Sky Sports presenters and pundits among personalities chosen as Cross Sports Book Awards judges
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 08/03/17 10:05am
Sky Sports presenters and pundits are among a stellar cast of sports personalities chosen as judges for the 2017 Cross Sports Book Awards.
A total of nine prizes will be up for grabs when the awards ceremony takes place on May 24 at Lord's, where the Sky Sports cameras will be in attendance.
Sky Sports' La Liga pundit Guillem Balague, whose biography of Cristiano Ronaldo was named Football Book of the Year at the 2016 awards, is one of the judges for Autobiography of the Year alongside England batsman Nick Compton and former England hooker Brian Moore.
Among the autobiographies on the awards shortlist are those by Sky Formula One pundits Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert, Olympic Games gold medallists Laura and Jason Kenny and Premier League champion Jamie Vardy.
Judges will have to cut down a 12-strong longlist to a shortlist before the end of March, while shortlists for the other eight categories will be revealed on April 26.
Rowing great Dame Katherine Grainger, Rugby World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson and National Hunt champion trainer Paul Nicholls will also be involved on the judging panel.
Grainger said: "I'm thrilled to be a part of the Cross Sports Book Awards for the first time this year. It's a fantastic campaign and ceremony. I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with a stellar group of sporting stars and journalists."
Sky Cricket presenters Paul Allott, Bob Willis and Isa Guha will judge the Cricket Book of the Year award, while Sky Sports News HQ presenter Clare Tomlinson and Sky News' sports presenter Jacquie Beltrao are also on judging duty.
Prizes will be handed out for Autobiography of the Year, Biography of the Year, Football Writers' Book of the Year, Cycling Book of the Year, Cricket Book of the Year, Rugby Book of the Year, Illustrated Book of the Year, New Writer of the Year and International Autobiography of the Year as well as an award for Outstanding Contribution to Sports Writing.
