‘Caithness should be proud of variety and standard of sport’: Halkirk photographer James Gunn shortlisted again in Scottish Press Awards

A Caithness photographer has been shortlisted for a national award for his work in the Caithness Courier and John O’Groat Journal – for the tenth time.

James Gunn has been providing top-quality sports images for the Caithness Courier and John O’Groat Journal for 17 years.

Based in Halkirk, he works full time at Dounreay as the information and knowledge manager and does his freelance photography work in the evenings and at weekends.

While James has been shortlisted nine times previously, he has come up against stiff competition including from full-time professional photographers many of whom work for national agencies and titles, and has never won the Sports Photographer of the Year title at the Scottish Press Awards. He was twice runner-up.

This year his entry included shots from a national surfing competition in Thurso, a cycling time trial, Caithness amateur football and rugby.

He is up against Darrell Benns of the Press and Journal/Evening Express, Ian MacNicol of Getty Images, Andrew Milligan of PA Media and Alan Wilson of the East Lothian Courier, Peeblesshire News and Border Telegraph in the same category.

He said: “I am delighted at being shortlisted once again as it puts Caithness sport on the map.

“Many of the others are full-time professionals that travel throughout Scotland and even the world, to capture their images. All of my five images were taken in the north of Scotland, four in Caithness, and it highlights that eye-catching sporting action can be captured at any level. It does not require stadiums full of thousands of spectators and professional competitors.

“The variety and standard of sport in Caithness is something the county should be proud of. My photos help to promote sport in a small way and hopefully encourage youngsters to take part.”

Also in the running at the 2025 Scottish Press Awards are two reporters from the Groat and Courier’s sister titles in Inverness and Moray.

Political reporter Scott Maclennan, who covers Highland Council for The Inverness Courier and other Highland titles in the group, and Northern Scot reporter Lewis McBlane, based in Elgin, are both in the running for the Weekly Journalist of the Year.

James Gunn’s five photos that earned him a place on the shortlist:

The Inverness Courier is also shortlisted for the Weekly Newsbrand of the Year, an award which recognises a title’s digital output as well as its print editions.

The Scottish Press Awards recognise excellence in national, regional and digital journalism from across the country. With 27 categories featuring a mix of several long-standing award titles complemented by new-look categories, the judges received a flood of entries, representing the finest talent from across the industry.

This year’s judging panel was chaired by Richard Neville, former head of newsbrands at DC Thomson and current director of Neville Robertson Communications.

He said: “As ever, the quality of entries to the awards just keeps getting better and better.

“The diversification of skills is more evident than ever before and publications across the country are finding new ways to tell great stories, as well as serving their traditional audiences with the quality content they expect.”

The 46th Scottish Press Awards are sponsored by Diageo, Edrington, VisitScotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Openreach, The Glenmorangie Company Ltd, The Law Society of Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, Muckle Media, Weber Shandwick, Women in Journalism Scotland, Media House International, Event Consultants Scotland and Newsbrands Scotland.

Overseen by Newsbrands Scotland and established by the Scottish newspaper industry in 1978, the awards are a prestigious annual event which showcases the best journalistic talent in Scotland.

The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony and gala dinner on Thursday, May 22, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central.

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