Peter Thomas heads strong Racing Post contingent in running for Derby Awards

Senior feature writer Peter Thomas was among several Racing Post journalists and photographers nominated for the HWPA Derby Awards on Monday.

Thomas is in the running to be racing writer of the year and the judges said: "He gets to the core of his subject and his pieces are entertaining and in depth."

Others shortlisted for the Clive Graham Trophy are Adam Houghton of Sporting Life plus freelances Lydia Hislop and Daragh O Conchuir.

The Post's Lee Mottershead and Jonathan Harding are on the shortlist for reporter of the year, alongside O Conchuir and Nick Luck.

Harding, whose piece on the small number of races affected by a rise in minimum prize-money "shows the ability and willingness to dig deeper into a widely-covered story, using data and analysis to reveal what the figures will mean", is also nominated for Specialist Writer, together with Alan Sweetman from the Post's Irish team, Emma Berry and Jon Lees.

Harding won the inaugural Emerging Talent award for the under-30s in 2019 and the Post provides four of the six in line for this year's prize in Mark Boylan, Maddy Playle, James Stevens and Kitty Trice. Photographer Megan Dent and tipster Dan Overall complete the field.

The Post's Edward Whitaker could become Racing Photographer of the Year for a tenth time, having won the title in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. His Irish-based colleague Patrick McCann took the crown in 2021 and has been shortlisted again thanks to what the judges described as "a superb portfolio with a great use of colour".

Whitaker is also shortlisted for picture of the year, for a shot at Lingfield that: "captures the essence of a horse race in the mud, a technically excellent photograph".

He is joined by Alan Crowhurst, George Selwyn and David Davies – who is also in the running to be top photographer along with Tim Goode.

The winners will be announced at the 56th HWPA Derby Awards lunch, supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Coral and Vertem Asset Management, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on December 5.

HWPA DERBY AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Writer of the year (for the Clive Graham Trophy): Lydia Hislop (freelance), Adam Houghton (Sporting Life), Daragh O Conchuir (freelance), Peter Thomas (Racing Post)

Reporter of the Year (John Oaksey Trophy): Jonathan Harding (Racing Post), Nick Luck (Nick Luck podcast), Lee Mottershead (Racing Post), Daragh O Conchuir (freelance)

Specialist Writer of the Year: Emma Berry (Thoroughbred Daily News), Jonathan Harding (Racing Post), Jon Lees (Thoroughbred Racing Commentary), Alan Sweetman (Racing Post)

Emerging Talent Award (Alan Lee Trophy): Mark Boylan (Racing Post), Megan Dent (freelance), Dan Overall (freelance), Maddy Playle (Racing Post), James Stevens (Racing Post), Kitty Trice (Racing Post)

Photographer of the Year: David Davies (Press Association), Tim Goode (Press Association), Patrick McCann (Racing Post), Edward Whitaker (Racing Post)

Picture of the Year: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images), David Davies (Press Association), George Selwyn (freelance), Edward Whitaker (Racing Post)

Read more from Peter Thomas's portfolio:

'It was relationships, finances... I lost everything because of racing'

Peter Chapple-Hyam: 'I had anxiety, panic attacks... I couldn't speak to anyone'

Colin Tizzard: 'I had to have five pints before I could ask a girl to dance!'

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