<b><b>Kirsten Bunch of NHBC reports on the first stage of this year's Pride in the Job awards judging - which narrowed the field from 17,000 to 400 </b></b><br><b>NHBC is announcing the results of the first stage of the 2001 Pride in the Job campaign. Out of the 30 largest UK housebuilding companies, the site managers of Wimpey have secured the most Quality Awards, with a total of 66 award-winning staff. </b><br><b><b>Defending champs</b></b><br> Two of last year' s Supreme winners are beginning the task of defending their UK titles. Chris Strong of Wickford Developments (medium category) and Robert Ely of PL Ely Contractors (small category) now hope to beat off the competition and repeat their past achievements. Les Washington, winner of the large category, has since retired and Bert Lyon's run of success as four-time Supreme Award winner (medium category) will be interrupted this year because he was between sites when judging began. <p></p><p>Altogether, 400 winners were chosen from 17,000 eligible managers in the UK. The first round winners now go through to the next heat to try for a &amp;"Top 100 Seal of Excellence&amp;" Award to be revealed in the Autumn. The campaign reaches its climax in the Supreme Awards …