FIVE months of keen competition and speculation will reach a spectacular climax on Thursday when the 2003 Evening Press Business of the Year awards night unveils its winners.

Finalists and guests will converge on the new £20 million Ebor Stand at York Racecourse for the glittering event in the Ebor Suite to learn whether they have been chosen as being "light years ahead" - this year's theme.

Even reaching the finals will be a huge honour given that there were more entries this time than in the entire 13-year history of the competition.

Guest speaker will be Christopher Garnett, chief executive of GNER, and broadcaster Colin Hazelden will yet again be the host, who, apart from the category triumphs and overall winner, will also announce the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Ware & Kay solicitors, of York.

Updated: 09:44 Tuesday, November 18, 2003