Racing Post's David Carr crowned Racing Writer of the Year at HWPA awards

The Racing Post's David Carr was crowned Racing Writer of the Year for the first time at the annual Horserace Writers' & Photographers' Association Derby Awards on Thursday.

Carr held off Racing Post colleagues David Jennings, Jonathan Harding and Peter Thomas in the prestigious category.

Carr said: "Just to be in the running for an award that has been won by Lord Oaksey, Sir Peter O'Sullevan, Richard Baerlein and all those others whose names you have revered since childhood is remarkable.

"I'm not employed for my tipping ability and I did think I was the outsider of four – I must pay tribute to my Post colleagues David Jennings, Jonathan Harding and Peter Thomas, any one of whom would have been a worthy winner. They're all genuinely good guys too and I'd offer to buy them all a drink in sympathy, were that not illegal in Tier 3 Yorkshire."

Winning submissions

Here are two of Carr's submissions to the judging panel. In the first, he spoke to trainer Harriet Bethell about her incredible recovery from a brain injury as the trainer defied the odds and rebuilt her life

'You use a knife and fork all your life but now I struggle - it's unbearable'

Finally, as part of our Origins of the Classics series during lockdown, he traced the roots of the St Leger, Doncaster's most famous race dating back to 1776

The race with no name that became a Classic part of sporting history

Bill Barber added to the Post's haul at the 54th edition of the awards, which were broadcast remotely on Sky Sports Racing rather than taking place at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London, when he won the award for Specialist Writer.

Barber said: "I'm really pleased. It's been an interesting year in all sorts of ways but it's nice to have what I've been writing recognised by others.

"I'm absolutely delighted for David as well. I've worked with him for nearly 25 years and he's one of the good guys. I'm probably more pleased for him than I am myself."

Chris Cook won Reporter of the Year, while there were new names on the photography roll of honour with Tracy Roberts named as the Photographer of the Year and Francesca Altoft winning Picture of the Year.

"It's a real source of pride to win an award named after such a great man, and to be nominated alongside some of the people I most like and admire," Cook said.

"I've spent a lot of this year missing the company of my rival hacks and I hope press rooms will be a lot busier in 2021"

HWPA Awards

Writer of the Year – David Carr

Reporter of the Year – Chris Cook

Specialist Writer – Bill Barber

Photographer of the Year – Tracy Roberts

Picture of the Year – Francesca Altoft

Broadcaster of the Year – Nick Luck

Emerging Talent – Nick Seddon

Flat Jockey of the Year – Hollie Doyle

Flat Trainer of the Year – John Gosden

Jump Jockey of the Year – Brian Hughes

Jump Trainer of the Year – Willie Mullins

Owner of the Year – Hamdan Al Maktoum

International Trainer of the Year – William Haggas

Arabian Achievement Award – Jessica Quinlan

The George Ennor Trophy – Dr Jerry Hill

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