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Former Scotsman journalist is top sports hack again

Former Scotsman journalist Mike Aitken has again been crowned the nation’s top regional sports reporter in the 61st annual British Sports Journalism Awards.

Mike, who retired in August last year after 36 years with the daily, is now working as a freelance reporter.

Amanda Little, from Cumbrian Newspapers, repeated her 2009 success by being highly commended again in this category while the Hull Daily Mail’s Philip Buckingham and freelancer Richard Wilson were also shortlisted.

Mike, who won the same prize in 2008, joined The Scotsman in 1973 as a trainee and performed a variety of roles there, most latterly as its dedicated golf correspondent.

The Press Association’s Gareth Copley followed up his triumph in the World Press Photo competition last month by picking up the picture of the year, again for his action shot of England cricketer Jonathan Trott in last summer’s Ashes series.

Andrew Couldridge, of Action Images, and freelancer Hugh Routledge were highly commended in this category.

Scott Heavey, from agency Action Images, enjoyed a bumper night picking up the top prize of sports photographer of the year as well as best portfolio.

He was also highly commended in specialist and young photographer categories, the latter of which went to PA’s Andrew Matthews.

Toby Melville, of Reuters, walked away with the specialist photographer award and was also highly commended in the portfolio category alongside Tom Jenkins from the Guardian/Observer.

  • The awards are organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association and honour the best in sports journalism included best blogger, broadcaster and reporting team. To see the full list of winners from last night’s awards in London visit the SJA website. Some of shortlisted photographs can be enjoyed here.