Annual NAPA Awards

Exclusive News/Sports Story

1st. The winner was Nick Constable of West Coast News for his brilliant story published in the Mail on Sunday on November 29th last year which revealed how a Royal Marines unit had had an opportunity to prevent the kidnap by Somali pirates of British yacht couple Paul and Rachel Chandler.

Nick learnt from impeccable sources that the Royal Fleet auxiliary boat Wave Knight had a crew of 20 heavily armed Marines who were ready to launch an air and sea assault rescue mission as the pirates were transferring the Chandlers from one ship to another on Day Six of their hostage ordeal.

But, as they waited just a few minutes away, the frustrated Marines were forced to obey orders from the Ministry of Defence not to make any move on the pirates and looked on as the Chandlers were whisked away by their captors.

2nd. The runner up was Justine Smith of John Connor Press Associates for her story published in The Sun on November 9th last year which revealed a mum's anger and upset over Gordon Brown mis-spelling the name of her son in a letter of condolence he sent to her following the death of her son in Afghanistan.

Grieving Jacqui Janes was furious the Prime Minister referred to the surname of her son, Guardsman Jamie Janes, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, as 'James' and started it by wrongly addressing her as 'Mrs James'.

She was also angry because she felt the letter was a 'hastily scrawled insult' with a number of other spelling mistakes in it.

Justine obtained an exclusive follow-up when she got a recording of a 13-minute telephone conversation between Mr Brown and Mrs Janes in which she confronted him over Army equipment shortages which she said helped cause her son's death.

3rd. Third place went to Andrew Buckwell of London Media for his story published in the Mail on Sunday on August 2nd last year which revealed a conflict of interest over BBC chief Jay Hunt and her husband running a media training firm which had been awarded a BBC contract.

Spec News/Sports Story

1st. The winner was Andrew Whelan of Ferrari Press Agency for his story published in several newspapers including the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail on November 24th last year which revealed convicted murderer Jane Andrews, the Duchess of York's former personal assistant, had absconded from prison in Kent.

Andrew was following up an exclusive story in The Sun which reported how Jane Andrews had tried to commit suicide at East Sutton Park open prison in Kent, when a prison service source revealed to Andrew that Jane had absconded and disappeared.

2nd. The runner-up was Dan Sales of Caters News Agency for his story published in several newspapers including the Daily Mirror on December 15th last year which revealed police officers at Burton police station in Staffordshire were facing a disciplinary investigation for allowing young girls arrested over a nightclub incident to dress in police unforms and pose provocatively for sexy pictures they later posted on Facebook.

3rd. In third place came Isla Harvey of Barcroft Media for her story published in the Daily Telegraph in May last year which told two-year-old Dakota Clarke had become the first British blind child to be cured by pioneering stem cell treatment in China. It restored Dakota's sight. The procedure involved implanting stem cells from her umbilical cord into her forehead. Her parents had raised more than £30,000 for the treatment which was not available in Britain. The story told how the operation allowed her to see people, objects, colours and light for the first time.

Feature Story

1st. The winner was Rachel Dale of Cavendish Press for her feature published in Real People and Best magazines, in mid-2009, in which told how a husband poisoned his wife's tea with mercury in a bizarre attempt to win back her love after she left him.

William Dowling hoped his wife Maureen would become ill and dependent on him and have to stay with him.

Rachel beat-off strong interest from other agencies and papers to persuade Maureen to talk exclusively to her after the high-profile trial at Preston Crown Court.

2nd. The runner up was Nick Constable of West Coast News for his feature published in the Sunday Express on August 9th last year which told Becky Ormrod's moving account of how doctors had told her that her 'gorgeous fiance' Mark Ormrod would never walk again after the Royal Marine lost both legs and an arm in an explosion in Afghanistan.

But he bravely fought back and was able to walk down the aisle on their wedding day on his artificial legs.

3rd. Third place was claimed by Nicola Fahey of Caters News Agency for her feature published in the Mail on Sunday and Reveal magazine in June 2009 and again in Company magazine in November last year.

Riam Dean, 22, who was born without a left forearm, fought an employment tribunal battle against Abercrombie and Fitch - dubbed fashion's 'most beautiful store' - after she was ordered not to wear long-sleeve tops which covered up her prosthetic arm.

Nicola followed up a report of the tribunal and persuaded Riam to talk about her ordeal.

Picture of the Year (UK)

Picture of the Year (Rest of the World)

Sports Picture of the Year

Rupert Hamer Award for Best Young Talent

1st. The winner was Simon Boyle of Mercury Press for his story published in the Daily Mail on December 7th last year, and other national newspapers, telling how Christian hoteliers Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang had been charged and were on trial for offending Muslim guests.

While the press benches at Liverpool Magistrates Court were packed for two days of the trial, Simon ensured that he had a head start over the pack by doing excellent advance research on the defendants, including a photo-shoot with Mercury Press at the hotel where they were accused of racially aggravated harassment.

It meant that his copy was 100% accurate and contained detail that others simply did not have, leading to great shows for his copy in several titles including a page lead in The Sun.

Notably, Simon later followed the story through and had another page lead with his story that the couple were bankrupt and suing police for damages.

2nd. The runner up was Ben Griffiths of Ferrari Press Agency for his story published in the Sunday Mirror on October 11th last year which featured an interview with Danielle Sims, an ex-girlfriend of Alex Reid, model Jordan's new boyfriend.

Danielle revealed how Alex used to like cross-dressing as a woman and supplied a picture of him wearing women's clothes.

It was a story which had been hinted at by a few tabloid gossip diary items but Ben finally got the proof from someone who had been close to Alex.

3rd. Third place was claimed by Andrew Dagnell of Ferrari Press Agency for his story published in the Sunday Mirror on November 22nd last year which was an interview with X Factor hopeful Danyl Johnson's mum Maria expressing her concern that Simon Cowell was ruining her son's life by concentrating more on rival singer Olly Murs and not doing enough to defend Danyl from tabloid gossip that he was difficult to work with and unfriendly to other contestants.

Andrew managed to persuade Maria to speak out even though Danyl was still in the show and X Factor press officers were obsessed with keeping control over any articles about the show appearing in the press - but they didn't have control over this one due to Andrew's good work.