Rostov Pitch Ready For Action

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Rostov Pitch Ready For Action: The Rostov stadium, Russia’s new $330 million development – which will host five clashes during this summer’s World Cup – is officially ready for action, after its high tech hybrid pitch was given FIFA seal of approval in a formal handover.

Global pitch specialists, SIS Pitches, was commissioned to design, construct and install the surface at Rostov, using its sophisticated reinforced natural turf system called SISGrass. Combining 95% natural grass with 5% synthetic turf, it offers unrivalled pitch stability and delivers more playing hours than natural grass, as well as better recovery after use. Beneath the Rostov stadium is SISAir technology – an aeration system which manages soil moisture and promotes healthier turf by providing optimum conditions for root growth.

Rostov Pitch Ready For Action

Following complex inspections, the pitch was certified as compliant with FIFA’s quality standards by independent agency the Sports Turf Research Institute, and SIS Pitches formally transferred the pitch over to stadium management, who will handle all of its maintenance.

George Mullan, CEO & Founder of SIS Pitches Ltd, said: “With less than six weeks to go, a vital part of World Cup preparations is ensuring that, like the players, the pitches are truly world-class.

“Our crew has been working hard to get the ground into the very best condition. Rostov now has the most technologically-advanced playing surface in the world. Our SISGrass system has delivered a pitch that is durable and will perform well. It’s over to the stadium team now to maintain that standard and quality until the final whistle.

“As football fans around the world count down to the start of the tournament, the pitch handover is another step closer to the action, and we can’t wait for the matches to begin.”

The Rostov pitch installation was completed in eight days, using a staggering 48,000 kilometres of yarn – which is the equivalent of the distance around the world.

Smirnov Denis Anatolievich, Director of Rostov Stadium, added: “SIS Pitches are highly qualified professionals who provide high-quality services. They successfully carried out the design and construction of our pitch at Rostov Stadium, using the very latest technology, installing an aeration and drainage system and stitching synthetic fibres to strengthen our turf. Earlier this month we hosted our first football match, and the independent and official expert of FIFA conducted testing, which proved the high quality of the pitch.”

Rostov Pitch Ready For Action

The 45,000-seater Rostov stadium will host five World Cup Group matches, with Brazil facing Switzerland (17 June), Uruguay playing Saudi Arabia (20 June), South Korea taking on Mexico (23 June) and Iceland up against Croatia (26 June). The winner of Group G and runner up for Group H will also go head-to-head at Rostov.

Located in Rostov-on-Don, it is one of 12 venues that will host the World Cup. Six of these have commissioned SIS Pitches expertise and feature SISGrass surfaces, including Luzhniki stadium, where the highly-anticipated World Cup Final will be played before a crowd of 80,000 and a worldwide TV audience of one billion. It will be the first time a World Cup Final has ever been played on anything but all-natural grass.

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Dorchester’s 3G Pitch Underway

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Dorchester’s 3G Pitch Underway: Matt Lucas, chairman of Dorchester Town believes the installation of the Magpies’ new 3G artificial pitch is a “massive step” for the Avenue Stadium club.

Preparation work yesterday began on the surface, with the grass being sprayed ready for removal on Tuesday, May 8.

That came after Dorchester Town Reserves lost 3-1 to Poole Town in the final ever game on the existing turf on Monday night.

And Lucas is pleased that the hours of work undertaken by the club’s sub-committee will finally come to fruition.

He told Echosport: “It’s a massive step and we’re really excited. The grass is being sprayed before the contractors come in on May 8, then they will begin taking away all the excess.

“It’s really starting in earnest, we’re really excited. It’s great to be able to achieve what we as a club have achieved with having it.

“A hell of a lot of work has gone into it over a long period of time. Our thanks go to West Dorset Council, Dorchester Town Council, Dorchester Town Youth and the Section 106 Committee – the sub-committee has worked so hard in finding the right pathway for us.”

With the overhaul of the Magpies’ pitch aimed at bringing the local community and local football together, Lucas is particularly heartened by the good spirit behind the pitch project.

He said: “What’s been great is that everyone has come in and been involved in getting the 3G and of course the supporters and people that follow the club in purchasing the squares.

“It’s really, really positive seeing everybody pulling together and getting ready for next season.

“We obviously see it as a great thing for the place as a whole because football is going to be available for an awful lot of people in the area.

“What makes it for me is how everybody is coming together to make this happen. I would personally like to thank the sub-committee that have been planning everything over a long period of time.

“I’m extremely pleased for them that we’ve got to the stage we’re at now,” he said.

The Magpies have installed a camera to map the progress of the installation from start to finish. Updates will be available on all of the club’s social media channels.

Dorchester Town’s end-of-season presentation evening will be held at the Avenue Stadium on Saturday, May 12.

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Ian Bridges Joins Iseki

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Ian Bridges Joins Iseki: Iseki UK & Ireland is pleased to announce that Ian Bridges is joining the team as the Scotland and North of England Regional Sales Manager.

Ian, an industry stalwart who has worked for various manufacturers in the Industry over the years is perhaps best known for the 30 years that he spent with Jacobsen and then Ransomes Jacobsen that ended with his retirement from the Ipswich based manufacturer earlier this year.

Ian Bridges Joins Iseki

“When Ian became available earlier this year we started talking about the possibility of him joining our new team and continuing the great work he has done looking after ISEKI whilst RJ were the distributors” said David Withers, Managing Director of ISEKI UK. “Ian has a real depth of knowledge of the product line and is probably the best-known figure in the Industry in Scotland so it made sense for us to welcome him to our organisation”

Ian’s contact details are 07850 086 314 and e-mail ibridges@iseki.co.uk

For more information, visit: www.iseki.co.uk

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Reesink’s Clive Pinnock Retires

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Reesink’s Clive Pinnock Retires: After 34 years of service, Clive Pinnock is retiring from Reesink Turfcare and the training department he helped develop, which is widely regarded to be the best in the industry.

Clive trailblazed his way through the industry he loved and will be much missed, not only by employer Reesink, but the industry, says turf equipment aftermarket manager at Reesink, David Jackman.

Reesink's Clive Pinnock Retires

“Clive has been instrumental in helping us grow the company to where it is today,” he says. “He’s been an ambassador not just for us as a company, but The Toro Company too, and has passed his wealth of knowledge onto so many of our customers, employees and distributors.”

Clive has worked with Toro products for 34 years, he explains: “I started at Lely, as it was then, one year after Lely became Toro distributors for the UK. As the only product specialist for the aftermarket service team for 12 years, I was responsible for supporting dealers and customers in a technical and product support role for the south of the country and Europe.”

When Clive turned 65 he decided he didn’t want to retire, but equally didn’t want to be driving around the M25 so much, so it was agreed he would move into the training department in Reesink’s head office in St Neots, which is where David takes over the story:

“It was the perfect solution for Clive, and us. We kept Clive’s product knowledge and training ability, and we had somebody that customers and dealers knew and trusted delivering our training. There are four people in the training department now, delivering nine training courses – that’s one of the biggest selections from a distributor – and Clive has been a big part of building that success.”

In fact, Clive has been quite the training trailblazer since his move into the training department. He was first in the turfcare sector to achieve a level four in the Landbased Technician Accreditation scheme (LTA), which is one of the highest training accolades there is. Clive completed all his training through Reesink, which was recognised as an assessment training centre in 2016, because, he says: “I wanted to add to my practical experience with the training qualifications I strongly believe in, so when Reesink was made a training centre it made absolute sense to go through the training pathway, and it was a great experience.”

David concludes by saying: “Clive has been an inspiration, his passion for learning and sharing his knowledge was evident in how he delivered our training; it was always with such enthusiasm attendees couldn’t help but be motivated.

“What I’ll remember about Clive is his knowledge and ability to recall things, especially when it comes to the older products. You can ask Clive a question regarding a machine that was made in the 1990s and he’s able to list all the modifications or upgrades that were carried out on the machine, what cutting units or deck option had been fitted, and so on – Clive could retain it all! How do you replace that? You can’t, it’s irreplaceable.”

But what you can do is leave a legacy, like Clive, in the form of all those he’s trained.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Reading Switch To Johnsons

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Reading Switch To Johnsons: Switching to a brand new grass seed after 10 years of using the same mixture is a big step, but one that Grounds Manager Adam Grantham made at both the Madejski Stadium and Reading FC’s training ground, Hogwood Park. Now into his second season, the switch to Johnsons Sports Seed J Premier Pitch is paying off, with the mixture delivering all of the qualities Adam looks for in creating top-rate surfaces.

“When I first took over the management of the stadium, as well as the training facilities, 4 years ago Johnsons was the seed of choice” explains Adam who has been with Reading Football Club for 14 years. “Although I could see what the Johnsons mixture was capable of, I kept with my head and stuck with the mixtures I was familiar with.” However, after hearing lots about the J Premier Pitch mixture Adam decided to trial it on one of the nine pitches at the training ground and were very happy with the results.

Reading Switch To Johnsons

“The response we got, compared to what we were using, was far superior in terms of the colour, wear and disease resistance – the key qualities – I was looking for. I also checked out the cultivars in the STRI book and when you see them all towards the top, you know you’re getting a good mixture.” Following the successful trial, Adam was happy to make the switch seeding all nine training pitches, as well as the Stadium pitch, with Johnsons Premier Pitch.

With proven performance at many of Europe’s leading stadia, J Premier Pitch contains top-rated cultivars including Eurodiamond, to deliver a sward with exceptional wear tolerance, density and rapid recovery. In addition, the rapid establishment means it can be ready to mow in as little as three weeks. It is also now available with DLF’s ProNitro seed coat technology.

Reading Switch To Johnsons

“We’ve kept all other elements the same, the seed is fed the same, but we’ve seen a great improvement in the quality of the pitches.” Content with his switch, Adam now has the consistency that is required throughout the year thanks to the Johnsons mix.

For further information visit www.johnsonssportsseed.co.uk

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