A happy return

The Channel Awards are 10 years old, and Paul Briggs reckons that's something to celebrate.

These days, birthdays are nothing more than a frightening reminder that I am no longer 21.

That familiar face I see in the mirror is suddenly starting to look like someone else. The shock of hair that could once be sculpted into a perfect Rick Astley quiff is starting to look more like a Les Dennis buzz-cut.

I decided on my 30th last year that I would not celebrate any more of my birthdays, but there's one birthday bash I am looking forward to. This year, of course, is the 10th anniversary of the Channel Awards.

Since its inception as a private little function in a hotel room, the Channel Awards have mushroomed into a 1,000-plus must-attend event held at Battersea Park.

The event, which over the years has been compered by a host of stars including Ronnie Corbett, Bob Monkhouse, Rory Bremner and Melinda Messenger, aims to reward those in the channel who have worked tirelessly to provide an excellent service to resellers and end-users alike.

Now we are 10, you can expect this year's Awards to be bigger and better than ever and to include the usual mix of A-list celebrities and top-notch entertainment.

Over the next few months we will be looking at past winners and exploring what winning a Channel Award means to your staff and your business.

But, like Jack Daniel's, we try to make every year's awards the best we can. To this end, Computer Reseller News has sought the thoughts and feedback of its readers and members of its Foundation (see www.crn.vnunet.com for how to join) to ensure that the awards, categories and voting reflect the ever-changing channel and its protagonists.

This year we have made some slight adjustments to the system. To find out more about what we have changed, how we came to the decisions and how to vote online, click here.