Finalists For IOG Awards Confirmed
Finalists For IOG Awards Confirmed: The finalists have been announced for this year’s prestigious Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards which acknowledge the passion, dedication and challenges faced by grounds staff, volunteers and professionals across all levels of sport.
This year’s finalists, including some international entries, for the awards are:
IOG Toro Most Promising Sports Turf Student
Callum Allsop, Leicester City FC;
Daniel Hill, Harlequin FC;
Lee Morgan, Arnold House School, London.
IOG Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Grounds Person
Pierre Bagot, Stade Rennais, France;
Ollie Deeming, Northampton Saints;
Nick Pepper, Gloucestershire CCC.
IOG Volunteer Sports Grounds Team/Individual
Andy Cambridge, Foxton FC, Cambridgeshire;
Trubshaw Cross Ladsandads, Newcastle, Staffordshire.
IOG NGB Community/Grassroots Sports Club Grounds Team/Individual
Harborough Town FC, Leicestershire;
Norton Sports Charity, Stockton-on-Tees.
The NGB award is sponsored by the AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis Club), ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board), The FA (Football Association), the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), the Premier League, the RFU (Rugby Football Union) and the RFL (Rugby Football League).
IOG AMS Robotics Public Sector Sports Grounds Team
Prestige Grounds Ltd, Wiltshire;
Yeovil Recreation Centre, Somerset.
IOG Bowling Grounds Team/Individual
Polly Bowls Club, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire;
North Mymms Bowls Club, Hertfordshire.
IOG SCH Supplies Best Managed Artificial Surface
Ipswich Town FC;
University of Warwick.
IOG Ransomes Environmental and Ecology Strategy
Cardiff University;
City Football Academy, Manchester.
IOG Headland Amenity Professional Cricket Grounds Team
Essex CCC;
Sussex CCC.
IOG Cub Cadet Infinicut Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team
All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon;
Devonshire Park, Eastbourne.
IOG John Deere Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team
Huntingdon Racecourse;
Redcar Racecourse;
Warwick Racecourse.
IOG Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team
Castleford Tigers, West Yorkshire;
Leigh Sports Village, Greater Manchester.
IOG Compo Expert Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team
Gloucester Rugby;
Northampton Saints.
IOG Professional Football Grounds Team
For English Leagues 1 & 2, National League, National League North/South, Scottish Championship & Leagues 1 & 2, Ireland & Wales Professional Leagues.
Charlton Athletic FC, London;
Colchester United, Essex;
Swindon Town FC.
IOG SGL Professional Football Grounds Team
For Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League.
Croke Park, Dublin;
Leicester City FC;
Tottenham Hotspur FC.
IOG Redexim Charterhouse/Kubota University/College Grounds Team
Cardiff University;
Nottingham University.
IOG Growth Products Independent School Grounds Team
Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh;
Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay, Wales.
IOG SISGrass International Award
Andy Cole, iTurf Management
Alan Ferguson, FIFA;
Dean Gilasbey, ProPitch Management.
Independent judging at each venue will now take place.
Two awards will be presented on the night – at the IOG Industry Awards dinner hosted by BBC TV presenter Dan Walker on Wednesday October 30 at The Vox, located in Resorts World at the Birmingham NEC, on the evening of the first day of the SALTEX exhibition:
The IOG Grassmaster Outstanding Achievement Award, and the IOG Ransomes/DLF Alex R Millar Award – to the person chosen as the outstanding winner across all award categories.
Commenting, IOG chief executive Geoff Webb says: “With so many memorable sporting events to celebrate this year, the IOG Industry Awards’ shortlist rightly includes the grounds teams that have created the playing surfaces across all sports for such sporting drama. In addition, of course, this year’s awards also recognise the efforts of grounds people at all levels and at sporting venues of all sizes.
“This is the 11th consecutive year that the awards have uniquely provided a national stage for the achievements of everyone involved in groundscare and we should applaud everyone who took the time to enter as well as those who have reached the shortlist.”
Visit www.iog.org/awards for more details. The IOG reserves the right to enter/shortlist any application into the most relevant category(ies) based on sport(s), size and resources.
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