Julian Finney Wins Canon Sports Photographer of the Year at London Palladium

Julian Finney of Getty Images won the Ed Lacey Trophy for Canon Sports Photographer of the Year for the first time at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, with a portfolio that mixed controversy, timing and elite access into one of the night’s most talked-about entries. The winning ceremony took place on Monday, April 27, 2026, at the London Palladium, the first time the gala had ever been staged at the venue.

Finney also took the Canon Portfolio category, with judges praising his 10-image entry as “rich in variety and quality” and saying it showed “exceptional ability to plan, prepare and react” as well as “outstanding versatility and technical excellence.” That language matters in a field where the best frame is rarely the luckiest one. Finney’s set moved from stadium pressure to alpine speed and track-and-field precision, showing why a top sports portfolio has to do more than deliver a single dramatic still.

Among the strongest images in the sequence were pictures of Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, England rugby star Ellie Kildunne and Austrian downhill skier Mirjam Puchner. The Mahuchikh frame came from the women’s high jump final at the Novuna London Athletics Meet on July 19, 2025, part of the 2025 Diamond League at London Stadium. The Chelsea image drew wider attention because it captured Donald Trump’s appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final trophy presentation in New Jersey in July 2025, when he remained on stage with Chelsea players during the post-match ceremony.

Finney’s night did not stop there. He also finished bronze in the Picture category and was shortlisted in three more sections: Football Portfolio, Specialist Portfolio and News Picture. That spread underlined the breadth of his work across Getty Images, where he has worked for more than 20 years.

The gala also honoured Bob Martin with the Doug Gardner Award for outstanding contribution to sports journalism. Martin is a three-time Ed Lacey Trophy winner, taking the prize in 1992, 1998 and 2001, and has covered multiple Summer and Winter Olympic Games over a 40-year career.

Hosted by Jim White, Reshmin Chowdhury, Bela Shah and Joel Beya, the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards span more than 30 categories across photography, writing, broadcast, open media and upcoming talent. For sports photographers, Finney’s win was a clear reminder that the strongest work combines access, anticipation and technical control, not just the most explosive moment in the room.