Photo-Shoot: Hallam's sporting vision wins double IOC accolade

The Independent's Robert Hallam has continued the paper's tradition of prize-winning sports photography by winning two awards in the ninth International Olympic Committee Best of Sport Photographic contest. Hallam, 36, a previous winner of the British Sports Photographer of the Year competition, was awarded the Silver Lens for second place in the colour category for his photograph of Frankie Dettori dismounting at Royal Ascot (top right). The eight photographs on this page make up his colour portfolio, for which he was highly commended.

There were entries from 26 countries for the competition, which was not limited to Olympic sports in order to encourage exposure of "less covered sports". To qualify, the photographs had to be taken between 1 September 1996 and 10 August 1997. Hallam, the only British award winner, won the prize for the best black and white portfolio in 1995.

The winners of the main categories this year were: Colour photograph: Shimoda Yuichi (Nikkan Sports News); colour portfolio: Tim Clayton (Sydney Morning Herald); black and white photograph: Trent Parke (The Australian); black and white portfolio: Trent Parke.

Frankie Dettori dismounts in trademark fashion from Starborough after winning the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot

A string of horses trained by Barry Hills enjoy the open air near Lambourn in June

Nottingham 'A' (nearside) beat Neptune in the final of the Thames Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta

Awaiting the start of the Open Water Swimming Championship at Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire

Sale's David Rees holds off the challenge of Richmond's Jim Fallon to score a try in their rugby union Pilkington Cup tie

Coome Hill, one of the favourites for the 1997 Cheltenham Gold Cup, works out on the beach at Bude in Cornwall, near the yard of his trainer, Walter Dennis

A wicket falls in Surrey's County

Championship match against

Yorkshire at The Oval in June

A blown engine ends the challenge of

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in the

British Grand Prix at Silverstone

To order a print of one of these photographs telephone 0171 293 2534

(subject to availability)