Final 48 in Betting Shop Manager of the Year announced

The field for this year’s Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year competition has been reduced to 48.

The managers through to the latest stage have had a question paper marked before the judging panel made a final decision.

The 48 contenders will now receive a mystery shopper visit after which the top three candidates from each of the eight regions in Britain and Ireland will be selected.

They will be invited to a day at the races at Doncaster in October to meet the judges before the eight regional champions are decided.

The winner will be crowned at an awards lunch at the Carlton Tower Hotel in London on November 20. The winner will be invited to several key racing and betting occasions during their year as champion.

Last year’s winner Robert Mabbett has recently returned from Singapore, where he attended the Derby meeting last month with his wife Nadine.

He said: "It was a fantastic experience. We both enjoyed it and were made to feel very welcome by the Singapore Turf Club."

THE FINAL 48

Anglia and south-east
Stacey Bridger, Aldershot, William Hill; Elaine Brocklebank, Great Yarmouth, William Hill; Luke Catchpole, Biggleswade, Paddy Power Betfair; Sue Copp, Stanford-le-hope, Coral; Mark Gamble, Cambridge, Ladbrokes; Carl Sampson, Stowmarket, Betfred; Mark Thomson, Leigh-on-Sea, JenningsBet.

Greater London
Crystal Brooks, Harlesden, William Hill; Maggie Burton, Stratford, Ladbrokes; Leanne Engstrom, Mile End, William Hill; Ron Hearn, Charlton, JenningsBet; David McGovern, Canary Wharf, Paddy Power Betfair; Kevin Murphy, Hayes, Ladbrokes; Debbie Stevens, Harrow, Coral.

Ireland
Stephen Cooke, Bray, Ladbrokes; Rory Daly, Cavan, BoyleSports; Carol Hanson, Ballymoney, William Hill; Ingrid Kelly, Shankill, Paddy Power Betfair; Conchur O'Rawe, Belfast, Ladbrokes.

Midlands and Wales
Matt Andrews, Llanelli, Betfred; Mike Atkinson, Leicester, Coral; Neil Bagshaw, Tamworth Services, Ladbrokes; Samuel Buckley, Towyn, Corbettsports; Carl Cockbill, Sutton Coldfield, Coral; Adrian Ward, Walsall, Paddy Power Betfair.

North-west and Isle of Man
Claire Doyle, Liverpool, William Hill; Nikki Evans, Liverpool, Ladbrokes; Sarah Johnstone, Chorley, Ladbrokes; Warren Powell, Liverpool, Betfred; Anthony Slicker, Oldham, Paddy Power Betfair; Chris Stanier, Stoke-on-Trent, Coral; Jodie Taylor, Burscough, Corbettsports.

North-east
Ashley Canning, Sunderland, Coral; Elaine Carter, Consett, Megabet; Nistantha Marcus, Doncaster, Ladbrokes; Matt Newey, Rotherham, Coral; Amanda Rankin, Ashington, William Hill; Jayne Wilson, Goole, Megabet.

Scotland
Calum Ewen, Aberdeen, Paddy Power Betfair; Iain Macpherson, Glasgow, Ladbrokes; James McBride, Edinburgh, William Hill; Will O'Neill, Aberdeen, Ladbrokes; Samantha Sheridan, Coatbridge, Coral.

South-west and Channel Islands
Paul Budd, Exeter, Betfred; Victoria Love, Southampton, Ladbrokes; Kenny Smith, Bournemouth, Coral; Jacqueline Wilkinson, Swindon, Paddy Power Betfair; Ricky Bissex, Bristol, Coral.