The finalists have been announced for the prestigious Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards 2014 being held in partnership with the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA).

Now in their sixth year, the awards acknowledge the high standards achieved by volunteer and professional teams as well as individuals at facilities ranging from grassroots 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 judging process, headed by Jason Booth, national manager of the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme, was based on a strict marking system. Each finalist will now be visited by an independent judge.

The aim of the awards is to raise standards and encourage greater professionalism within the industry. The winners will be announced Oscar-style by Industry Awards ceremony host Mark Saggers from talkSPORT radio at stadiummk, Milton Keynes, on Thursday 4 December. The finalists are:

Sports Team Awards

IOG Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year

Harlequins RUFC, Twickenham

Worcester Warriors, Worcester

IOG Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year

Castleford Tigers, West Yorkshire

Wigan Warriors

IOG Headland Amenity Professional Tennis Grounds Team of the Year

Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham

Nottingham Tennis Centre

IOG Souters Sports School, College, University or Sports Club Grounds Team of the Year

Harrow School, Middlesex

The Honourable Artillery Co, London

Whitgift School, South Croydon

IOG Campey/Imants Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year

Burnley FC, Turf Moor

Manchester United FC, Old Trafford

IOG John Deere Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year

Ripon Racecourse, North Yorks

York Racecourse, North Yorks

IOG National Governing Bodies Grassroots Sports Grounds Team of the Yea

Beversbrook Sports Facility, Calne, Wilts

One Leisure, St Ives, Cambridgeshire

Individual Awards

IOG Vitax Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme Volunteer of the Year

Robert Stretton, Aylestone Park FC, Leicester

Ian Williscroft, Potton UFC, Bedfordshire

IOG Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Groundsman of the Year

Josef Farrow, Oakham School, Rutland, Leicester

Alex Hudson, Nottingham Forest FC

Martin Stephenson, Ashbrooke Sports Club, Sunderland

IOG Toro Most Promising Sportsturf Student of the Year 

Dean Bryce, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes

Michael Crew, The Hurlingham Club, London

The IOG Alex R Millar DLF Johnsons & Ransomes Groundsman of the Year 

This coveted award is named after the inspirational chair of the IOG, who held the post from 1991-1993 and 2002-2009. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony.

IOG Everris & Syngenta Lifetime Achievement

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

Project Award

IOG British Sugar TOPSOIL Environmental Project/Innovation of the Year

Forest Green Rovers FC, Nailsworth, Glos

University of Warwick, Coventry

Sports Grounds Awards

IOG Kubota/Redexim Charterhouse Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year

Hampton School, Middlesex

St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, Staffs

IOG National Governing Bodies Spectator Sports Ground of the Year

Goodison Park (Everton FC) Liverpool

Boldon Community Association Sports Ground (Jarrow Roofing FC) Sunderland.

The finalists for the IOG Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year and for the BIGGA awards will be announced shortly.

Visit www.iogawards.comNOW for details of how you can attend the most exciting annual Awards ceremony ever staged for the groundscare industry.