Cricket World award

Sunday 14th September 2008, 10:00AM BST.

GRAINVILLE sports ground’s Ian Vautier has won one of four ICC 2008 Cricket World & Pitchcare Groundsman of the Year awards.

Ian collected the Local Authority category accolade at Lord’s this week and he said it was the icing on the cake having come close to taking top place in recent years.

He said: ‘It’s worded down as me winning the award but it’s a team effort between groundsmen Peter Phillipe and Stephen Blampied and myself together with all the tractor drivers who work on the ground.

‘We’ve worked our way into first place after placing second and third in recent years while last year we also finished second in the European division. Winning is certainly the icing on the cake and yes it’s been a team effort and we are all delighted.’