The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild was established in 1980 as a forum for writers and photographers specialising in the outdoors, mainly in the UK. It has since gone from strength to strength, and today has over 150 members. It is run by a committee of members. The current chairman is the editor and writer, Chris Bagshaw.

The Guild presents Awards for Excellence, and a number of other awards to confirm its links with the outdoor trade. These include the prestigious Derryck Draper Award for Innovation, and the Golden Eagle Award, presented annually people who have 'rendered distinguished or meritorious service to the outdoors generally'.

OWPG Golden Eagle Award

The Golden Eagle Award, an original watercolour painting by Guild member, David Bellamy, is presented to a person who has rendered distinguished or meritorious service to the outdoors generally. Past recipients have been:

2010: Jonathan Williams

2009: Marion Shoard

2008: Sir Chris Bonington

Chris Bonington

Sir Christian John Storey Bonington, CVO, CBE, DL is a British mountaineer.His career has included nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas, including four to Mount Everest and the first ascent of the south face of Annapurna.-Early life and expeditions:Educated at University College School in...

 CBE

2007: W. R. 'Bill' Mitchell MBE

2006: Kate Ashbrook and Robin and Sue Harvey

2005: Doug Scott

Doug Scott

Douglas Keith Scott CBE, known as Doug Scott , is an English mountaineer noted for the first ascent of the south-west face of Mount Everest on 24 September 1975. Scott and Dougal Haston were the first Britons to climb Everest during this expedition...

 CBE

2004: Sir David Attenborough

David Attenborough

Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...

2003: Alan Blackshaw

Alan Blackshaw

Alan Blackshaw OBE was an English mountaineer, skier and civil servant who was President of the Alpine Club from 2001 to 2004.-Early life:...

 and Cedric Robinson

Cedric Robinson

For the Morecambe Bay sand pilot, see Queen's Guide to the SandsCedric Robinson is a professor in the Department of Black Studies and the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara...

 MBE

2002: John Cleare

2001: Tom Weir

Tom Weir

Thomas Weir MBE, better known as Tom was a Scottish climber, author and broadcaster. He was best known for his long-running television series Weir's Way and his trademark woolly bunnet.-Early life and career:...

2000: Irvine Butterfield

1999: Chris Brasher

Chris Brasher

Christopher William "Chris" Brasher CBE was a British athlete, sports journalist and co-founder of the London Marathon.-History:...

 CBE

1998: Alan Mattingly

1997: Dr Rennie McOwan

1996: Walt Unsworth

1995: Ken Wilson

OWG Golden Boot Award

The Golden Boot Award was presented annually to a person or company exhibiting at the Camping and Outdoor Leisure Association (COLA) Show in Harrogate, who Guild members felt had made an outstanding contribution to the outdoors.

Award Winners

1982: Phoenix Mountaineering

1983: Berghaus

Berghaus

Berghaus Limited is an outdoor clothing and equipment manufacturer headquartered in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, England. It is based in the North East of England but distributes worldwide. It was founded in 1966 by climbers and mountaineers Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison, initially as an importer and...

 

1984: Carrington Performance Fabrics

1985: Robert Saunders

1986: Buffalo

1987: Conway Trailers Ltd

1988: Nick Brown (Nikwax)

1989: Captain Harrison

1990: Chris Brasher

Chris Brasher

Christopher William "Chris" Brasher CBE was a British athlete, sports journalist and co-founder of the London Marathon.-History:...

 (Brasher Boot Company)

1991: Mike Parsons (Karrimor

Karrimor

Karrimor is a brand of outdoor and sports equipment and clothing. It was founded in 1946 by Charles and Mary Parsons with Grace Davies who hand-sewed cotton-duck cycle pannier bags from the upstairs of their Lancashire cycle shop....

)

1992: Gordon Conyers

1993: Gordon Davison/Peter Lockey

1994: Ben Lyon

1995:Harvey Maps 

1996: Nick Brown (Páramo

Páramo

The term páramo can refer to a variety of ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline”. A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement - specifically located in “the northern Andes...

)

1997: Bill Wilkins

1998: Not awarded

OWG Crystal Award

The Outdoor Writers Guild Crystal Award replaced the Golden Boot Award. It was presented for ‘innovation in the outdoors generally’.

Award winners

1999: Perseverance Mills (Pertex

Pertex

Pertex is a versatile, wind resistant, durable wicking fabric with more breathing ability than waterproof membranes. It is typically found in down jackets and sleeping bags. Originally, it was manufactured by Perseverance Mills Ltd. in Manchester, England. When Perseverance Mills was liquidated in...

)

2000: Brasher Boot Company

2001: Nextec (Encapsulated Fabrics)

2002: GoLite

2003: Not awarded

2004: Lyon Equipment 

OWPG Derryck Draper Award

In 2005, the Crystal award was renamed in memory of one of the Guild’s founder members and a past Chairman, Derryck Draper.

Award winners

2006: Steripen

2007: Satmap Active 10 GPS

2008: Teko socks system

2009: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mattress by Cascade Designs

2010: Laser Photon tent by TerraNova

External links

• Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild Official Website