Tag Archive for: Qatar

Pitchmark in Qatar

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Pitchmark in Qatar: In just under six weeks, Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions will head to Qatar for their next landmark competition, but preparations at their training camp at the Al-Wakrah Sports Complex started much sooner with Pitchmark shining brightest in the Middle East.

Since Pitchmark’s inception in 2010, the Bristol-based company have supplied line marking paints, equipment, and machinery to top international stadia like Wembley Stadium and international sporting events. In 2019, Pitchmark was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade after demonstrating an exceptional growth record and success overseas – and the past twelve months have been no different.

Pitchmark in Qatar

Pitchmark in Qatar

Pitchmark’s Managing Director Tim Rodman and Group Sales Manager Oliver Boys have built strong relationships throughout the Middle East over the past few years, and their recent trip to Qatar focused on tailor-made training and education sessions to suit the unique conditions. Hand-built to the highest standards and proudly bearing the Made in Britain mark, Pitchmark’s Classic transfer wheel marker and the innovative three-wheeled Hybrid spray marker were on display at Stadium 974, Khalifa International Stadium and Lusail Stadium, as well as the LineFix System.

Using semi-permanent ground sockets that remain installed in the pitch, LineFix is a unique system developed by the Pitchmark R&D team that has benefitted customers at grassroots and professional stadia by not only increasing accuracy but simplifying the re-marking process. This will allow the grounds staff in Qatar to string out completely accurately every time.

As well as line marking, LineFix can also be used for pattern lines when cutting a pitch. With the different colours of sockets, the grounds staff in Qatar will be able to distinguish which sockets are installed for pitch markings from those installed for pattern lines. As goal-line technology advances, LineFix’s accuracy and straightness, combined with millimetre-accurate line width, are essential to match officials when determining whether a ball has crossed the goal line. The precise mowing lines also contribute to improving the new semi-automated offside technology.

As part of Pitchmark’s recent visit, the pair also provided grounds staff with free legionnaire hats and water bottles to help them cope with the weather-intensive conditions in Qatar, as well as line marking handbooks for precise pitch measurements.

If you would like to learn more about Pitchmark and its products, you can visit their exclusive UK distributor Turfix at Stand E125 between 2 – 3 November at the NEC, Birmingham for SALTEX 2022.

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Walking to Qatar

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Walking to Qatar: Fresh off completing his Million Steps Challenge, which saw him raise £12,075 for Shout – the UK’s first free 24/7 text support service for anyone struggling to cope – Cambridge United Stadium Manager Ian Darler B.E.M. is now taking things one ‘step’ further. 

Captured on video, Mark Bonner, Manager of Cambridge United, has set Darler the challenge of walking the equivalent distance from London to Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup – a staggering 3,229 miles or close to 8 million steps – with the aim of raising £50,000 for Shout. Visit Ian Darler’s fundraising page for more details.

Walking to Qatar

Walking to Qatar

Having personally experienced depression and PTSD, and after losing a friend to suicide, Darler is eager to continue raising awareness of mental health and money for Shout.

Ian Darler B.E.M. said: “After hitting rock bottom some years ago, I am now thankfully in a much better place and have come through one of the most challenging periods in my life. It is so important to discuss our mental health and to not allow each other to suffer in silence – like I did – which is why I now want to keep the conversation and the fundraising going.

“The statistics surrounding depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm and suicide are absolutely frightening. We still have such a long way to go, which is why I would implore everyone who can to play their part and make a donation. The Million Steps challenge was a real challenge, but also a very humbling experience and I expect nothing less this time around.”

Shout is the UK’s first and only free, 24/7, confidential text messaging mental health support service for anyone struggling to cope. To date, Shout has taken more than 1,000,000 conversations with 400,000 children, young people and adults who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need immediate support.

Victoria Hornby, CEO of charity Mental Health Innovations, which powers Shout 85258, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Ian for undertaking such an epic fundraising challenge for Shout by walking to the Qatar World Cup. We are currently taking 2,400 conversations every day with children and adults across the UK who are struggling to cope with suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness and much more. Every penny raised will enable us to take conversations that could save lives. Thank you Ian and good luck, I can’t wait to join you somewhere along the way!”

For more information about the fundraising challenge and to make a donation, visit Ian’s fundraising page.

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