming in From the Cold, talkSPORT; audio/radio live, Wilder v Fury II (talkSPORT) and audio/radio show, GameDay Exclusive (talkSPORT).
Head of talkSPORT Lee Clayton said: “I’m so proud of my team today, from our Gold, Silver and Bronze winners to all our nominees and everyone that does so much behind the scenes to make us the network that we are.
“Laura is an incredible talent and could not be more deserving of the Presenter of the Year Award, picking up the Breakfast gig at the most difficult time possible in the middle of a pandemic with no live sport. With that backdrop she shone and brought the listeners with us, helping to put a smile on the face of sports fans. Scott Richards is a fabulous producer and his team has worked to make that show a tremendous listen, from Monday to Wednesday, with the legendary Alan Brazil delivering the goods on Thursday and Friday.
“Our talkSPORT 2 cricket team continues to knock it out of the park, landing our second major cricket award in three years. With Jon Norman as team captain, alongside Kathryn Anastasi, our Head of Live Sport, they have delivered world-class, award-winning broadcasting.
Plus, winning Silver for Network of the Year, following our Gold last year, just shows the breadth of talent we have at talkSPORT both on air and behind the scenes. I really do have a first class team.”
Winner Matt Dickinson added: “It’s a real honour and for The Times and The Sunday Times to have 1-2-3 for sports columnist with Mike Atherton and David Walsh says everything, I hope, about the quality of analysis and opinion across our titles.
“It has been a year like no other but maybe these very strange times have forced us to think a bit harder about the sporting world we cover – like my growing unease about boxing at a time when there is so much coverage around head injuries across sport. I struggle to cheer for pro boxing any more and writing about it hopefully encouraged healthy debate around that violent trade.
“It has been a challenging time in every respect but after more than 20 years at The Times, I believe we are giving our readers not just the best coverage of sporting events – escapism and excitement – but, thanks to a brilliant team, the sharpest insights, too.”
