As another remarkable year for British sport draws to a close, the lens has captured moments of pure elation, fierce competition, and raw emotion. From the fairways of Bethpage to the podium in Abu Dhabi, Press Association photographers have been embedded at the heart of the action throughout 2025.
Moments of Triumph and Celebration
Chief sports photographer David Davies has curated a selection of his personal highlights from the past twelve months. The year was bookended by monumental successes, including Europe's Ryder Cup victory in New York on September 28 and Lando Norris clinching his maiden Formula One world championship on December 7 in Abu Dhabi.
Davies recalls the chaotic scene after the Ryder Cup was secured. "After the formalities, the team erupted on the practice green at Bethpage Black," he said. "It was champagne-soaked chaos, but in the middle of it, I got this frame of Captain Luke Donald holding the trophy aloft as he was drenched."
Similar bedlam followed the British and Irish Lions' series win in Australia. On July 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, try-scorer Hugo Keenan was chaired around the pitch by his teammates. "You could see the lift coming," Davies noted, "so positioning was key to capture that iconic victory lap."
Innovation and Access Behind the Lens
Beyond the celebrations, the images reveal the technical craft and privileged access required. At the Valley Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach, Wales, on March 13, Davies employed remote cameras to document the sport ahead of its Welsh ban. "I placed a remote under the rail on the corner," he explained. "The shot, taken at a 1/10,000th of a second, still shows motion—that imperfection adds atmosphere."
New technology also played its part in Qatar for the Grand Prix. At the Lusail International Circuit on November 28, Davies wedged his camera under barriers for a dramatic low-angle shot of Lando Norris's McLaren against the sunset. "On a flat circuit, you have to create the angle," he said.
The Unplanned and the Artistic
Some of the most powerful shots arose from quick thinking and a keen eye. Davies nearly missed the Haka before the Quilter Nations Series match in Cardiff on November 22. "I'd forgotten, then had to hop into the stands," he admitted. "Fortunatley, the stadium spotlit the performance, allowing me to capture the intensity of the New Zealand players' expressions."
Artistic flair turned a routine League One match between Bristol Rovers and Peterborough on February 2 into something special. From a high vantage point at the Memorial Stadium, Davies focused on the shadows of the players. "Turning the image upside down created a striking, symmetrical effect that draws the eye," he revealed.
From the intimate access of the jockeys' weighing room at Cheltenham on March 13 to framing a Ferrari through Monaco's trees on May 23, each image tells a deeper story. Of Norris's prolonged championship celebration, Davies said, "After the others left, he just stayed, punching the air. I'd gone wider with my lens and got lucky with a clean background as he savoured the moment."
This collection stands as a testament to a fantastic year for British sport, immortalised through the skill, patience, and creativity of those documenting it from the sidelines.
