Industry accolade: nominations open for Lycetts Team Champion Award

Racing yards have an opportunity to celebrate excellent team spirit – and win £4,000 to be spent for the benefit of stable staff – as nominations have opened for the second Lycetts Team Champion Award.

The award celebrates the importance of teamwork and a positive working atmosphere in racing yards while marking excellence in staff and horse management.

There is an award for yards with 40 or more horses, and another prize for stables with fewer. The inaugural winners were Warren Greatrex, who triumphed in the larger stable category, and Nick Alexander.

Rupert Arnold, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation, said: "Our members responded enthusiastically to the first Lycetts Team Champion Award. It was great to see how trainers and staff worked together to show the excellent management practices they use to instil a team ethos in the yard.

"By demonstrating the high standards currently operating and the ambition of trainers to modernise the way their businesses work, the award supports staff retention as a key method of addressing skills shortages in racing."

Nominate a yard for their excellent team ethos here

Each nominated yard is given a star rating by the judging panel before a final four are named – the overall winner in each category will be announced at a ceremony on February 28.

Tom Dascombe was among the final four in the larger yard category and is hoping to land the prize this season.

The Cheshire-based trainer said: "All the team at Manor House Stables were thrilled to get onto the shortlist in the first Lycetts Team Champion Award. They really enjoyed being involved.

"It’s great to have a chance to show how the way we work together is good for the business and we will be having another go at winning the award this year."

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