Round two of awards judging begins

The hundreds of entries received have been whittled down to the top contenders. Sara Yirrell gives the judges' reasoning on those shortlisted.

Who will take home the coveted trophies this year?

Drum roll, please -- the shortlists for the 2010 Channel Awards have been revealed, and the second round of judging is about to begin.

There have been some upsets but some pleasant surprises too, with some new names moving to the top of the lists. Our chosen panel of 12 illustrious channel personalities will soon embark on the vetting and final selection processes. Winners will be announced at a glitzy 18 November celebration in London.

Read on for a brief explanation for the first-round judges' choices in the top nominations in each of this year's categories.

DISTRIBUTOR CATEGORIES

AV distributor of the Year

Midwich – A strong entry, with good growth figures, noting investment in its processes. Good case study.

Maverick – All judges found the entry strong and highly focused. Good testimonials.

Steljes – Good investment in marketing, the panel felt entry was strong all round.

Networking Distributor of the Year

Avnet – A solid entry. Active Framework Programme, 'speed dating' and bootcamps were well received.

Comstor – Strong entry, readable, with good testimonials and figures to illustrate growth.

Ingram Micro – Well laid out, good use of growth figures and testimonials.

C2000/Azlan – A comprehensive, strong entry: clear, providing evidence of investment.

Westcoast – Noted efforts to build up networking business and investment. Powerful entry.

Security Distributor of the Year

E92plus – A strong security specialist with a policy of introducing new vendors to the mix. Quality entry.

Wick Hill – Convincing testimonials and figures. Focus on security emphasising value-add.

Avnet – Growing security portfolio puts it into this category. Judge s found it to be a good entry all round.

Computerlinks – Excellent case studies, credit offerings and testimonials. Solid.

KMS Components – Evocative entry with good testimonials, displaying commitment to resellers.

Software Distributor of the Year

Entatech – Popular entry, detailed with strong use of facts and figures. Worthy testimonials.

Interactive Ideas – Quality entry making good use of case studies and testimonials.

Sigma Software Distribution – Good evidence of software performance, backed up by case studies and testimonials.

C2000 – Strong entry, showing strong licensing business and reseller support. Invested in marketing, supported by solid testimonials.

Ingram Micro – Good use of testimonials, demonstrated good growth in its software business.

Westcoast – Carefully tailored entry emphasising licensing offering, partner support, providing figures and facts.

Storage Distributor of the Year

Hammer – Well designed entry, with tight storage focus and drill-down on investment.

CMS Peripherals – Strong entry, backed up with lots of detail and actual proof.

C2000/Azlan – Demonstrated investment in its storage business, strong case study.

Ingram Micro – Evidence strong around storage business performance, with customer references.

Westcoast – Showed big effort around storage and marketing.

Specialist Distributor of the Year

Widget - Excellent demonstration of growth figures. Good testimonials from partners.

VADition – Entry was ‘compelling’, said one judge. Good testimonials and evidence of growth.

DMSL – Proven growth and investment, backed up with testimonials.

C2000/Datech – Strong, clear, concise entry with good use of testimonials.

Synergix – Powerful facts and figures used, alongside solid testimonials.

Avanquest – Detailed entry supported by convincing testimonials/case studies.

Realtime Distribution – Entry described as ‘focused’ by the judges, with demonstrated partner network support.

Systems Distributor of the Year

C2000 – Well laid out entry, clear examples of growth with good facts and figures.

Avnet – Thorough entry, detailed growth plans, strong testimonials.

Micro Peripherals – Focused entry that was easy for judges to read.

Ingram Micro – Well set out entry with good use of figures to back up
claims.

Westcoast – Judges were impressed with the detail contained in the entry
and how clearly it was expressed.

Northamber – Good use of numbers and facts to demonstrate growth.

Distributor of the Year

Ingram Micro – Well laid-out entry, evidence of strong growth initiatives

Wick Hill – Compelling entry with convincing customer and partner testimonials.

Midwich – Strong entry, showing investment in staff and credit facilities as well as proving growth.

C2000 – Impressed with its credit offering, support functions, and customer focus.

Comstor – Stand-out growth figures and credit offering moved entry ahead.

Westcoast – Growth figures emphasised in excellent entry layout.

RESELLER CATEGORIES

Converged Reseller of the Year

Britannic Technologies – Praised for customer testimonials, well written entry.

2e2 – Good use of customer case studies, facts and figures.

Arrowdawn – Judges noted stand-out customer list and knowledge of sector.

Maxima – Good testimonials, and a well laid-out entry overall.

Enterprise Reseller of the Year

Brookcourt Solutions – Strong enterprise focus with compelling customer list. Good use of facts and figures.

SICL – Effective evidence of enterprise business growth. Detailed entry, good case study.

PC-Ware – well written entry with plenty of information, facts and figures. Good customer/partner references.

Trustmarque – Clear, detailed entry with plenty of facts and figures. Easy to read.

Mid Market Reseller of the Year

Total Computer Networks – Entry had nice design, and was packed with information in bite-sized chunks.

Freestyle IT – Solid entry with good customer case study.

Britannic Technologies – Strong testimonials and a well laid-out entry. Evidence of business investment.

Fabric Technologies – Convincing, well-balanced, entry proving growth alongside good customer references/testimonials.

Services Provider of the Year

Capital Support – Impressed with strong entry. Hard evidence of services growth, and good testimonials.

Networks First – Proved services focus, backed up by good customer/partner experiences.

Eurodata Systems – Detailed yet concise entry with plenty of information supplied.

En Route Solutions – Highly detailed entry bursting with facts and figures. Well laid-out and easy to read.

Macnamara – Good use of testimonials, supported with facts and figures. A strong entry all round.

Azzurri Communications – A particularly professional entry, with good use of facts and figures.

Green Fields Technology – Impressive use of facts and figures. Well laid-out with testimonials that back up claims.

Blue Chip Data Systems – Illustrative description of services offering and strong case study. Solid entry all round.

Specialist Reseller of the Year

NCE – Confident use of case study to back up claims. Descriptive entry but easy to read.

Viglen – Detailed entry with good examples of certifications and accreditations. Strong case study and good use of figures to demonstrate growth.

Caretower – Well-founded entry with solid examples of accreditation, certification, and demonstrations of growth.

SBL – Good case study/testimonial. Growth figures that show success in specialist field.

Reseller of the Year

Brookcourt Solutions – Well presented entry with eloquent testimonials to back up claims.

Softcat – Strong testimonial/case study to back up claims. Pleasing evidence of growth and strong company culture.

2e2 – Carefully constructed entry – well laid out, strong testimonials, facts and figures, and evidence of accreditations and capabilities.

Esteem Systems – Judges said entry ‘ticked all boxes’. Convincing evidence of growth and investment.

BT EngageIT – Proved growth during tough times, supporting vendor testimonials. Solid entry.

SME Reseller of the Year

TSG – Sound entry with convincing growth facts and figures. Readable and well laid out entry.

CCS Media – Powerful use of customer and vendor testimonials and good evidence of growth given through this entry.

SICL – Good customer testimonials and tidy evidence of SME focus in the business with facts and figures.

ACS – Case study/testimonial in this entry was strong, supported with good evidence of SME focus and investment in the business.

NCI Technologies – Well crafted entry with clear evidence of growth provides. Strong case study and testimonials to back up claims.

Ramsac - Thorough entry with good examples of growth, demonstration of SME focus and use of case study/testimonial to strengthen case.

VENDOR CATEGORIES

Networking Vendor of the Year

Netgear – Proven channel commitment supported by entry with solid references to revenue growth among partners as well as own business. Outstanding testimonials.

ShoreTel – Good use of customer testimonials and case studies to back up entry. Literate and well designed.

Extreme Networks – Persuasive entry with plenty of proof points, backed by strong partner testimonials.

ZyXel – Punchy entry, jam-packed with easy-to-read information. Potent partner and customer testimonials.

Cisco – Eloquent, convincing partner testimonials in well laid out, clear entry.

Security Vendor of the Year

Symantec – Strong partner testimonials and demonstrated channel commitment. Good use of growth figures.

Trend Micro - Thoughtful entry, jammed with facts and figures, and strong reseller/distributor testimonials. Well structured entry overall.

Fortinet – Solid design, with strongest points highlighted, alongside good use of facts and figures. Persuasive partner testimonials.

McAfee – Showed convincing growth of channel-facing team and investment in the channel.

AVG Technologies – Comprehensive entry with plenty of stats. Clearly laid out.

Webroot – Sound customer testimonials, demonstrated channel commitment and spend.

Sophos – Concise entry with solid use of facts and figures, and partner testimonials.

Software Vendor of the Year

Avaya – Powerful testimonials and well designed entry

Compleat Software – Demonstrated impressive growth through the channel. Convinced with testimonials.

Microsoft – Quality entry with stats and strong case studies. Detailed throughout.

IBM – Well laid-out, with solid testimonials, facts and figures and research data.

Oracle – Well written and informative entry with convincingly used partner testimonial.

Citrix – Comprehensive entry, with relevant case study.

GFI MAX – All-round solid entry with suitable supporting testimonials. Well laid out.

Specialist Vendor of the Year

Connect Business Continuit y – Strong example of investment in the channel and support for partners. Well laid out entry.

Kingston Technology – Thoughtful use of facts and figures in a well presented entry. Good growth stats.

Meru Networks – Clear and concise entry but figures presented accordingly, alongside strong case study.

Entanet – Impactful use of testimonials with supporting stats and figures.

Synaxon UK – Clear evidence of growth investment backed up with nice partner testimonials.

Kaseya – Solid demonstration of growth, customer satisfaction, and commitment to channel.

Storage Vendor of the Year

NetApp – Thorough entry with good proof points that was easy to read.

Emulex – Information-packed yet clear layout with useful testimonials.

Dell – Well supported entry with facts and stats. Persuasive testimonial.

Quantum Corporation – Presented strong facts and figures and demonstrated channel commitment. Good testimonials.

BakBone – Positive customer and reseller testimonials. Demonstrates channel support, backed up with detailed proof.

HDS – Well prepared entry with good growth figures on show. Good partner testimonials.

Systems Vendor of the Year

Fujitsu – Detailed entry demonstrating reseller commitment. Nice partner testimonial.

IBM – Well written entry with strong use of testimonials/case studies.

Acer – Entry was packed with facts, with clarity on channel performance.

HP – Comprehensive entry with solid partner testimonial.

Lenovo – Good use of case study to back up entry.

Vendor of the Year

IBM – Well designed entry supported with facts and figures. Demonstrated channel commitment.

Kyocera Mita – Proved strong growth via the channel, using detail and strong testimonials.

NetApp – Concise, factual entry with positive case studies.

Oracle - Flab-free entry jammed with convincing data, including strong case study and testimonials.

Citrix – Nice customer stories and partner testimonials throughout. Showed its investment in channel.

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