RCA ‘Showcase’ Groundstaff

Editorin Industry News

The Racecourse Association (RCA) has announced the inclusion of the Racecourse Groundstaff Awards into the RCA Showcase Awards Ceremony for the first time in 2013.

The ceremony, which will take place at Lingfield Park Racecourse on 14 November, will bring together the two major sets of awards that recognise excellence and innovation on racecourses.

The incorporation of the Racecourse Groundstaff Awards, sponsored by Pitchcare, ALS and Watt Fences, will also bring some slight changes in the nomination and judging process. Whilst there will continue to be winners in the individual jumps, flat and mixed categories, 2013 will also see one Groundstaff team named overall winners.

The RCA Showcase Awards, held in conjunction with Great British Racing and 051 Sports Marketing, and now in their fourth year, highlight the excellence and innovation in customer experience encountered at British racecourses throughout the year.

Racecourses are working harder than ever to make sure that they offer a fantastic visitor experience, and the RCA Showcase project is designed to assist them in this process. In a similar fashion, Groundstaff teams at racecourses across the country are constantly working to make sure that they are able to offer the best possible racing surface, often in very difficult conditions, which the Racecourse Groundstaff Awards equally looks to recognise.

Racecourses are proud to be the first sporting attractions in Britain to be independently assessed and accredited by VisitEngland and VisitScotland, the countries national tourist boards, which very much reflects the importance of the continuation of this work if racecourses are to continue to compete in the sports and leisure market.

There are Showcase Awards up for grabs in seven categories, Corporate Social Responsibility, Food and Beverage, Owner's Experience, Operational Excellence, Best Campaign, All About the Horse and Events, with an overall Showcase Champion also crowned on the evening. Doncaster and Goodwood Racecourses were named Showcase Champions in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

RCA Racecourse Services Director, Caroline Davies, said "We are delighted to be hosting the RCA Showcase and Racecourse Groundstaff Awards on the same evening for the first time in 2013. It gives us a great opportunity to show off the excellent work that is going on across the country on every aspect of the racecourse."

"Racecourse Groundstaff teams do a fantastic job in keeping the show on the road, often in particularly difficult circumstances, so we are very pleased to be able to recognise and reward all their efforts and hard work."

"We feel that an event such as this will go a long way to show why British racecourses are the best in the world, with a variety of character and charm that is unique."

Operations Director at Racecourse Groundstaff Awards sponsors Pitchcare John Richards added, "The Showcase Awards recognise excellence in the racecourse industry, so it is only fitting that the Groundstaff Awards are included. I am also very pleased that the format has been improved to include an overall winning racecourse, which won't be known until the evening itself."

For more information on the RCA Showcase Awards or Racecourse Groundstaff Awards, please visit www.britishracecourses.org or contact Sam Cone or Holly Cook at the RCA on 01344 626 067.

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