Groundscare teams at Leicester City Football Club, Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos rugby club are among the winners of the 2018 Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) awards for groundskeeping.

The winners were announced at a sell-out awards gala last night at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole attended by 650 people.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the awards celebrate the achievements by volunteer and professional teams, as well as individuals at facilities ranging from grassroots to professional stadia level.

“Having this year suffered extreme weather conditions, with the winter’s ‘Beast from the East’ through to this summer’s unprecedented record heatwave, the climate has tested groundsmen to their limits," said IOG chief executive Geoff Webb.

“It has not been easy, yet we have seen how fantastic our profession is and this year’s awards had a fantastic array of nominees who have all achieved very high standards."

The full list of winners:

Professional Football Grounds Team or the Year

(From Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League)Leicester City FC

Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year

(From English Leagues 1 & 2, National League, National League North/South, Scottish Championship & Leagues 1 & 2, Ireland & Wales Professional Leagues) Rotherham United FC

Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year

Warwickshire CCC, Edgbaston

Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the YearLeeds Rhinos (Leeds Rugby)

Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team of the Year

Scottish RFU (BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh)

Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year Matthew Skingle, Coventry City FC

Young Grounds Person of the Year

John Wright, Southampton FC

Sports Grounds Team/Person of the YearCrowborough RFC, East Sussex

Community Sports Club Grounds Team/Person of the Year

Stanningley Sports & Amateur Rugby League Club, Leeds

Public Sector Sports Ground Team of the YearGavin Jones Ltd (Aspire Defence, Project Allenby/Connaught), Surrey.

Bowling Grounds Team/Person of the Year

Burleys (Crouch Bowling Club, East Sussex).

Best Managed Artificial Surface of the YearScotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.

Environmental and Ecology Strategy Award

Forest Green Rovers FC, Gloucestershire.

Professional Multi-Sports Ground/Facility Team of the Year Bath Recreation Ground.

University/College Grounds Team of the Year

University of Leicester.

Independent School Grounds Team of the YearSt Joseph’s College, Ipswich

International Ambassador of the Year

Jonathan Calderwood, Paris Saint-Germain FC.

Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team/Person of the YearDevonshire Park, Eastbourne

Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year

Lingfield Park Racecourse, Surrey

Alex R Millar Award – chosen from the outstanding winner across all award categoriesGary Barwell, Warwickshire CCC.

Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement Award

Peter Dury

IOG Outstanding Achievement AwardsCarl Pass and Steve Prinn