Nominations for the prestigious SJA Sports Journalism Awards 2014 have been announced with six journalists set to battle it out for the crown of regional sports writer of the year.

Jon Colman, of Carlisle daily the News & Star and sister weekly the Cumberland News, won the award last year for the third time in five years and is nominated for the award once again.

But Jon faces competition from Mark Douglas (NCJ Media), Chris Sumpter (Scunthorpe Telegraph), Mark Taylor (Cambridge News), Simon Walter (Southern Daily Echo) and Chris Wathan (MediaWales).

The winners will be unveiled at the gala celebration dinner on Monday 24 March at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden.

Other regional press journalists nominated for awards include John Gibson of  The Chronicle, Newcastle, who is up against national competition for the feature writer of the year award.

Further details about the SJA and information about the awards and tickets for the gala evening can be found at www.sportsjournalists.co.uk