SJA British Sports Journalism Awards 2025: Photography shortlists introduced

Shortlists revealed for Photography part of SJA British Sports Journalism Awards; 10 photos up for coveted Picture prize; bare-knuckle boxing, skeleton and sumo function as entrants in six classes get set for gala night time at London Palladium on April 27…

By the SJA

From celebrations to collisions, whether or not close-up or long-distance, the Picture class choice for this 12 months’s SJA British Sports Journalism Awards runs the gamut of motion and emotion.

In saying the shortlists for the Photography section, forward of the Awards gala on the London Palladium on Monday, April 27, sponsored by Canon UK, the Sports Journalists’ Association congratulates the contenders throughout the six classes, and thanks all those that submitted entries.

As is custom, a panel of skilled photographers assessed all the pictures earlier than making their choices. Chair of judges Paul Ellis stated: “The standard of sports photography in the UK is in a fantastic place, and the quality of entries to this competition proves it.

“The judging panel had an incredibly difficult task deliberating across all categories, with the strength and depth of submissions making the process extremely competitive.

“Many outstanding entries were unlucky not to make the final list. We hope this shortlist showcases the exceptional work photographers do every day to capture the magical – and sometimes brutal – moments of sport.”

The shortlists mirror recent expertise alongside a mixture of acquainted names, together with 5 former winners of the Ed Lacey Trophy for SJA Photographer of the Year. The winner of the highest honour can be revealed on Awards night time itself.

Before that presentation, there’s a lot to understand from the trade showcase, not least the ten dynamic photos vying for the title of Picture of the Year.

Alex Pantling has a pair of winter sports activities pictures on the shortlist – one displaying a skeleton racer, the opposite a ski jumper – whereas his Getty Images colleague Carl Recine additionally has a double probability at glory, through Team Europe’s Ryder Cup revels and a memorable Mo Salah second.

Andrew Boyers and Michael Steele proceed the celebrations with their choices of Red Roses star Ellie Kildunne and American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone respectively, whereas soccer is represented by goalkeeping motion snaps captured by Hannah McKay and Jacques Feeney.

Julian Finney’s cleverly-framed tennis shot and Richard Pelham’s dramatic over-the-ropes boxing entry full the line-up.

Here are the ten photos in competition for SJA Picture of the Year…

Boyers and Recine have twice emerged as Picture class champions in earlier editions of the Awards, and Pelham can be a former winner.

Meanwhile, Steele is the one photographer on this 12 months’s Picture shortlist to have retained their place from the final line-up, whereas Finney returns to competition right here for the primary time in 4 years.

News Picture shortlist produces golden reminiscences

The greatest illustration of sports activities information is the criterion for entries into the News Picture class, and the judges selected six headline-grabbing photos to undergo.

There’s Carl Recine’s shot of a gleaming FIFA Club World Cup trophy subsequent to a beaming Donald Trump; the poignant tifo tribute to Diogo Jota at Wolves v Manchester City in August, photographed by Catherine Ivill; and Kildunne’s medal-biting celebration after England’s Red Roses received the World Cup is supplied by Julian Finney.

Lee Smith, shortlisted on this class for the third time in 5 years, has a scene from the aftermath of Liverpool’s Premier League title parade; there’s visiting sumo wrestlers reverse the Houses of Parliament from Ryan Pierse; and Richard Heathcote, a former News Picture Award winner, caught Team Europe captain Luke Donald basking in that Ryder Cup-winning feeling at Bethpage Black.

Here are the six photos in competition for SJA News Picture of the Year…

While there are undoubtedly some trade heavyweights in Canon Portfolio – Smith, Finney, Steele and Adrian Dennis have all claimed this class earlier than – there’s additionally a former Young Photographer winner in Pantling, whereas rising star George Wood completes the set.

Finney options 5 instances on this 12 months’s shortlists, essentially the most of any photographer, and like Recine, Smith and Justin Setterfield, he’s in competition to change into the first-ever two-time winner of the Football Portfolio Award, now referred to as the Matthew Ashton Trophy. Pantling and Chloe Knott are additionally within the combine right here.

There is nice selection within the shortlist for the Phil Sheldon Trophy for Specialist Portfolio, with Dennis (rugby union), Alex Whitehead (biking), Davies (horse racing), Finney (tennis), Smith (bare-knuckle boxing) and Heathcote (golf) providing one thing for everybody. Davies has taken the honours right here twice within the final 4 years.

The aforementioned Wood is within the working for Canon Young Photographer for the fourth consecutive version of the Awards, and is joined on this event by Lexy Ilsley, who took News Picture bronze two years in the past, and 4 shortlist newcomers – Annabel Lee-Ellis, George Marriott, Jacques Feeney and Will Cooper.

Click here to see all the images from the shortlisted Photography entries

The winners of the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, sponsored by Canon UK, can be introduced at a gala ceremony happening on the London Palladium on the night of Monday, 27 April 2026.

Ticketing particulars are because of be confirmed this week.

CANON SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The Ed Lacey Trophy is awarded to the photographer who, within the opinion of the judges, has been the general greatest sports activities photographer of 2025 and has demonstrated an excellent vary of photographic abilities.

This can be judged on submitted entries into the classes listed beneath.

All different awards are topic to entered submissions that are then put earlier than our panel of skilled judges.

CANON BRITISH SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2025 – CATEGORY SHORTLISTS

CANON PORTFOLIO

Adrian Dennis – AFP
Alex Pantling – Getty Images
George Wood – Getty Images
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Michael Steele – Getty Images

FOOTBALL PORTFOLIO (MATTHEW ASHTON TROPHY)

Alex Pantling – Getty Images
Carl Recine – Getty Images
Chloe Knott – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Justin Setterfield – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters

SPECIALIST PORTFOLIO (PHIL SHELDON TROPHY)

Adrian Dennis – AFP
Alex Whitehead – Swpix
David Davies – PA Media
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Richard Heathcote – Getty Images

NEWS PICTURE

Carl Recine – Getty Images
Catherine Ivill – AMA Sports Photo
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Lee Smith – Action Images Reuters
Richard Heathcote – Getty Images
Ryan Pierse – Getty Images

PICTURE

Alex Pantling – Getty Images
Alex Pantling – Getty Images
Andrew Boyers – Action Images Reuters
Carl Recine – Getty Images
Carl Recine – Getty Images
Hannah McKay – Reuters
Jacques Feeney – Offside Sports Photography
Julian Finney – Getty Images
Michael Steele – Getty Images
Richard Pelham – Getty Images

CANON YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER

Annabel Lee-Ellis – Freelance
George Marriott – Freelance
George Wood – Getty Images
Jacques Feeney – Offside Sports Photography
Lexy Ilsley – Manchester City Football Club
Will Cooper – Will.T.Photography

The winner of the Canon Young Photographer of the Year Award can be introduced on the SJA web site on April 13.

All these shortlisted for the Canon Young Photographer Award can be contacted shortly and invited to attend the awards as a visitor of the SJA.

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