Cheltenham Festival Groundsman recognised at end of season awards
1 December 2016
Andy Fogarty retained his title as Groundsman of the Year on another good night for Yorkshire at the Brightside Ground in Bristol.
Fogarty was recognised for producing the best four-day pitches in the county game at the annual awards night for the first-class groundsmen, the third time in six years he has won the main prize.
There was also recognition for Gloucestershire, who were hosting the presentations in the Bristol Pavilion, with Christian Brain (pictured right, with Tim Robinson) runner-up to Dodds in the outground category for the quality of the pitches at Cheltenham College during the Festival.
“Congratulations to Andy Fogarty, to Yorkshire, and to all the other groundsmen who have been recognised,” said Chris Wood, the ECB’s Pitches Consultant.
“Andy has set an impressive level of consistency with the quality of the four-day pitches at Headingley, and has also begun a substantial extension of the square in addition to becoming more involved with the recreational game.
“John Dodds has now won the outgrounds award four times in five years for Scarborough, and Christian Brain has maintained the high standards of pitches in Cheltenham since taking over that role relatively recently.
“This is also an opportunity to thank and congratulate all our groundstaff for their work over the last 12 months. There were major challenges from the weather last winter, and from the change in regulations around the toss in the Specsavers County Championship.
“They responded magnificently, as they always do. It’s good to have this chance to recognise them.”
