Lingfield Park Racecourse’s George Ash wins Neil Wyatt Lifetime Achievement Award
The Racecourse Association (RCA) is delighted to announce the winners of the Racecourse Groundstaff Awards for 2023.
Sponsored by Agrovista Amenity, DLF Seeds & Science and Duralock the award winners were decided by an industry panel made up of representatives from the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and National Trainers Federation (NTF).
The winners and runners up are deemed to have demonstrated the highest levels of commitment, innovation and excellence across the year to racecourse groundsmanship and turf husbandry.
The racecourses all showed tremendous commitment to improve their racing surfaces, welfare standards, environmental sustainability, Owners and Trainers areas and the continued professional development (CPD) of the groundstaff team.
The Neil Wyatt Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lingfield Park Racecourse’s George Ash to celebrate his fantastic career, innovative thinking, and commitment to racing, having started at Lingfield in October 1967. The photographs of George throughout his years at Lingfield were hugely enjoyed by the panel.
The judges commended the commitment and innovation these tracks have shown throughout the year and their tireless work to enhance the quality and safety of the racing surfaces and other areas of the course.
George Noad, representing the NTF, said: “The high quality of work undertaken by Groundstaff this year has made it very difficult to pick winners. However the awards have gone to Groundstaff who provide an excellent racing surface and continue to show improvements on the track. The hard work undertaken by Groundstaff is very important for the safety of all the sport’s participants and they deserve our thanks.”
Dale Gibson, PJA Interim CEO, said: “All Jockeys appreciate the tremendous team effort from groundstaff up and down the country, helping maintain and repair racing surfaces. Once again we witnessed unusual weather patterns this year, highlighting the expertise and experience of all groundstaff who are so important to the industry. The PJA, our safety officers and members congratulate all nominees and individual award winners.”
The entire Lingfield Park team extends heartfelt gratitude to George for his remarkable 55 years of dedicated service, and we commend him for receiving one of the most prestigious honors that a Groundstaff member in horse racing can attain.
Well done George!
