Outstanding Achievement

One of the most special moments of the Derby Awards is crowning the winner of the Outstanding Achievement award. The prize is chosen by the HWPA committee for a recipient who has made an extraordinary impact on the sport.

In the award’s inaugural year, trainer Dermot Weld won the award just a month on from the heroics of Vintage Crop in the Melbourne Cup and two years later Lester Piggott became the first jockey to take the prize. In 1997, the legendary Sir Peter O’Sullevan was a worthy first member of the racing media to be celebrated.

There has been huge variety in recent years with Lisa Hancock, the chief executive of the Injured Jockeys Fund, winning in 2019 while Jerry Hill’s efforts during the Covid-19 was rewarded the following year.

George Ennor
Long-serving President of the HWA from 1973 to 1994, George had a long career as a correspondent for the Sporting Life and then the Racing Post.

← Back to Derby Awards home