Betting Shop Manager of the Year Race Is Down to Final Eight

by Roy Brindley, 7 November 2023

The regional winners of this year’s Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year competition have been revealed. After an initial 48 finalists were selected, and following a mystery customer shop visit, the top three candidates from eight regions spanning Britain and Ireland were chosen.

Star Sports’ James Maloney, manager of the independent firm’s flagship shop in Mayfair, London, took the Betting Shop Manager of the Year prize in 2022. ©SIS TV

These final 24 candidates had been set for a treat with a day at the races at Haydock Park, but unfortunately, due to Storm Babet and the forecast weather conditions across the country, the meeting and events were cancelled. Because of this late abandonment, several virtual interviews were booked with each manager, celebrity racing pundit Derek Thompson, and the panel of judges to help decide on the eight Regional Champions.

Lords Ladies Managers and a Cricket Ground

Now, after extensive deliberation between the judges, the competition’s final eight have been confirmed as:

• Anglia and South-East David Barcroft (Paddy Power, Bury St Edmunds)

• Greater London Gordon Champion (William Hill, West Wickham)

• Ireland Jackie Kerr (Paddy Power, Dublin)

• Midlands and Wales Danielle Baker (Coral, Oswestry)

• North and North-East Stacey Carnell (Ladbrokes, Barnsley)

• North-West and Isle of Man Andrew Lord (Coral, Accrington)

• Scotland Danny Morrison (Betfred, Stranraer)

• South-West and Channel Islands Ryan McNaught (Ladbrokes, Plymouth)

These eight regional winners now advance to the final judging phase in London, where one will be crowned the Betting Shop Manager of the Year for 2023. The ultimate winner will be revealed during the awards lunch on Monday, 13th November, hosted at the prestigious Lords Cricket Ground.

The new Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year will receive invitations to various prominent racing and betting events throughout their one-year tenure.

Betting Shop Manager of the Year Roll of Honor

Success Leads to Success

The competition has been keenly fought by managers from across Britain and Ireland since its launch in 1988. Last year, Star Sports’ James Maloney, manager of the independent firm’s flagship shop in Mayfair, London, took the prize.

Twelve months ago, it was champion jockey William Buick who presented 26-year betting industry veteran Maloney with his trophy. Previously, TV personality and racing fan Chris Hughes handed Paddy Power manager Sandra Gilmartin the 2019 award – before Covid-19 halted the award for two years.

Gilmartin’s LinkedIn profile currently reads: “With odds of approximately 8,500/1, I was honored to receive the prestigious Racing Post and SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year award in November 2019. This recognition remains a humbling and grateful highlight of my career. Having dedicated myself to the betting industry since 2007, I’ve had the privilege of being part of the Paddy Power Betfair team since 2012.”

Her employers have rewarded Gilmartin’s loyalty and success. In May 2022, she told the Racing Post: “I’ve recently accepted a permanent position as a key accounts executive, which includes working with our customers online. This will be a new avenue for me, but it remains customer-focused, with safer gambling being one of its core values, which I’m very much looking forward to.”

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