12 MAY 1984, Page 5

This is the second year runnin g in which the Spectator

has won an editorial award from the Periodical Publishers Association. Last year, Alexander Chancellor was runner-up as Editor of the Year. On Tuesday night, in a glittering ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel, the prize for the Writer of the Year was awarded to Murray Sayle for his contribu- tions to the Spectator, most notably his ar- ticles on the shooting down of the Korean airliner. Mr Sayle fought off rivals from Tunnels and Tunnelling, Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, The Military Chest and many more. He was the unanimous first choice of the judges from the earliest stage of their judgement.