A PHOTOGRAPHY graduate from Nantwich has been named Sports Photographer of the Year by the Picture Editors’ Guild.

Simon Stacpoole’s winning entry, a folio of five images that capture emotive images of sport away from its main stage, has seen him become the leading sports photographer of 2014.

Simon studied at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

The awards are open to all photographers, recognising the very best in photojournalism in the UK, and are judged in 10 categories. The competition is judged by a group of selected picture editors representing a broad range of agencies and publications.

The 31-year-old collected his award at a ceremony at the Honourable Artillery Company Headquarters in London.

He said: “It was a fantastic evening, and an incredible honour to win such a prestigious award. To fend off competition from photographers associated with national newspapers as well as international wire agencies was an extraordinary achievement, and one I’m incredibly proud of.”

Simon has covered a wide range of high profile sporting events right around the world since he left University in 2005 including the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, the London 2012 Olympic Games, Wimbledon, the British Lions rugby tour and the Open Championship golf.

The graduate of the BA (Hons) Photography at UCLan currently lives in Nantwich, Cheshire, and grew up in Suffolk attending Framlingham College.

Freelance photographer Simon specialises in sports photography but also works on corporate projects and weddings.

For more information about Simon follow him on Twitter @simonstacpoole