MID-North Coast journalist, Doug Ryan, of North Haven, won the NSW country and provincial award for his coverage of horse racing in the 2014/15 season before more than 300 people at a glittering presentation night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney on Friday night.
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The award was for "a particular piece of editorial content or coverage which showcased Country/Provincial racing during the 2014/15 season".
The criteria given to judges throughout NSW was for "Outstanding editorial promotion of a carnival, feature meeting or issue of importance to Country/Provincial racing by a NSW journalist, commentator, publication or website".
It was the fourth time Ryan had been a finalist in the category in the past 11 years of writing for Mid-North Coast newspapers and for his Saturday commentary, along with Kempsey's Dick Hillard for the past 35 years on Radio 2MC.
Ryan also does a racing segment on Radio 2RE and contributes articles about Australian and overseas racing for the Racing NSW Journal.
Ryan started his career in 1962 as a cadet journalist on The Telegraph in Sydney along with notable journalists the late Peter Harvey and Mike Gibson, rugby league historian Ian Heads, racing journalist and Australian Jockey Club chief Ray Alexander, Keith Robbins, Ken Harkness and Jeff Collerson.
"These wonderful human beings blooded me into horse racing reporting after a couple of decades of chasing murderers, bent police, fires, MPs and hospital administrators overseas and on the Northern Beaches."
He won seven awards for news excellence in journalism in New Zealand, a NSW suburban newspapers' award for best news story, was a guest of the United States Information Service during the country's bicentenary in 1976 and was bestowed an award for his services to NSW Surf Life Saving.
"Racing allows me to write about a sport I love and have a bet on," Ryan said.
"Racing people are wonderful, the best anyone could encounter."
Ryan wasn't the only one to receive an award. One also went to Port Macquarie apprentice jockey Andrew Adkins, having the most wins as an apprentice in NSW.
Adkins thanked parents, friends, trainers and owners for his great season.
Port Macquarie trainer Neil Godbolt was also a finalist in the trainer's award but had to bow to Sue Grills.
Godbolt won the award for his efforts in 2006 and 2009.
