Winners of the 2013 British Sports Book Awards announced

Sports stars, authors, commentators, journalists and publishers all gathered for the 11th annual British Sports Book Awards last night where the winners were announced at a prestigious ceremony held at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London.

The British Sports Book Awards is a celebration of the very best in sports writing and, following a seminal year for British sport, the 2013 shortlist featured one of the strongest nominee lists in the Awards’ history.

In arguably the most competitive and eagerly anticipated category, David Walsh scooped the best Autobiography / Biography Award for Seven Deadly Sins, pipping the likes of Lord Sebastian Coe (Running My Life), Ian Thorpe (This is Me) and Sir Bradley Wiggins (My Time).

All winning books will now be entered into a public online vote to find The Times Sports Book of the Year. The vote opens on 22 May 2013 and closes at midnight 7 June 2013. The winner will be announced on 10 June, 2013. To vote go to: www.britishsportsbookawards.co.uk.

2013 British Sports Book Awards Winners

• Best New Writer– Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the secrets of the fastest people on earth by Adharanand Finn (Faber and Faber)
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Best Autobiography / Biography in association with The Times – Seven Deadly Sins by David Walsh (Simon & Schuster)

• Best Cricket Book in association with Littlehampton Book Services– On Warne by Gideon Haigh (Simon & Schuster)

• Best Football Book in association with Lycamobile – Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World by Graham Hunter (BackPage Press)
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Best Golf Book in association with St Andrews – Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa and Hamilton Grand – Bobby’s Open: Mr Jones and the Golf Shot that Defined a Legend by Steven Reid (Icon Books)

• Best Horseracing Book in association with Ladbrokes – Her Majesty’s Pleasure by Julian Muscat (Racing Post Books)

• Best Rugby Book in association with BT Sport – The Final Whistle: The Great War in Fifteen Players by Stephen Cooper (The History Press)

• Best Motorsports Book in association with Arbuthnot Latham – That Near-Death Thing by Rick Broadbent (Orion)

• Best Illustrated Book in association with Getty Images – 21 Days to Glory by Team Sky and Dave Brailsford (HarperCollins)

• Outstanding Contribution to Sports Writing – Christopher Martin-Jenkins

• Best Publicity Award in association with PPC – Be Careful What You Wish For by Simon Jordan – Bethan Jones (Yellow Jersey Press)
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Sports Book Retailer of the Year Award in association with Simon & Schuster – Foyles