Final Eight Announced For 2026 Betting Shop Manager Of The Year Award
Eight betting shop managers representing five major bookmakers will compete for the prestigious Racing Post/SIS award at a ceremony in London next month.
The eight finalists for the 2026 Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year competition have been confirmed, with representatives from Paddy Power, William Hill, Coral, Betfred and BOYLE Sports competing for the annual industry award.
The finalists have been selected from a shortlist of 15 candidates following the latest stage of the judging process, which included face-to-face meetings at Nottingham, recorded interviews conducted by racing broadcaster Derek Thompson and assessments from mystery shopper visits.
The winner will be announced at an awards lunch at Goldsmiths' Hall in London on Monday, 9 November, bringing the competition to a conclusion after several rounds of assessment designed to recognise excellence within the retail betting sector.
Eight Managers Compete For Industry Award
Paddy Power, William Hill and Coral each have two representatives in the final, while Betfred and BOYLE Sports complete the shortlist with one candidate apiece. The eight finalists represent betting shops across England, Scotland and Ireland, highlighting the geographical reach of the competition.
The finalists for the 2026 award are:
Aundrea Augustine – Paddy Power, Hounslow
Mark Drysdale – William Hill, Glasgow
Mark Fanning – BOYLE Sports, Thurles
Gemma Grundon – Coral, Carlisle
Joe Robinson-Hale – William Hill, Liverpool
Katie Rolph – Betfred, Newmarket
Chris Vause – Coral, Goole
Joanne Wilson – Paddy Power, Boston
Each finalist will attend a final question-and-answer session with the judging panel on 8 November, accompanied by a key member of their shop team. The interviews will provide judges with a further opportunity to assess the candidates before selecting this year's winner.
Judging Panel To Select 2026 Winner
The judging panel brings together representatives from several organisations involved in British racing and betting, including Richard Hayler, Managing Director of the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS), and Alan Delmonte, Chief Executive of the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
They will be joined by Helen Scott of Sports Information Services (SIS) and Alan Pepperell, Head of Retail at Racecourse Media Group (RMG). The judges have already reviewed mystery shopper reports and interviews alongside meeting the candidates during the previous selection stage.
The eventual winner will receive invitations to several major racing and betting events throughout their year as champion, providing opportunities to represent the retail betting industry beyond their own shop.
Last year's competition was won by Tracey Mooney of William Hill in Prestwick, who secured the bookmaker's sixth victory in the award's history.
The 2026 competition will now conclude at Goldsmiths' Hall on 9 November, when one of the eight remaining managers will succeed Mooney as Betting Shop Manager of the Year.
