A multi-award winning sports reporter has added another trophy to his cabinet after being named Britain’s top regional sports journalist for the ninth time.

Jon Colman, of Newsquest Cumbria, received the regional sports journalist of the year accolade at this week’s British Sports Journalism Awards for 2023.

Already a record holder for his previous eight wins, he extended his tally by overcoming competition from regional journalists across the country

The Portsmouth News’ Neil Allen took second place, while Ciaran Kelly of Newcastle’s Chronicle and Journal was placed third.

Judges said: “Jon’s work displayed first-class journalism – Investigative reporting, great story-telling and knowledge of his subject, all written with the utmost quality to grip the reader from the first word to the last.”

In his acceptance speech, Jon paid tribute to colleagues at Carlisle’s News & Star and The Cumberland News and also dedicated the trophy to his mum, Noreen.

Jon told the News & Star: “I felt very lucky and grateful to receive the award, and also to be in the company of so many regional and national journalists who I admire and respect enormously,” Jon said.

“Ever since I started reporting on Carlisle United in 2005 I’ve regarded the job as a great privilege and something I’ve always given my heart and soul towards.

“In accepting the award it was important to recognise some of the people who give me so much support at the News & Star.

“I couldn’t wish for a more supportive editor in Joy Yates, while I never take for granted the patience and help of Jo Kelly and Colin Edgar in handling my work and some of my annoying requests.

“I also wanted to acknowledge and thank our fantastic freelance photographers – Barbara Abbott, Ben Holmes, and Richard Parkes – whose dedication, quality, and friendship is such an important part of our United coverage.

“I’m very thankful to everyone who reads my work, all the Blues fans who take the time to interact with it and me, and people like Jon Connolly and Nick Anderton who trusted me to tell their stories in an appropriate and sensitive way.

“And, above everything else, the award is for my mam, for all the love, support, and encouragement she gives me every day.”

The full list of winners is below:

Sports Content Organisation: Sky Sports

Doug Gardner Award for Services to Sports Journalism and the SJA: Patrick Collins

WRITING AWARDS    

SJA Sportswriter of the Year (John Bromley Trophy): Adam Crafton (The Athletic)

Newspaper: Daily Mail

News Reporter: Martyn Ziegler (The Times & Sunday Times)

Scoop: City’s 115 Charges – Martyn Ziegler (The Times & Sunday Times)

Columnist: Jonathan Liew (The Guardian)

Football Journalist: Henry Winter (The Times & Sunday Times)

Cricket Journalist: Nick Hoult (Telegraph Media Group)

Rugby Journalist: Nik Simon (Mail Sport)

Women’s Sport Journalist: Suzanne Wrack (The Guardian)

Digital Publisher: The Athletic

Feature Writer: Don McRae (The Guardian)

Football News Reporter: David Ornstein (The Athletic)

Regional Journalist: Jon Colman (Newsquest Cumbria)

Social Media Journalist: Charlotte Daly (Mail Sport)

Specialist Correspondent: Don McRae (The Guardian)

Ones to Watch – Writing (The Ian Wooldridge Award): George Simms (The i paper)

SJA Academy Award in association with talkSPORT: Laura Howard

PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

Canon SJA Sports Photographer of the Year (Ed Lacey Trophy): Justin Setterfield (Getty Images)

Canon Portfolio: Lee Smith (Reuters)

Specialist Portfolio (Phil Sheldon Trophy): Clive Brunskill (Getty Images)

Football Portfolio: Justin Setterfield (Getty Images)

Picture: Ryan Pierse (Getty Images)

News Picture: Mike Egerton (PA Media)

Young Photographer: Morgan Harlow (Freelance)

BROADCAST AWARDS

Presenter: Mark Chapman (BBC Sport)

Broadcast Journalist: Gabriel Clarke (ITV)

Commentator: Nasser Hussain (Sky Sports)

Pundit: Ian Wright – ITV

Audio Show: White & Jordan – talkSPORT

Television Show: Monday Night Football – Sky Sports

Audio Documentary: Go Deeper: Football on Turkey’s Fault line – The Athletic

Television Documentary: Amputating Alice – Noah Media Group for Channel 4

Audio Live Event Coverage: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – talkSPORT

Television Live Event Coverage: 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final – ITV

Podcast: Everton: Nothing Will Be The Same – BBC Studios

Ones to Watch – On Air: Miriam Walker-Khan (Sky Sports News)

Ones to Watch – Off Air: Maryam Chaudhary (Sky Sports News)