Scottish trainer has raced ahead of the competition to win a prestigious racehorse yard award.

The Kinneston racehorse training yard in Fife recently won the prestigious Lycetts Leadership and Team Champions Awards for 2022. A specialist jumps yard, it is owned Nick Alexander, whose family is steeped in Scottish National Hunt racing. He started training in 2002 and has since sent out more than 300 winners.

“Our mantra is to inform, include and involve at every stage of the training and racing process,” said Mr Alexander, who received his award, alongside a cheque for £4000, at a presentation ceremony at the ROA Northern Racing Awards, at Newcastle Racecourse.

“We have a great team of 20 staff and we have asked them for ideas on how to spend the money – I suspect this may involve more warm and waterproof kit for riding out!”

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He also received the 'Excellence Award' in the inclusive recruitment and effective induction systems category, supported by Cavalor. Previously, Kinneston won the inaugural Team Champion and the Reward and Recognition awards.

Newcastle-based insurance broker, Lycetts and the National Trainers Federation (NTF) created the Awards to celebrate the British racehorse training yards with the highest standards of employee management, outstanding leadership qualities and innovative working practices.

Lycetts’ Piers Plunket said: “It is wonderful to see so many trainers and teams recognising the importance of these awards to drive forward their business and to showcase the brilliant work, high standards and team culture at their yards.”

Paul Johnson, NTF chief executive, said: “By entering these awards, trainers let us in on the myriad of ways that great team ethos is developed and sustained, how staff are encouraged and developed, and how to lead by example.

“We have some incredible employers in this industry, inspiring leaders, brilliant managers and exciting newcomers. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate them all.”