15 November 2011 Egmont Sippel is SA’s top motoring writer once again, while Inga Hendriks scoops photography award for 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The South African Guild of Motoring Journalists’ annual Motoring Journalist of the Year and Photographer of the Year competition has this year again attracted entries from the very best in the field of motoring journalism and motoring photography. As is to be expected, it was highly competitive, with only the smallest of margins determining the winners at the end of the day.

Organised by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists, with sponsorship by Total South Africa, the competition sets out to recognise the high quality work the Guild’s journalists and photographers deliver on an annual basis.

Today, winners in several categories were announced at an awards ceremony held at the Protea Hotel Balalaika in Sandton, including the prestigious Motoring Journalist of the Year and Photographer of the Year titles, for which each winner receives a R10 000 cash prize and trophies.

Egmont Sippel, formerly of the Media24 group and currently with Action Publications, was once again judged to be South Africa’s top guild motoring writer, delivering his trademark top quality work in a number of different categories.”One should not attempt to define a gift,” noted the judges. “One is either inexplicably gifted or you’re not. Egmont Sippel is a gifted writer. Why? He combines attributed that rescue him from mundane wordplay. He loves words, metaphor and myth, and projects this love onto a field he clearly enjoys.”

Independent photographer, Inga Hendriks, scored her second consecutive win as Photographer of the Year in this prestigious competition. “This photographer’s keen eye, wonderful understanding of light and attention to detail, which is consistently displayed on all her work, gave her the edge to come out ahead of a fiercely competitive group of outstanding photograpgers,” noted the judges.

Roger Houghton was also given a Life Time Achievement Award by the SAGMJ for his never ending work in the field of motoring journalism. As a PR practitioner within the industry, as the industry representative on the Guild Committee for many years, and as a practicing journalist reporting on industry matters, Roger’s substantial contribution to motoring journalism over the years has impacted positively on more than one generation of South African motoring journalists.

Entries for the SAGMJ/ Total South Africa Motoring Journalist of the Year 2011 and Photographer of the Year 2011 competition will officially open on 1 December 2011, with an awards ceremony scheduled for June 2012. Information regarding amended entry criteria and entry deadlines will be communicated to all members of the Guild by 30 November 2011.

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN GUILD OF MOTORING JOURNALISTS
Media Contacts:
Christo Valentyn - Convenor: MJOY: 082 457 2788 or [email protected]
Adell de Vos - SAGMJ Secretary: 021 855 1517 or [email protected]


THE SAGMJ/ TOTAL SA MOTORING JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2010 WINNERS

MOTORING, Magazines
WINNER: Ray Leathern
RUNNER-UP: Egmont Sippel
COMMENDED: Lance Branquinho

MOTORSPORT, Magazines
WINNER: Egmont Sippel
RUNNER-UP: Aaron Borrill
COMMENDED: Adrian Burford

MOTORING, Newspapers
WINNER: Egmont Sippel
RUNNER-UP: Sukasha Singh

MOTORSPORT, Newspapers
WINNER: Egmont Sippel
COMMENDED: Minesh Bhagaloo

MOTORING Internet
WINNER: Lance Branquinho
RUNNER-UP: Gordon Hall
COMMENDED: Sukasha Singh

MOTORSPORT Internet
WINNER: Lance Branquinho
RUNNER-UP: Steve Mearns

MOTORING, Television
WINNER: Hannes Visser
JOINT RUNNERS-UP: Waldo van der Waal and Lindsay Vine

MOTORSPORT, Television
WINNER: Hannes Visser
RUNNER-UP: Waldo van der Waal

MOTORING, Radio
WINNER: Roger McCleery
RUNNER-UP: Mark Smyth
COMMENDED: Ashref Ismail

MOTORSPORT, Radio
COMMENDED: Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger

MOTORING, Photography
WINNER: Inga Hendriks
RUNNER-UP: Marc Bow
COMMENDED: Seagram Pearce

MOTORSPORT, Photography
COMMENDED: Dave Ledbitter


MOTORING JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2010: Egmont Sippel

MOTORING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2010: Inga Hendriks

STEVE DLAMINI AWARD 2010: Andrew Leopold