Trio of Racing Post writers in the running for top HWPA award as shortlists are revealed

Racing Post writers Lee Mottershead, Patrick Mullins and Peter Thomas are in the running for a top award next month.

They were revealed on Sunday to be among the four nominees for writer of the year at the annual Horserace Writers and Photographers Derby Awards.

The shortlist for photographer of the year includes the Post's Edward Whitaker and Patrick McCann, who is also up for picture of the year.

Donn McClean of the Irish Field completes the quartet of potential writers of the year, an award Mottershead has won three times and Thomas once.

First-time nominee Mullins, a hugely successful amateur rider, was hailed by the judges as: “A singular writer with great talent. His pieces are so beautifully written and full of illuminating observations, notably his coming to terms with bitter disappointment in a big race.”

McCann was photographer of the year for a second time in 2023 and Whitaker is a nine-time winner of an award whose shortlist also includes Alan Crowhurst and Bill Selwyn.

The Racing Post's Jonathan Harding is among the nominations for reporter of the year, along with Jack Keene, Nick Luck and Greg Wood.

Mottershead, Tom Peacock and Alan Sweetman are in contention for the specialist writer prize, up against Emma Berry of Thoroughbred Daily News.

And those named in the emerging talent category for the under-30s include the Post's Conor Fennelly, on a shortlist which also features Xander Brett, Amy Corrado and Joshua Stacey.

ITV presenters Adele Mulrennan, Ruby Walsh and Jason Weaver are nominated for broadcaster of the year, as are former winners Lydia Hislop and Nick Luck.

All winners will be announced at the Derby Awards lunch, which is supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, World Pool and Coral, at the Royal Lancaster in London on December 2. Tickets can be purchased by emailing carrdeus@gmail.com

Derby awards nominations 

Writer of the year (for the Clive Graham trophy): Donn McClean, Lee Mottershead, Patrick Mullins, Peter Thomas

Photographer of the year: Alan Crowhurst, Patrick McCann, Bill Selwyn, Edward Whitaker 

Reporter of the year (for the John Oaksey trophy): Jonathan Harding, Jack Keene, Nick Luck, Greg Wood

Picture of the year (for the Gerry Cranham trophy): Debbie Burt, Alan Crowhurst, David Davies, Patrick McCann

Specialist writer: Emma Berry, Lee Mottershead, Tom Peacock, Alan Sweetman

Emerging talent (for the Alan Lee trophy): Xander Brett, Amy Corrado, Conor Fennelly, Joshua Stacey

Broadcaster of the year (for the Peter O’Sullevan trophy): Lydia Hislop, Nick Luck, Adele Mulrennan, Ruby Walsh, Jason Weaver

Jockey of the year: Harry Cobden, Ryan Moore, Oisin Murphy, Rossa Ryan

Trainer of the year: Ralph Beckett, Karl Burke, Willie Mullins, Aidan O’Brien

Owner of the year: Coolmore, Juddmonte, JP McManus, Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum

Members can read some of the Racing Post's award-nominated pieces here: 

Lee Mottershead

Sir Michael Stoute: 'I still enjoy it but probably not as much as I ever did' 

'I don't take any notice of the cancer, I just carry on. I'm not frightened. I was a jump jockey, wasn't I' 

'It was one of the lowest points in my life. I felt a sense of injustice and I still feel it now' 

Patrick Mullins

We came, we saw, we left with our tails between our legs - but I've never seen anything quite like it 

Patrick Mullins: 'I think about her, and smile. As I always will when I do' 

'I want to be sick. I want to cry. I want to punch something. My golden opportunity has evaporated' 

Peter Thomas

'You're unfashionable all of a sudden. I was struggling to pay my mortgage, wondering what I was going to do' 

'I'm single-handedly trying to bring up my father and it's not going well - I'm 22 and he's still 18' 

'For the first few months after Betsy was diagnosed I'd drive to work and cry on my own in the car every single day' 

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