Title won in photo finish

An outside bet pipped veterans at the post to win a top racing photography award after only 15 months in his job behind the lens.

David Dew from Stourbridge clinched the Racing Photographer of the Year award with a portfolio including a silhouette of horses and riders and another of a jockey taking a tumble, both taken at a point-to-point meeting at Chaddesley Corbett near Kidderminster.

He was presented with his trophy at the Horserace Writers and Photographers' Association awards lunch.

The Derby Awards are the biggest in horseracing, honouring the top jockeys, trainers, owners and journalists of the year. Mr Dew, aged 30, of King Street, Lye, said his inaugural victory was a big surprise. He added: "When they announced the winner they said it was a 100-1 shot who'd won. At that moment, I knew it was me."

Mr Dew considered a photo of a girl building sandcastles on the beach at Laytown races as the horses galloped past in the background his favourite.

He said: "I owe a lot to my dad as he taught me a lot of what I know and used to take me away to photograph events when I was younger."

Mr Dew received his award at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, accompanied by partner Lisa, baby Bethany and parents John and Katherine, of Pedmore. He works as a sub-editor for the Racing Post.