The finalists have been announced for the prestigious Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards 2012, after a record number of nominations were received.

The successful winners will be announced, Oscar-style by talkSPORT radio presenter Mark Saggers at York Racecourse on Thursday, December 6. The finalists are:

IOG Sherriff Amenity Most Promising Sportsturf Student of the Year 
Susan Lawrence, University of Nottingham
Matthew Porter, Leigh Sports Village, Wigan

IOG Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Groundsman of the Year
Paul Baker, Manchester City FC
Luke Dodge, Manchester City FC

IOG Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year
Rod Heyhoe, Lightcliffe CC, Halifax
Gabe Treharne, Miskin Manor CC, Nr Llantrisant, Wales

IOG Grass Roots Sports Ground of the Year
Aspatria RUFC, Cumbria
Stanley Park Sports Ground, Chippenham

IOG Redexim Charterhouse/Kubota Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year 
The Spartans Community Football Academy, Edinburgh
Swansea University.

IOG School, College, University Sports Club Grounds Team of the Year
Charterhouse School, Surrey
King William’s College, Isle of Man.

IOG School, College, University, Sports Club Groundsman of the Year
Peter Clark, University of Derby
Michael Hitt, Kingston University, Surrey

IOG Governing Bodies Professional Spectator Sports Ground of the Year – co sponsored by the AELTC (All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet 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), the RFU (Rugby Football Union) and Sport England.
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Twickenham Stadium, Middlesex

IOG Bayer Professional Sports Ground Team of the Year
Leeds Rugby
Tottenham Hotspur FC

IOG Campey/Imants Professional Football Groundsman of the Year 
Jonathan Calderwood, Aston Villa FC
Andy Jackson, Stoke City FC

IOG Professional Cricket Groundsman of the Year
Steve Birks, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club (Trent Bridge)
Mick Hunt, Middlesex County Cricket Club (Lord’s)

IOG Professional Rugby Union Groundsman of the Year
Keith Kent, Twickenham
Greg Smith, Nottingham Rugby Club

IOG Everris/Syngenta Professional Rugby League Groundsman of the Year
Leigh Beattie, Bradford Bulls
Keith Porter, Leigh Sports Village, Wigan

IOG John Deere Professional Horse Racing Groundsman of the Year
Mark Bemrose, Musselburgh Racecourse, Scotland
Shaun Reilly, Huntingdon Racecourse

IOG Professional Tennis Groundsman of the Year
Neil Harvey, The Hurlingham Club, London
Ian Wall, Bank of England Recreation Club, Roehampton, London.

IOG Ransomes Jacobsen Environmental Project/Innovation of the Year 
Forest Green Rovers FC, Nailsworth, Glos
Northumberland Cricket Groundstaff Association

The IOG Alex R Millar DLF/Johnsons Groundsman of the Year
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 Cleveland Land Services/AFT Trenchers Lifetime Achievement

The winner of this Award will be announced at the awards ceremony.