AWARD-WINNING staff at a famous Cumbrian racing venue have been awarded another top national accolade.

Cartmel Racecourse has been named the overall champion in the Racecourse Groundstaff Awards, just weeks after it was celebrating scooping the winner's gong in the Jump Racecourse category.

A social media post by the racecourse said:

"We were thrilled to attend the Racecourse Groundstaff Awards to receive our award in the category of best jump racecourse, however, we were even more thrilled to receive the overall champion accolade!  

"We're very proud of our team who work so hard to ensure we have a first-class sports surface. 

"The Racecourse Groundstaff Awards, sponsored by DLF, Agrovista UK Ltd, and Duralock, celebrate the best of turf husbandry across British Racecourses." 

The judging panel said: "This decision was made after an independent agronomist visited all three racecourses. 

"To produce a good racing surface the course needs a number of things in place, such as good root depth and density, an even coverage of the correct grasses, and a soil profile which is not layered or compacted. 

"Even though Cartmel have limited top soil over bedrock, they meet these criteria to a high standard which was present over the whole course. 

"The course is a first-class example of a sports surface well-presented and maintained."