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Top award for Redditch teenager
Redditch Cricket Club’s teenage groundsman Jacob Ottley wins ‘young volunteer’ award
Steve Birks leads the way at awards
Nottinghamshire lead the way at the 2017 Business of Cricket Awards
Jacob Ottley being presented with his award
A teenager who works as a volunteer groundsman at Redditch Cricket Club has been named ‘young volunteer of the year’ at a prestigious sports awards event.
Jacob Ottley, 17, won the accolade at the annual Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sports Awards at Sixways Stadium in Worcester on Thursday, November 23.
He only began volunteering at the club as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award, but has since completed a groundsman course to become an “integral” part of the club's staff.
Club secretary Gary Fisher said: “I was very shocked and surprised but delighted that he has won it.”
“You are going up against a big area and it is not just cricket, it is
across all sports, so it is a very big honour for not only Jacob but for the cricket club as well.”
“He has been integral in doing groundwork throughout the season which helped us win the Worcestershire league.”
“He has become a massive part of the club not only as a young sportsman but as a member of the groundstaff.”
“There is a lot of work on doing groundwork but he has got that knack about him to observe and take things in.”
“It is fantastic news. It is great for a youngster to do what he is doing.”
The awards are organised by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Sports Partnership and have been running for sixteen years.
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8 I PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018 The Nottinghamshire CCC grounds team
Andy Ward and Steve Birks with the BBC’s Mark Chapman
There was more glory for Nottinghamshire at Lord’s recently, as Steve Birks became the first groundsman to be recognised at the annual Business of Cricket Awards.
The Bernard Flack Memorial Trophy has been awarded to the outstanding head groundsman in county cricket since 1972, but this year, for the first time, the award was presented at the black‐tie BOCA’s ceremony which has been recognising non‐playing excellence in the professional game since 2006.
In addition to winning that trophy for the quality of first‐class pitches at Trent Bridge in the Specsavers County Championship and the Investec Test against South Africa, Steve was a joint winner of the award for best One‐Day pitches ‐ in the Royal London One‐Day Cup and NatWest T20 Blast, also
including white‐ball internationals and tour matches ‐ with Andy Ward of Leicestershire. Steve had previously won the four‐day award in 2012, and this is the third time in seven years he has been recognised in the One‐Day category, after he won it outright in 2011 and 2016.
His awards come at the end of a memorable season at Trent Bridge in which Notts Outlaws won the white‐ball double by adding their first NatWest T20 Blast title to the Royal London One‐Day Cup, and the county also secured promotion back to Division One of the Specsavers County Championship at the first attempt.
Gloucestershire and Sussex also received recognition for the quality of pitches at their outgrounds, with Christian Brain of Cheltenham College and Lee Farquhar of Arundel sharing that award.
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