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By Ellie Parry in Industry on 16th Jun 2006 15:00

Cricket groundsmen honoured at Lord's

By Ellie Tait

For the third year, four groundsmen have been honoured at the home of English cricket when they each received a Cricket World & Pitchcare Cricket Groundsman of the Year Award for 2005.

The awards recognise the hard work and high standards achieved by cricket groundsmen in the recreational game and are split into four categories - educational establishments, private clubs, local authorities and community pitches.

Nominations were received through Cricket World® magazine, and the www.cricketworld.com and Pitchcare.com websites. Judging of the shortlisted entries was carried out in March by Pitchcare's editor, Laurence Gale MSc at locations as far apart as Aberdeen and Jersey.

The presentations were made to Keith Exton, who won the educational establishments award for the second year in succession, Nigel Nerac, Gordon Gill and Roy Takle by former Indian wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer in the presence of sponsors and invited guests. The winners then enjoyed lunch at the Lord's Tavern before taking their Executive Box seats in the grandstand to enjoy the afternoon's cricket.


Ian Vautier receiving award for Nigel Nerec	Keith Exton

Roy Takle	Gordon Gill

Alastair Symondson, Editor of Cricket World magazine and Dave Saltman from Pitchcare both expressed their admiration for the winning groundsmen and thanked the sponsors, whose continuing support makes the awards possible.

Sponsors are:-John Deere, Lloyds of Letchworth, Ransomes, SISIS Equipment (Macclesfield), Groundsman Industries, Dennis Mowers, Tildenet, Synergy Products, C.H. Binder, Goundreys and Flicx UK.

The winners and sponsors all agreed that the competition is essential for raising the profile of the sport at all levels. Without the hard work and commitment showed by groundsmen, the game of cricket at grass roots level would cease to function.

In fact, everyone involved in the awards has agreed to look into additional opportunities to raise the awareness of the awards and how new people can be recruited into cricket groundsmanship.

This year, for the first time, groundsmen working overseas are being invited to participate in the awards. For further information or to make your nomination visit www.cricketworld.com or www.pitchcare.com.

Local Authority

Winner - Nigel Nerac (States of Jersey Public Services)
Second - Simon Lawrence (Castle Park CC, Colchester)
Third - Ian Vautier (Grainville Playing Fields, Jersey)

Private Club

Winner - Gordon Gill (Bath CC)
Second - Paul Tatton (Haydock CC)
Third - Andy Clarke (Shenley Cricket Centre)
Commended - Andy Gilder (Bishop Stortford Sports Trust CC)

Educational establishment

Winner - Keith Exton (Oakham School)
Second - George Alexander (Tonbridge School)
Third - Matt Pullen (Whitgift School)
Commended - Ian Smith (St Albans School)

Community Award

Winner - Roy Takle - (Brompton Ralph CC, Somerset.)
Second - Jerry Dovey - (Letchworth CC)
Third - Neil Lambourne - (Aston Rowant CC)

Read more articles in Industry, by Ellie Parry or from June 2006.

There are 13 comments on this article

16 Jun 2006 by Parkman

When do next years nominations start ?
And were do you get a nomination form from ?

17 Jun 2006 by Anonymous

Editor

could we not have some new featured articles on each of our winners to show what they do and where they work. the site seems to be a little short of these kind of detailed articles laterly.

PD

17 Jun 2006 by Cranfield

Yes there will be a follow up on each of the winners in the comming weeks.

Laurence

18 Jun 2006 by Grassman2011

Correction,
Gordon Gill Bath CC, not Hursley Park.
Congratulations to the other three winners, very well done.
GG.

18 Jun 2006 by Cranfield

Stand corrected Gordon, My apologies Laurence.

19 Jun 2006 by JessicaWabbit

Gordon, you've got such a cheshire cat grin on your face ~ were you chuffed to bits about the award or was it the wine's influence??! LOL! (You are funny!)xx

PC Big Brother, pls can you send me some nomination forms because I'd like to nominate too. Ta mucho.

Life begins at 6,000rpm...

20 Jun 2006 by Grassman2011

All of that Victoria, plus a day of work, a chance to dress up, a trip to headquaters, a match, but i mssed most of that, and the excellant company of like minded people.
I could have asked for more, but not a lot.
Keeping well i hope?

23 Jun 2006 by Nifty

I understand there are other photos ? some where people were not at there best...? more please Ellie !

Its got to be purrrfect

23 Jun 2006 by Groundsmaiden

Alas I wasn't there! You'll have to ask Loz nicely.

26 Jun 2006 by wicketdevil

In the educational award it seems the schools where money and man power are not restrictions are given the award prehaps those with less should be the ones awarded. When i was inspected the judge spent most of his time telling me his woes and not judging.

Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!

29 Jun 2006 by Anonymous

to the contrary i think they should be judged and awarded. those who have won the awards have had to fight tooth and limb for funding in order to get the quality they are achieving now. money is not just thrown at them, they have to get of their arses and beg for it!
PD

29 Jun 2006 by wicketdevil

Yes tonbridge school with nine staff , i think the club boys work very hard as do the council men with little budgets but these big private schools have all the staff and money and can concentrate on one area. I have 3 staff including myself to look after 90 acres and a twenty strip square used ninety days of the year. No one inspects now when it looks its best.

Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!

30 Jun 2006 by jumbos

Well done to all the winners. We have a similar thing in South Africa, however only the provincal grounds get nominated.The winner this year was the Wanderers, 2nd place went to St.Geroge's Park and 3rd to Kingsmead.

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