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NEWS ARTICLES

MJ Abbott Provide World Class Results

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Two pitch reconstructions and one full renovation were completed at the training headquarters of the Ligue 1 champions, with all three completed in conjunction with Premier Pitches.

The past five years have been laden with success since the Qatar Sports Investments Group purchased the club in 2011. Whilst millions have been spent on football’s biggest names in the intervening three seasons, with three consecutive Ligue 1 titles and nine domestic cup competitions added to the trophy cabinet, the Parisian club have also invested off the pitch.

Head Grounds Manager, Jonathan Calderwood, has been with PSG since 2013 and has been a part of the club’s domination of French football as well as garnering plaudits for his Parc des Princes pitch during Euro 2016.

During this busy summer of international football that saw Portugal triumph and Jonathan’s native Northern Ireland make their return to a major tournament, MJ Abbott were undertaking two phases of work at Camp des Loges.

The first phase of work, to two academy training pitches, involved removing the vegetation by Koro, laser grading to improve the existing rootzone levels, import and spreading of a new 100mm rootzone layer, final laser trimming, cultivation and seeding.

Jonathan explains: “It was essential that the new rootzone layer offered a smooth playing surface. MJ Abbott carried out a GPS survey of the pitches prior to work starting, from which they were able to design the new levels. When work started, the design was loaded into the bulldozer laser system, ensuring the pitch regrading and new rootzone was installed to very accurate tolerances from the outset.”

MJ Abbott Contracts Manager, Nathan George, comments: “As with all projects carried out for professional football clubs, time is very much in limited supply from the end of the playing season to the start of next season’s pre-season training. It was therefore imperative to deliver the project on time to ensure Jonathan had a suitable amount of time to grow the pitches in and get them ready for use when required by the club.”

Despite torrential rainfall encountered across Paris shortly after the pitches were completed, Jonathan and his team managed to get the pitches ready in time for the new season. “We struggled initially with wash out on the surfaces which meant we had to overseed once the rains subsided. MJ Abbott’s efficiency during the construction process certainly ensured that we had maximum timescales to get the pitches grown in.” Jonathan continues: “the new pitch surfaces have been well received by the players and look fantastic.”

MJ Abbott utilised Premier Pitches Ltd to carry out the cultivating and seeding operations on the newly constructed surfaces, and for the renovation of the academy Match pitch which formed the second phase of work. Nathan explains: “The two companies have utilised each others’ services on a number of projects to date. Premier Pitches’ expertise in end of season renovations is synonymous amongst some of Europe’s biggest football clubs.”

The Match Pitch end of season renovation involved removing the vegetation by Koro, vertidraining, rootzone topdressing application, cultivation and seeding. All work had to be completed within 5 days, to ensure Jonathan had the maximum amount of pitch establishment time. “Premier Pitches did a great renovation job on our match pitch, and as with MJ Abbott, their attention to detail and care for the end product was very impressive and gave me the confidence that the work was carried out to our specifications.”

The importance of using a reliable company on a project with such tight time-frames was very important for Jonathan, and the reason why MJ Abbott were selected by PSG to complete the work. ”Thanks to MJ Abbott and Premier Pitches and their professionalism, excellent quality of work and ability to complete all work on time, we had the maximum opportunity to have the pitches ready for the new season and excellent playing surfaces ‎for the up-coming seasons at the Paris Saint-Germain Academy.”

ECB Considers Artificial Pitches For T20

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Keen to ensure the best-possible surfaces (for batsmen, anyway) for a competition seen as vital in attracting a new audience to the game, the ECB recently held a meeting with county groundsmen where the idea was discussed. ESPNcricinfo understands that Chris Wood, the ECB’s Pitch Consultant, has been charged with researching how to introduce such surfaces ahead of the launch of the competition in 2020.

There are significant pros and cons to the use of such pitches. While it would likely result in a certain homogenisation of conditions and provide even less opportunity for bowlers to extract anything from surfaces, it would also enable grounds to provide the centre-wicket pitches required by broadcasters multiple times without concerns about deterioration. Artificial surfaces might also be considered to provide uniformity of conditions for both teams, which a turf surface will not always offer.

Drop-in surfaces have also been considered but are not thought to be cost effective or provide quite the same uniformity of performance.

While long-term lovers of cricket may have reservations about artificial surfaces, the ECB’s mantra over the new competition is that it is not designed to appeal to those already watching the game: it is designed to appeal to the vast potential audience that is currently immune to its charms. The ECB feels that providing such good-paced surfaces will help create the high-scoring, boundary-filled cricket it believes will attract that new audience. It might also minimise delays after poor weather.

To that end, Wood is looking into the best options and cost implications of laying such pitches close to the middle of squares in all first-class grounds.

It is a move that will do nothing to address the increasing imbalance between bat and ball and might rob the game of the sort of low-scoring thrillers that made the 1983 World Cup final, the 2015 World Cup match between New Zealand and Australia and the 2003 World Cup match between Australia and England – among many others – so memorable. But subtlety appears to be one the likely victims of the T20 revolution.

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Another successful MDP delivered at Warwick

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The recent Management Development Programme part 1 course held at Warwick University was a sell out with 28 delegates attending from golf, tennis and city clubs in the UK, Europe and Middle East.

The delegates benefitted from education sessions focused on club operations delivered by top-rated club industry presenters including Darshan Singh on Managing Chance, Steven Brown on Food & Beverage, Rod Findlay on Club Legislation, Steuart Fotheringham on HR and Health & Safety, Bill Sanderson on Marketing in Clubs, Kevin Fish CCM on Club Governance, Duncan Ritchie on Finance and Michael Braidwood CCM on Facilities Maintenance.

The course was held at the Radcliffe Conference Centre located on the Warwick University Campus in Warwickshire and attracted delegates from England, Wales, Scotland, Spain, France and Oman all from a variety of backgrounds from General Managers to Trainee Managers and PGA Professionals.

MDP part 1 is the first of 5 Management Development Programmes that CMAE run, all designed to help Club Industry Supervisors and Managers become more informed, perform better at their jobs and help them progress on their career path in Club Management.

Kenny Monaghan, PGA Professional at Linlithgow Golf Club and a delegate on the course said: “The CMAE MDP 1 course was a wonderful experience for me. The course itself was very engaging and filled with very enthusiastic presenters from a variety of different backgrounds. This was a real eye opener for me in the world of club management and I have already started looking at what I can do next to develop myself as Modern PGA Golf professional. I would strongly recommend the MDP journey to anyone thinking of progressing with the club management industry.”

The next MDP 1 in England will be held in London from 17th – 21st July 2017.

O’Brien Sports win Bridge Street Sports Centre hockey pitch contract

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Leading sports pitch construction specialist, O’Brien Sports, has secured a hockey pitch resurfacing project at Bridge Street Sports Centre in Leominster.

Appointed by Kier Construction, under the Scape National Minor Works Framework, O’Brien’s 8 week contract involves the careful removal of the existing sand filled synthetic grass pitch and enkaflex shockpad, in preparation for the installation.

The new playing surface will feature an International Hockey Federation (FIH) approved, sand dressed Domo Hockey Extreme surface placed upon a Domoflex 5010 prefabricated shockpad.

Prior to the resurfacing works, sub base tests will be conducted to ensure the levels are in accordance with the specification.

Steve Hillman, General Manager, O’Brien Sports, said: “We are pleased to be providing sports pitch services for Kier Construction, having previously worked with them on a number of civil engineering schemes across the Midlands.

Our works are taking place within a live setting, but we understand the importance of preplanning, in-terms of traffic management and health and safety, to ensure a safe environment, along with minimal disruption is provided to local residents and people using the facilities, at all times.”

O’Brien Sports delivers natural sports pitches used for rugby, football and cricket. It also supplies synthetic and multi-use games area pitches, with surfaces suitable for just about every sport and user – from hockey clubs to school rugby and community football teams.

Recent projects, include: a 3G football pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), polymeric sprint track and car park for Broxhill Sports Centre in Romford, a 3G multi-use sports pitch for Warden Park Academy in Cuckfield and a 3G football pitch for Christ’s College Finchley in London.

Entry opens for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards 2017

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The prestigious Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year awards are returning for 2017 and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association is encouraging its members to get involved with this career-defining opportunity.

Last year Jimmy Heritage, of Maylands, joined the list of talented greenkeepers who have secured the highly coveted Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year award, which is now in its 29th year.

“Winning the award was the culmination of three years’ hard work,” said Jimmy, 25. “Greenkeeping has become such a passion for me and it is fantastic that we work in an industry where those who work hard and are dedicated are rewarded for their successes.

“I hope that there are many more highlights to come in my career, but winning Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year was certainly a great way to start, and I would encourage anyone else who is thinking about entering to get involved – you won’t regret it.”

The prize for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner is an incredible six-week scholarship which sees them travel to the University of Massachusetts to study turf management and includes a trip to the Golf Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory.

20-year-old Dan Waring, of Ashbourne, also celebrated after becoming the inaugural winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year award.

Reesink Turfcare is the UK distributor of Toro machinery and Managing Director David Cole said: “Last year we introduced a Young category to the awards and this opened up a window of opportunity to a new audience, while also re-energising the competition format. Plus, we have been able to make the entrant’s tutor and club more involved, so everyone’s a winner.”

The winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year award receives a two-week work placement at the exclusive Vidauban Golf Club in France, plus a trip to Continue to Learn at BTME.

Prizes are also available for the awards runners-up and those who nominate the students.

Being part of the Toro Student Greenkeeper awards allows nominees to meet and compete with the best greenkeeping students in the UK and Ireland.

Those invited to interview will be tested on their knowledge, not only of greenkeeping tasks, skills and health and safety, but it also incorporates understanding of the job role, personal development, and industry awareness.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year award is available to all greenkeeping students studying for eligible qualifications.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year award is specifically for greenkeeping students aged 20 years and under.

Greenkeeping students can nominate themselves for the awards, including by using the online application process, while college tutors, assessors or employers can also endorse applications.