DAVID CARR scooped the feature prize at the 2020 HWPA Derby Awards when being named the Racing Writer of the Year to lift the Clive Graham Trophy.

There was also more 2020 award success for HOLLIE DOYLE as she became the first female rider to be named Flat Jockey of the Year.

The Racing Post Writer Carr beat three stablemates to land the award that is voted for by HWPA members when emerging ahead of fellow Racing Post-based nominees David Jennings, Jonathan Harding and Peter Thomas.

It was a first win at the Derby Awards for Yorkshire-based Carr.

The John Oaksey Trophy for the Racing Reporter of the Year award was won for the third time by CHRIS COOK of The Guardian. Runners-up were Bill Barber, Lee Mottershead and Lewis Porteous of the Racing Post.

BILL BARBER may have missed out on the Reporter of The Year – an award he won in 2018 - but he was successful in the Specialist Writer Award emerging from a final list of nominees which included Matt Bisogno (Geegeez.co.uk), Franck Mourier (pastthewire.com) and Chris McGrath (Thoroughbred Daily News).

The Alan Lee Trophy for Emerging Talent recognising the rising stars among the racing media was won by 28-year-old NICK SEDDON, who works for Horseracing.net. Runner-up were Adam Houghton, who works for Timeform, Callum Jamieson from The Sun, and Josh Stacey, who works for the Racing Post Social Media Team.

Nick currently works as a Content Manager for HorseRacing.net, a new website which was launched in September 2019. After graduating from Liverpool John Moores with a degree in Journalism in 2014, Nick joined Timeform in 2016 where his worked included being on their social media team.

The field for the Broadcaster of the Year included ITV’s Ed Chamberlin, Niall Hannity of Racing TV and Sky Sport Racing’s chief analyst Jamie Lynch. But the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Trophy was back in familiar hands as RTV’s NICK LUCK won it for an eighth time.

The Photographer of the Year Derby Award went to TRACY ROBERTS. Tracy, who works principally for Racing Ahead, added the award to her victory in the 2012 Picture of The Year. Runners-up were two previous winners – Mark Cranham and Hugh Routledge – and John Hoy.

Roberts also was nominated for Picture of the Year but that category produced a first Derby Award success for FRANCESCA ALTOFT. The other runners up were John Hoy and Tony Knapton.

Doyle’s success in the Flat Jockey category saw her outpoint her partner Tom Marquand, Will Buick and 2016 winner Jim Crowley while there was also a first win in the Jump Jockey of the Year category for champion jockey BRIAN HUGHES.

WILLIE MULLINS was crowned Jump Trainer of the Year while JOHN GOSDEN retained his Flat Trainer of the Year title.

WILLIAM HAGGAS was named International Trainer of the Year after a campaign which saw him win the Group One Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill in March and Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in April in Australia with Addeybb. In October, Haggas-trained One Master won the Prix De Le Foret at Longchamp on Arc weekend for the third consecutive year.

Owner of the Year was won for the third time by SHEIKH HAMDAN AL MAKTOUM, coming out on top in a field which included JP McManus, Marie & Joe Donnelly and the La Pyle Partnership.

The Arabian Racing Achievement Award was won by JESSICA QUINLAN. Whilst her family is well known to thoroughbred racing, for Jess to saddle her first winner with her first Arabian runner in Al Shaamikh was a notable achievement. Al Shaamikh duly won again, and Quinlan also gained a placing with the only other horse to run, in what has been a much-reduced season for UK Arabian racing. With no previous background with Arabians or experience of Arabian racing in the UK, she has made a great start to her training career, which has also earned her the title of Arabian Racing Organisation Leading Newcomer.

The George Ennor Trophy for Outstanding Achievement, named after the longest-serving President of the HWPA, was given to DR JERRY HILL, Chief Medical Adviser for the BHA. Dr Hill’s award particularly recognises his work this year drawing up the protocols to ensure could operate during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marcus Townend, President of the HWPA, said: "I was like to congratulate all the nominees whose work has been recognised in a particular challenging year. I would also like to thank both the Hong Kong Jockey Club, whose support has allowed the HWPA to stage the awards, and Sky Sports Racing who have hosted this year’s Derby awards when we were unable to host a physical event."

At the conclusion of today's broadcast on Sky Sports Racing, MARCUS TOWNEND was presented with a special award by David Cleary, Vice President of the HWPA. This special award acknowledged the outstanding support Marcus has given the racing media during the COVID-19 pandemic.