News & Star reporter Jon Colman shortlisted for sports journalism award

The News & Star‘s sports reporter Jon Colman has been shortlisted for another major industry award.

Our Carlisle United writer is among the nominees to be named regional sports journalist of the year at this month’s British Sports Journalism Awards.

Jon, who has already won the award a record nine times, is on an eight-strong shortlist along with journalists from Scotland, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Liverpool, Wales and London.

He was shortlisted for an entry that included a powerful two-part interview with the former Barrow captain Lewis Hardcastle, who spoke about the double ordeal of having to retire at 22 because of a heart condition, and also the trauma of being accused of, standing trial for – and being cleared of – rape.

Other articles from Jon’s daily work covering Carlisle United also featured in his submission.

The British Sports Journalism Awards, organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association, are regarded as the Oscars of the industry.

Jon has been named regional sports journalist of the year for 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2023.

Also shortlisted this year are the Portsmouth News duo Neil Allen – a two-time former winner – and Jordan Cross.

Previous winner Dafydd Pritchard from BBC Wales is also in the running, along with Ciaran Kelly from Newcastle’s Chronicle and Journal, the Evening Standard’s Simon Collings, and Heather Dewar, a freelance who writes for the Scottish Daily Mail.

The British Sports Journalism Awards have a number of other categories in writing, broadcasting and photography with a host of national media figures in the running.

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, in London, on Monday 24 March.