A regional daily journalist has won a national sports reporting award for the seventh time.

Jon Colman, of the Carlisle News & Star, has been named regional sports journalist of the year at the Sports Journalists’ Association British Sports Journalism Awards 2020.

Neil Allen, of Portsmouth daily The News, won the silver prize in the category after winning it the previous two years.

Steven Chicken, of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner and Yorkshire Live, was awarded bronze.

Jon, pictured, posted on Twitter: “Very proud and grateful to win this.

“Congratulations to some superb fellow nominees – and to everyone who’s dug deep for the regional media in a year like no other.

“Thanks to the SJA, great colleagues past and present, and every News & Star reader who puts up with my waffle.”

Speaking to HTFP, Jon said:  “I am very proud and grateful to win the award, especially considering the quality of the other shortlisted candidates.

“I am lucky to do a job I love in a place I love, and to work with – and to have worked with – some great colleagues at the News & Star.

“I’m also very thankful to the people who put their trust in me to tell their stories, those who help me do so, and to all the readers who put up with my ramblings.

“Above all I would like to dedicate the award to everyone in regional sports journalism who has dug deep during some very challenging times in the last 12 months, and to all the talented and dedicated people who through no fault of their own are no longer in the industry.

“There is still so much fantastic talent in the local media and I am proud still to work in it.”