Regional sports journalists John Gibson, of the Newcastle Chronicle, Danny Hall, of the Western Daily Press, the Liverpool Post’s David Prior, Phil Rostron of the Yorkshire Evening Post, and Jeremy Wilson, from the Southern Echo, are all shortlisted for regional sports journalist of the year.

Some of Britain's top sports writers will go head to head in the battle to be acclaimed in the Sports Journalist and Sports Photographer of the Year awards.

Leading names like Patrick Collins, of the Mail on Sunday, Sue Mott, from the Daily Telegraph, and Harry Harris, of the Daily Express, have also been shortlisted to collect a prestigious title when the winners of the awards - organised by the Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain and supported by UK Sport - are announced on March 7.

The overall sports journalist of the year - together with sports photographer of the year and various individual picture awards - will be announced at a gala dinner in London's West End.