Racing Post's Lee Mottershead named racing writer of the year at HWPA awards

Lee Mottershead joined a select band after he was crowned racing writer of the year for the third time at the 55th annual Derby Awards in London on Monday.

He was presented with the Clive Graham Trophy in front of more than 600 lunch guests at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in a ceremony organised by the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association and supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Coral and Vertem Asset Management.

Mottershead, who has worked for the Racing Post for 25 years, also won in 2011 and 2019 and joins Alastair Down, Chris McGrath and the late Alan Lee as the only people to have landed the award more than twice. His submission was praised by the judges for its "versatility, a well-crafted writing style and an impressive command of his subject matter".

Mottershead said: "I was up against some fantastic people. Richard Forristal and David Jennings, my Racing Post colleagues, and Jack Keene from The Sun. They're all mighty writers and it's a privilege to call them colleagues.

Racing Post award winners Patrick McCann (left) and Lee Mottershead pose after their wins at the HWPA awardsCredit: Johnny Hathaway / HWPA

"I'm blessed in my job to go to the best racecourses to cover the best races, and I also get to meet some amazing people.

"One of my submissions was the 40th anniversary of Shergar's Derby. As a kid, I wasn't a big football fan. Racing was always my sport and my team was [Sir Michael] Stoute and [Walter] Swinburn, so to write about Shergar's Derby was a privilege, while I saw Leonna Mayor in the summer and wasn't sure what that would yield as an interview, but she spoke to me so honestly about her difficult life story that I was honoured she'd put such trust in a journalist.

Members can read Lee Mottershead's award-winning submissions:

Jamie Spencer: 'If you don't like the way I ride, don't bet on me or don't book me for a ride'

'Now is the time to bet like men' - how Shergar made a lot of people very rich

Leonna Mayor: 'People have no idea what my life has been like - I've no reason to be ashamed'

"It's thanks to the team at the Racing Post who are so fabulous with me, especially four people I work most closely with – Tom Kerr, Dylan Hill, John Hopkins and Mark Storey – who are great to work with and are extremely patient."

Fellow Racing Post writer Chris Cook was voted reporter of the year for the fourth time, and the first since he left The Guardian this year.

The Post's Patrick McCann topped the poll for photographer of the year for the first time, thanks to an entry described as "a really well chosen portfolio, hard to fault". McCann is a three-time winner of the picture of the year award, which this time went to freelance photographer Francesca Altoft.

One of Patrick McCann's images that helped him to win photographer of the yearCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Long-serving journalist and broadcaster Ian Carnaby was named specialist writer of the year. "It comes as a surprise. I've been retired for a couple of years but I've kept my hand in," he said.

At the other end of the age range, Racing TV presenter Jess Stafford received the Alan Lee Trophy for emerging talent, while the same channel was also recognised when Lydia Hislop was announced as broadcaster of the year for the second time in three years.

The George Ennor Trophy for outstanding achievement went to retired jockey Richard Johnson, while the President's Award was given to former BBC Racing stalwart John Hanmer.

Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead took the awards for jump racing professionals, while Godolphin's William Buck and Charlie Appleby did likewise on the Flat.

Covid-19 meant last year's Derby Awards were presented remotely – the winners received a belated accolade on stage on Monday – and HWPA president David Cleary said: "It is tremendous to be able to stage the lunch and the awards after a two-year gap and I must thank all those who made it possible, notably our sponsors the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Coral and Vertem Asset Management.

"It has been a difficult couple of years for many of our members but the aim of these awards is to showcase the very best racing writing, photography and broadcasting and I'm delighted that this year's winners – and the nominees – really fit that bill."

Full list of HWPA award winners

Clive Graham Trophy for Racing Writer of the Year
Lee Mottershead

John Oaksey Trophy for Racing Reporter of the Year
Chris Cook

Photographer of the Year
Patrick McCann

Picture of the Year
Francesca Altoft

Alan Lee Trophy for Emerging Talent
Jess Stafford

Peter O'Sullevan Trophy for Broadcaster of the Year
Lydia Hislop

Specialist Writer of the Year
Ian Carnaby

HWPA President’s Award
John Hanmer

George Ennor Trophy for Outstanding Achievement
Richard Johnson

Flat Jockey of the Year
William Buick

Flat Trainer of the Year
Charlie Appleby

Jump Jockey of the Year
Rachael Blackmore

Jump Trainer of the Year
Henry de Bromhead

Owner of the Year
Emma Banks

International Trainer of the Year
Charlie Appleby

Arabian Racing Achievement Award
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a three-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday