GrassMaster Takes Centre Stage At World Cup

/in , /by

GrassMaster Takes Centre Stage At World Cup: GrassMaster by Tarkett Sports will play a leading role at the FIFA World Cup in Russia from June 14 to July 15.

The pioneers of hybrid grass were part of the game in the last two FIFA World Cups: Brazil in 2014 and South Africa in 2010.

GrassMaster Takes Centre Stage At World Cup

In Russia, Some 16 World Cup games in total will be played on GrassMaster pitches at the Volgograd Arena, Kazan Arena and Nizhny Novgorod Stadium which all have a brand new GrassMaster pitch installed.

Kazan Arena will host six games from June 16th to July 7th. France vs Australia will be the first fixture of the World Cup to be played on a GrassMaster.

Four games during the group stages will be played in Kazan as well a Round of 16 game and a quarter final.

At the Volgograd Arena, four games will be played starting with Tunisia vs England on June 18. Also on that date, the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium opens its doors with the first game of group F with Sweden vs Korea Republic. This stadium will host four group phase matches, a Round of 16 game and a quarter final.

With six games being played in three weeks in the Kazan Arena, four matches in Volgograd Stadium in 10 days and six in two and a half weeks in Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, GrassMaster proves once again to be the trusted partner for top-level tournaments.

Thanks to the unique technology of GrassMaster a higher degree of player safety and faster surface recovery is ensured, so neither players, fans nor organisation suffer from loss of quality on the pitch.

We stand for a perfect pitch anywhere and anytime. With a lifespan of up to 15 years, these GrassMaster pitches will leave a legacy for the Russian teams, communities and for the venues.

Training pitches

Furthermore, the CSKA training pitch in Moscow will be used by the German football team and the training pitch of the football club Rubin Kazan is going to be used by Japan for training throughout their stay at the 2018 World Cup.

On both pitches, the premium hybrid turf system GrassMaster is installed.

Tarkett Sports Russian partner InSport Pro Co installed the GrassMaster in the Kazan Arena and the CSKA stadium in Moscow.

Additionally they are responsible for the maintenance of the pitches.

Andrey Kanunnikov, managing director of InSport Pro Co said:

“Both the German and Japanese teams recently visited their training grounds and were satisfied with the pitches we’ve prepared for them.”

Installation partner for the Volgograd and Nizny Novgorod stadiums was Golftechnology. Charles Henderson of PSD/Labosport Group is pitch consultant.

GrassMaster’s expertise and experience of nearly 30 years has been used on more than 700 pitches worldwide.

The GrassMaster system with a proven lifespan of 15 years and more, is a 100 % natural grass pitch reinforced by 20 million high performance fibres.

These Polypropylene fibres are injected by computer-controlled machines, 18 deep and 2 cm above the surface, in a grid of +/- 2 x 2 cm. The natural grass roots entwine with the fibres and grow deeper and wider, building a stronger and healthier rootzone. The PP fibres above the surface ensure an always even and stable surface.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Vandals Damage 16 Golf Greens

/in , , /by

Vandals Damage 16 Golf Greens: Within the next few days, test results should reveal the chemical that vandals used to damage 16 greens at a popular golf course in Skagit County.

A swear word was also spelled out in the grass on one of the holes at Swinomish Golf Links.

Vandals Damage 16 Golf Greens

Employees believe the vandal or vandals picked their targets here carefully. The greens closest to the clubhouse are covered by surveillance cameras and were not hit.

“It’s stupid. I don’t why people vandalize. It doesn’t make sense to me,” said golfer Walt Matye.

“Very disgusting. Just like graffiti and that, there’s no point. It doesn’t accomplish anything except make matters worse,” added his cousin, Marshall.

Sometime within the past week, the vandals trespassed on the 100-acre course overnight and sprayed some type of grass-killing chemical on most of the greens, investigators told KOMO News. A swear word was also left behind on hole 11.

“It had to be a very involved process. One that was thought out. And for them to have access to the course by either driving or bringing this stuff with them is something that was well planned out,” said Chairman Brian Cladoosby, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Tests are now being performed on the damaged grass and soil to try to figure out what chemical the vandal or vandals used.

If the chemical damaged the soil, it’s possible the course may have to temporarily close until expensive repairs can be made, employees said.

A temporary closure would be a huge hit considering the time of year.

“These individuals knew what they were doing. They know golf. They know the peak season. They know that the majority of the income produced by golf courses in the northwest is right around Memorial Day to Labor Day,” Cladoosby said.

Right now, this course is still playable.

Employees have drastically reduced rates for players because of the damage left behind.

“It just takes a few people to ruin it for the majority of the people to have a good time,” said Marshall Matye. “I guess the only thing they think about is themselves.”

The course does have insurance, employees said. But it’s possible the damage could climb to more than $500,000, they added.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

Click here to read the original article

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

World Cup Turf Made In Britain

/in , , /by

World Cup Turf Made In Britain: This summer’s World Cup final will be on plastic grass for the first time in history – and England are guaranteed to play a part. It’s all because the surface at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, where the match is to be staged on July 15, is one of six venues in Russia using a “hybrid” pitch made up of real and synthetic grass made by a British firm.

The new surfaces were developed in CumbriaThis summer’s World Cup final will be on plastic grass for the first time in history – and England are guaranteed to play a part. It’s all because the surface at the Luzhniki and installed at the national team’s training centre St George’s Park in 2015, giving Gareth Southgate’s men plenty of practice on the turf.

World Cup Turf Made In Britain

If England finish top of their group in the first round, they will have to play two knock‐ out stage matches on hybrid pitches in order to reach the final.

Their final group stage match will also be played on one of the new pitches.

George Mullan, chief executive of developers SIS Pitches, said: “Having trained on it, it is going to help the England squad.”

The synthetic surface was developed by SIS Pitches at its headquarters in Maryport, Cumbria.

Mr Mullan added: “It’s the first time a World Cup final has been played on anything but all‐natural grass and we’re honoured to have been chosen to install it.

“We have come so far to get this system to the pinnacle of world sport.

“The quality of SIS grass will ensure the pitches are resilient in all conditions. It’s much more durable and stable than the pitches of the old days.

“I’m sure the 2018 World Cup final is one we will all remember.”

The pitches consist of 95 per cent natural turf reinforced with synthetic fibres which are stitched into the ground to a depth of seven inches using a laser‐guided system.

It took just seven days to instal the Luzhniki Stadium surface with “injection roller” machines worth £500,000.

A special air system has also been installed which can remove excess water from the playing surface in just three seconds via underpitch pipes that can blow hot or cold air depending on the climate.

The synthetic grass was made in Dundee, Scotland, at a factory before being shipped to Russia.

Former FA head groundsman Alan Ferguson will be in charge of maintaining the £1million Luzhniki Stadium pitch during the tournament.

Ipswich‐based Mr Ferguson will be in charge of a six‐strong ground staff team including two other Britons and three Russians.

Mr Ferguson was formerly in charge of the Wembley Stadium pitch and the turf at St George’s Park, where the England team are training ahead of the World Cup.

The Luzhniki Stadium will host the opening ceremony and the opening game, along with a semi‐final match and the World Cup final.

The hybrid surfaces have also been installed at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, the Kaliningrad Stadium, the Rostov Arena and the Cosmos Arena in Samara.

In the group stages alone, 30 of the 32 countries taking part in the tournament will play on the revolutionary pitches.

There are 12 venues in all spread across Russia.

The same hybrid pitch has already been installed by Championship side Derby County, as well as at training grounds at top clubs including Fulham and Chelsea. The 2018 World Cup begins on June 14.

England, captained by Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane, begin their quest for glory in Group G alongside Belgium, Tunisia and Panama.

England have been training at St George’s Park this week ahead of their final warm‐up games as the countdown to the tournament continues.

The Three Lions face Nigeria at Wembley on Saturday and Costa Rica at Elland Road in Leeds on Thursday before heading to their base in Russia on June 12.

Click here to read the original article

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.