Wilson lands top prize for Beryl Burton book

Beryl: In Search of Britain’s Greatest Athlete, Beryl Burton (Pursuit Books) has been crowned the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

Its author, Jeremy Wilson, The Telegraph’s chief sports reporter, received the trophy and £30,000 prize at yesterday’s ceremony at Bafta, in central London.

Wilson’s book pays homage to the life of champion cyclist Burton, capturing her life through family, friends and fellow competitors.

The judges praised the book for its “exhaustive research” and “superb writing”, and its “righteous fury” that the public had not heard more about Burton.