Gloucestershire groundsman Geoff Swift won the County Outgrounds category in the Groundsmen of the year awards.

It is the second year running that he has won the award for preparing the Cheltenham College ground for Gloucestershire's games there.

That was not the end of the County's success though. Gloucestershire claimed the runner up award in both categories - the Outgrounds and the County Headquarters. Dave Bridle, the head groundsman at Bristol, was piped by Nigel Gray of Hampshire whilst George Balmer, groundsman at King's School Gloucester, was second behind Geoff Swift.

The winners are decided by the ECB's Pitches Advisory Group based on umpires reports throughout the season. Geoff Swift received a £900 reward for winning.

The awards prove that Gloucestershire have the best pitches in the country. Now there is no excuse for the team not to perform.