Veteran of 13 Olympics handed award for services to athletics at British Athletics Writers’ Association event
Mark Shearman, long-time photographer for Athletics Weekly and UK Athletics, has received a Ron Pickering Memorial Fund (RPMF) award for services to athletics.
For more than half a century Shearman’s images have captured the most iconic moments in the sport, the 71-year-old having so far covered 13 Olympic Games in his career.
His work and dedication is universally admired and he was made an MBE in 2013 for services to sports photography.
The first of his many front-cover shots for AW came in 1962 when he captured Trevor Burton’s British pole vault record attempt at Tooting Bec in south London.
Shearman received his award from Richard Hughes, publisher of Athletics Weekly and chair of the RPMF’s working group, at the annual awards of the British Athletics Writers’ Association (BAWA) in London.
“The RPMF award for services to athletics this year goes to a gentleman who is quite simply a master of his art,” said Hughes.
“Mark Shearman is involved in the sport throughout the year and is an ever-present at club, national and international events, appearing in all weathers and at all times.”
Speaking in front of guests at the BAWA event, Hughes added: “He has probably covered more hard yards for the sport than all of us put together and as a result has become one of the most familiar figures in athletics for some three generations.
“The sport would indeed be at a loss should he ever hang up his tripod.”
