Beyond the Horizon shortlisted for British Sports Book Award
Richard’s first book Beyond the Horizon has been shortlisted for rugby book of the year at this year’s Cross British Sports Book Awards.
The British Sports Book Awards highlight the most outstanding sports books of the previous calendar year. This year’s awards will take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground on 3rd June.
Published in September, Beyond the Horizon has received much acclaim from sports writers and publications. In just two days it had reached no.1 in the Extreme Sports Category on Amazon and quickly worked it’s way up the rugby charts to no.3 on Amazon, alongside Brian O’Driscoll and Gareth Thomas’s memoirs.
Richard is thrilled that Beyond the Horizon has been shortlisted for a British Sports Book Award, stating; “It means a lot to me to be recognised and I’m super proud to be on the shortlist for rugby book of the year. The support I have had and continue to receive from the rugby community is overwhelming. My journey to some of the most extreme environments on the planet began as a rugby player. My book has many faces; mountains, Antarctica and adventures, but in my opinion at the heart of the story is my transition through the injury that ended my career.”
He added; “Writing the book was almost as tough as some of the times in it! As with all my achievements, I was blessed to have an incredible team around me. I found it difficult at first to open up, however it was so much fun reliving and reflecting on my whirlwind journey. In fact it was actually pretty therapeutic!"
"It genuinely blows me away that so many people from all walks of life have and continue to take the time to email or tweet to say such lovely things about the book, and now to be to shortlisted for a British Sports Book Award is awesome.”
In his review of Beyond the Horizon, Sunday Telegraph Rugby Union correspondent Steve James stated; “I do not think I have ever read such a vivid, moving and utterly authentic description of what the end of a professional sporting life can mean.”
You can read the rest of Steve’s review, plus more reviews of Beyond the Horizon here.
About Beyond the Horizon
Beyond the Horizon follows the captivating journey from the shattering injury that ended Richard’s rugby career through to his pioneering expeditions in the most extreme environments on earth. The book, published by Sphere, an imprint of Little, Brown and ghostwritten by Michael Aylwin, is a personal, funny, sad and honest account, offering a rare glimpse into Richard’s private life, telling the full story behind his well-publicised journey.
From the ups and downs of the 737 Challenge, which saw Richard become the first person to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s 7 continents and stand on all 3 poles within 7 months, to his most recent record setting expedition, where Richard became the fastest Brit in history to ski solo and unsupported from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole, Beyond the Horizon is a tale of redemption and astonishing endurance, set against the backdrop of the most extraordinary locations on Earth.
Visit the Cross British Sports Book Awards website to find out more and see other shortlisted books.
