Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club's award for the Professional Tennis Court Grounds Team of the Year
ILKLEY Lawn Tennis & Squash Club picked up two prizes at last week's Grounds Management Association Industry Awards at Liverpool Football Club - one of which they didn’t even know they had been nominated for!
The club, which host the Lexus Ilkley Open every June - a prestigious pre-Wimbledon tournament - ironically defeated the All England Club Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, venue for the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament - to win the Professional Tennis Court Grounds Team of the Year.
However, later in the evening, Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club’s head groundsman Will Rigg was named GMA Grounds Manager of the Year, which he didn’t know that he had been nominated for.
The GMA said on their X (formerly Twitter) account of Rigg: “Tonight we recognise an exceptional individual”.
Former winners included Manchester United, Twickenham, Murrayfield and the All England Club.
Other Yorkshire winners at Anfield were Castleford Tigers, who defeated Hull KR and Hull FC in the Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year award, and York Racecourse, who won the Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year category.
Lancashire County Cricket Club defeated Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year section, while Rothwell Juniors Football Club were beaten by Stoneham Lane Football Complex in the Community Groundsperson/Team of the Year category.
Adel War Memorial Association fell short in the Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson/Team of the Year section to Dean Gibbons of Wantage Bowling Club.