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NEWS ARTICLES

Qatar World Cup Stadium Claims Turfing World Record

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A pitch specially developed in Qatar has been laid in record time at Khalifa International Stadium, as the first proposed host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar advances towards completion.

Fifa.com reports that in the space of just 13 and a half hours, the pitch measuring around 7,800 square metres was moved from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) Turf Nursery and laid down inside the venue by a team of 40 specialists on site.

Up to eight specialised machines were used by the 40 people moving the grass and laying it down in the proposed host venue for matches up to the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.

According to the report, the record improved the previous best set by the team when returfing Al Sadd Sports Club’s stadium in 2016 in 14 hours and 40 minutes.

The turf was planted at the Turf Nursery and took nine months to reach the optimum 14 millimetres in length, before it was harvested and transferred to the Khalifa International Stadium.

“We would like to congratulate our partners at Aspire Zone Foundation in laying the pitch for Khalifa International Stadium in the record time of 13 and a half hours,” Youssif Al Musleh, competition venues deputy executive director at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said.

“Khalifa International Stadium is a historic venue in the eyes of the local community and region, and the fan and player experience in 2022 will ensure that it becomes a memorable venue for the world when Qatar hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A short time-lapse video of the work can be viewed here.

Spartak Moscow Switch To SISGrass For World Cup

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Russian giants Spartak Moscow will make the switch from a natural pitch to a SISGrass hybrid surface ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

SIS Pitches previously designed and constructed a natural pitch at the Otkrytiye Arena in 2014, before completing work on four training pitches in September 2016.

From April 2017, SISGrass will be installed at the stadium as Spartak Moscow joins a number of other Russian stadiums that are having a hybrid pitch transformation.

The Otkrytiye Arena, one of twelve stadiums that will host matches at the tournament next year, will become the fourth high-profile stadium in the country to receive a SISGrass makeover.

SIS Pitches has installed a new SISGrass hybrid pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium, the venue of the opening ceremony and the World Cup Final.

The global pitch-specialists have also agreed deals to complete similar work at the Rostov Arena and the Baltic Arena, Kaliningrad, sealing a quartet of SISGrass projects.

Ilyas Kobal, SIS Pitches Eastern Europe Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be installing the ever popular SISGrass at Spartak Moscow.

“We have developed a great working relationship with the club, as we do with all of our clients, especially after we previously installed the natural pitch.

“SISGrass will be present at four world cup stadiums and we are all excited ahead of the tournament next year.”

SISGrass is an advanced reinforced turf system featuring patented fibre injections, which offers increased pitch stability and delivers considerably more playing hours and recovers faster than natural grass surfaces.

Russells Groundscare Appointed Ventrac Dealer

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Price Turfcare, the Ventrac importer for the UK and Ireland, has appointed the Russell Group’s Groundcare Divison as their dealer for Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and north Lincolnshire.

A family business, based in Malton and one of the largest New Holland dealers in the UK, they have been serving the farming community since 1921, from five branches in Yorkshire and one in Derbyshire. A new depot in Rotherham opens in May 2017.

Glen Sawyer, Area Manager for south Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Notts commented,
“I’ve known Rupert Price for many years and when I saw him at BTME in January with the Ventrac, I was intrigued. He knows the turfcare industry backwards, so to see his new venture raised my curiosity. I invited him up to Yorkshire and arranged a series of demonstrations with prospective clients, which also gave me the opportunity to see it, and its many attachments, in action.

“I’ve seen a lot of innovative machines in my career, but this is something else. Yes, it’s a great mower with a choice of cutting units that’s particularly good on slopes. But its real attribute is its versatility. With a range of attachments, it’s a multi-functional machine that suits local authorities and golf club alike. It can work year-round – spring preparation, summer mowing, autumn and winter for maintenance. Some of the slopes it tackled were mighty impressive; this machine is a game-changer. That’s why we’re delighted to become dealers for this product.”

ECHO® ASK-RW23D Scissor Head – A Safer Cut

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Working in built-up areas can present hazards when cutting close to bystanders, cars or buildings. It only takes a few stones or loose objects to get thrown into the air and there is the potential of damage to property or even a risk to safety.

The new ECHO® ASK-RW23D scissor head, a rotary scissor attachment suitable for most ECHO® brushcutters, helps to reduce this risk. It works on the principle of a 20:1 reduction ratio gearbox and two contra-rotating blades that actually ‘snip’ the grass or brush – just like a pair of scissors. This means you have safer and more precise cutting. Grass, weeds or brush simply drops where it is cut, making the ASK-RW23D an ideal choice to use when required to work near people, office windows or parked cars.

Highly versatile, the ASK-RW23D scissor head can trim up close to solid obstacles, such as trees, walls and kerbs without kickback or damage. Edging golf course bunkers and trimming grass in shallow water are easily tackled. The flat bottom design enables the operator to place the cutting head close to the ground when uncovering hidden landmarks, such as drain covers.

The ASK-RW23D rotary scissor head comes with an 18 over 15 tooth blade kit, and an optional 28 over 24 tooth fine cut blade kit is also available for getting an even finer finish on grass and lawn edges. The cutting head is well-balanced, making it easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to use. The ASK-RW23D scissor head mirrors ECHO®’s commitment to quality, providing their customers with commercial grade and innovative products. Visit www.echo-tools.co.uk to find your local ECHO® dealer.

CSA Concludes Groundsmen’s Conference

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East London – The annual Cricket South Africa (CSA) Groundsmen’s Conference concluded in East London on Friday after a comprehensive overview of the state of playing fields in the country.

The April 18 to 21 event covered everything from pitches to the equipment used in preparing them.

There was also input from coaches, captains, media and the CSA events department as all areas associated with groundsmen were covered.

CSA General Manager: Cricket, Corrie van Zyl, hailed the four-day programme as a huge success.

“It is a fundamental part of cricket development and excellence that all our potential players, at whatever level, have access to the best possible facilities,” he said.

“Batsmen and bowlers need pitches with good carry and bounce if they are to develop their talents successfully and the fielders need outfields they can trust.

“This is true at every level of the game as there is nothing better than a good playing surface to build the confidence and enthusiasm of a youngster.”

Some of the other key highlights discussed at the conference included outfields at the various venues, stadium capacities, fertilizer used on pitches and surfaces, drainage systems and the fixtures.

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