A reporter on a North West newspaper took the regional crown at the British Sports Journalism Awards for the second time in four years.

Carlisle based News and Star sports journalist Jon Colman, 31, was named regional sports writer of the year at the awards held by the Sports Journalism Association on Monday night.

Jon’s winning portfolio included an exclusive interview with ex-Carlisle United favourite Steve Soley about his lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder and a front-page exclusive about Manchester United’s secret deal to sign a schoolboy goalkeeper from Carlisle.

Jon, who has worked at the Star since 2005 and also won the award three years ago, said: “I wasn’t expecting to win. I was happy to be there and was humbled to be shortlisted.

“There are an awful lot of talented people about in the national and regional press that I get to meet on jobs. They all work hard so to win is a nice bonus.”

In the sports writing categories each was judged by a panel of up to six judges drawn from a range of publications, all with extensive media experience.

Jon’s colleague Amanda Little was highly commended in the same category.

Her  entry focused on Cumbrian rugby star James Tincknell’s ambition to play for England five months after he was almost killed in a horrific car crash and a searing interview with Carlisle United ‘bad boy’ Gary Madine.

There were 21 other awards which mostly covered national titles, with The Times newspaper taking six awards.