The finalists have been announced for the prestigious Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards 2013, after a record number of nominations were received.

Now in their fifth year, the Awards acknowledge the high standards achieved by volunteer and professional teams and individuals at facilities that range from grassroots through to professional stadia level.

The Awards’ judging process recognises achievement, innovation and fresh thinking as well as examples of best practice from the leaders in the world of groundsmanship.

The aim of the Awards is to raise industry standards and encourage greater professionalism within the industry, and the successful winners will be announced Oscar-style at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on Thursday, 5 December. The finalists are:

Professional Awards
IOG Professional Cricket Groundsman of the Year
Gary Barwell, Warwickshire CC
Steve Birks, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club (Trent Bridge)

IOG Professional Rugby Union Groundsman of the Year
Martin Knight, Worcester Warriors RFC
Myles Landick, Jersey RFC

IOG Professional Rugby League Groundsman of the Year
Jason Booth, Leeds Rhinos
John Lupton, Castleford Tigers

IOG Professional Tennis Groundsman of the Year
Neil Stubley, All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon)
Ian Wall, Bank of England Recreation Club, Roehampton, London.

IOG Campey/Imants Professional Football Groundsman of the Year
Darren Baldwin, Tottenham Hotspur FC
Tony Stones, Wembley Stadium

IOG John Deere Professional Horse Racing Groundsman of the Year
Adrian Kay, York Racecourse
Shaun Reilly, Huntingdon Racecourse

IOG National Governing Bodies Professional Spectator Sports Ground of the Year – co sponsored by the AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis Club), ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board), the Football Association (The FA), the Football Foundation, the Lawn Tennis Association (the LTA), the Premier League, the RFL (Rugby Football League), and the RFU (Rugby Football Union).
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
White Hart Lane, London

IOG Professional Sports Ground Team of the Year
Huntingdon Racecourse
Leeds Rhinos
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Hurlingham Club, Fulham
Wembley Stadium

IOG Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Groundsman of the Year
Ryan Golding, Leeds Rhinos
Will Graves, Merchant Taylors’ School, Middlesex

Grassroots Awards
IOG Toro School, College or University Sports Club Groundsman of the Year
Stephen Fidler, St James Independent Boys’ School, Middlesex
Adam Tester, University of Leicester

IOG School, College or University Sports Club Grounds Team of the Year
St Albans School, Hertfordshire
Hampton School, Middlesex

IOG Most Promising Sportsturf Student of the Year
Dean Bryce, Campbell Park Cricket Club, Milton Keynes
Martin Stephenson, Ashbrook Sports Club, County Durham

IOG White Horse Contractors Grassroots Sports Ground of the Year
Aspatria RUFC, Cumbria
Beversbrook Sports Facility, Wiltshire

IOG Vitax Supaturf Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year
John Heyworth, Aspatria RUFC, Cumbria
Mark Jones, Falmouth Town FC, Cornwall

IOG Ransomes Jacobsen Environmental Project/Innovation of the Year
Forest Green Rovers FC, Gloucestershire
The Harefield Academy, Middlesex

IOG Kubota/Redexim Charterhouse Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year
Hampton School, Middlesex
One Leisure, Cambridgeshire

The IOG Alex R Millar DLF/Johnsons Groundsman of the Year Award
The coveted IOG Alex R Millar DLF/Johnson Groundsman of the Year Award is named after the inspirational chair of the IOG, who held the post from 1991-1993 and 2002-2009. The winner of this Award will be announced at the awards ceremony.

IOG Everris & Syngenta Lifetime Achievement Award
The winner of this Award will be announced at the awards ceremony.