November 16, 2010 in News by admin

Aviva chooses Fibrelastic

Aviva Stadium chooses Fibrelastic

Dublin’s Aviva Stadium officially opened in May 2010 and is Ireland’s only UEFA Elite Stadium. The state of the art venue, built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road stadium, is home to many high-tech improvements in stadium technology, including top class pitch floodlighting and advanced treatment facilities for players. Further evidence of this attention to players’ well-being was the pitch itself with the specification of the Fibrelastic rootzone system from Mansfield Sand Company.

There has been much attention recently on pitches that are less than ‘player-friendly’. The free draining surface characteristics required by groundsmen and stadium operators can sometimes result in a firmer pitch. This in turn can have a detrimental impact on the injuries sustained by players – especially on limbs and load bearing joints.

Ireland’s No 1 sportsground contactors, Clive Richardson Ltd, (CRL Ltd), were tasked with building the pitch for the stadium. Understanding the demands and requirements of the new stadium, Fibrelastic Rootzone was chosen by the FAI and the IRU for a ‘world class pitch’ in a ‘world class stadium’.

Not only has Fibrelastic been independently tested by the Sports Turf Research Institute, but clubs that already use the Fibrelastic system such as Newcastle, Glasgow Rangers, Fulham, Wolves, Plymouth, Bristol City & Llanelli Scarlets have had fantastic feedback from players, physiotherapists and groundsmen.

Player injury can be frustrating for a chairman, manager, player and fans, but the cost of an out of action player can also be financially damaging to a club. With this in mind Mansfield Sand Company developed the Fibrelastic rootzone system to ensure a more forgiving, resilient playing surface. Fibrelastic rootzone comprises silica sand, organic matter, rigid polypropylene fibres and flexible elastane fibres which produce an ‘elastication’ of the pitch. As a result the surface is less tiring and more ‘player friendly’ with injuries to knees, ankles and lower backs less likely to occur. It also makes the surface less prone to disturbance, giving ball players a better grip.

As a testimony to the player-friendly nature of the technology, the Aviva stadium’s first major game played on the Fibrelastic pitch was Ireland XI v Man United on August 4th, after which Michael Owen commented that it was “the best pitch he had ever played on”.

Fibrelastic is also great news for the groundsmen at the Aviva stadium, as the pitch is less prone to divots and scar damage, without compromising its excellent hard-wearing properties. Damage to the surface is minimal, and the stadium even hosted the Leinster v Munster rugby game, only five days after a large concert in the stadium that required the pitch to be covered for ten days, without needing to be re-turfed. Drainage is not compromised by these hard-wearing benefits, and in fact those who maintain to Fibrelastic pitches have noted that aeration is not needed as often.

November 16, 2010 in News by admin

David Barron is a Champion Trainer

David Barron has become the Champion Trainer at Southwell following another successful
All-Weather season.

The Thirsk handler beat reigning champion Paul Blockley to the 2004/5 award after ending the winter campaign on a high note with a string of winners including Penwell Hill and Melvino.

Barron, who has been synonymous with All-Weather racing on Fibresand since it first began at Southwell in 1989, received his award at the recent All-Weather Championship Dinner at Lingfield Park.

“It is a great honour to receive this award,” said Barron. “I have enjoyed many winners at Southwell over the years and am always happy to run my horses there. It is a very fair track and the surface is so reliable.”

His stable apprentice Philip Makin also enjoyed a haul of winners at the Nottinghamshire track, which re-opened in November following extensive refurbishment and drainage improvements.

Blockley, who was second top trainer at Southwell, retained his overall Trainers’ Championship, while Neil Callan – so often at his very best at Southwell – was crowned the Champion Jockey.

November 16, 2010 in News by admin

A FIR’ST FOR SCOTLAND Motherwell Football Club has become the first club in Scotland to install mature, custom grown Fibreturf.

The new pitch at Fir Park

The new pitch at Fir Park was laid at the end of last season and was instantly ready for action in time for the first league match against Hibernian.

With around a half of the seasons home fixtures complete, the playing surface remains in a very good condition. Stadium Facilities Manager Ken Davies explains: “In previous years, the pitch refurbishment had been done by re-seeding but this time, we selected Custom Grown Fibreturf.”

“Faced with a shortened available growing period due to the undersoil heating project, Fibreturf provided the opportunity to install an instant and established playing surface before the start of the new season. The pitch at Fir Park is now top quality. We have worked closely with Fibresand UK over the last few months, who have been a superb source of advice throughout the process.”

The new pitch at Fir Park was laid at the end of last season and was instantly ready for action in time for the first league match against Hibernian.

With around a half of the seasons home fixtures complete, the playing surface remains in a very good condition. Stadium Facilities Manager Ken Davies explains: “In previous years, the pitch refurbishment had been done by re-seeding but this time, we selected Custom Grown Fibreturf.”

“Faced with a shortened available growing period due to the undersoil heating project, Fibreturf provided the opportunity to install an instant and established playing surface before the start of the new season. The pitch at Fir Park is now top quality. We have worked closely with Fibresand UK over the last few months, who have been a superb source of advice throughout the process.”

November 16, 2010 in News by admin

SOUTHWELL GETS SEAL OF APPROVAL

The newly refurbished Fibresand track at Southwell has been well received by jockeys and trainers since it re-opened in November.

With the All-Weather season now in full swing, Southwell has been staging a busy programme of fixtures on the Fibresand surface.

Champion All-Weather trainer Paul Blockley says: “The track is riding well. I’ve been having winners on it and, having trained on the track before it was upgraded, can see a big difference.”

Leading jockey Dale Gibson is also full of praise for the surface: “Fibresand suits so many horses and all of the jockeys I have spoken to agree that the track is fair and consistent.”

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin anticipates a trouble-free winter following the £1 million upgrade. “We have improved the drainage system and raised the level of the track, as well as replacing the old Fibresand, which means the track will be much better equipped to cope with wet weather and frosts.”

Southwell, one of three All-Weather tracks in Britain, will continue to play a vital role in providing a platform for winter Flat racing, with 21 fixtures in January and February alone.

November 16, 2010 in News by admin

FIBRESAND PLAYS LEADING ROLE IN SOUTHWELL ALL-WEATHER TRACK UPGRADE

Southwell Racecourse is keeping faith in Fibresand for the extensive refurbishment of its All-Weather track, which began on 24th August.

Around 10,000 tons of new Fibresand will be laid at the Nottinghamshire venue in time for the start of its new winter season on 8th November.

As well as putting down the new surface, owners Arena Leisure are also improving the drainage system and raising the level of the track, which has been hit by waterlogging in the past.

Racecourse Manager David Williams says: “Fibresand has served us well since it was first put in place in 1989, and is popular with trainers. This latest refurbishment, together with improvements to the drainage and sub-structure, will ensure a first class racing surface for the winter ahead.”

November 16, 2010 in News by admin

Champion trainer Blockley puts his faith in Fibresand

Champion All-Weather trainer Paul Blockley has attributed much of his success to Fibresand.

Blockley, who trains a string of about 70 horses on the Fibresand surface at Southwell, scooped two awards in the annual All-Weather Championships.

Not only was he leading trainer at his ‘home’ course, but he also scooped the national award for his overall achievements at Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton during the winter Flat season from November to March.

“Fibresand has played a big part in my success,” says Blockley, who operates from one of the two training barns at Southwell racecourse. “Training horses on the circuit they race on has proven to be a big advantage.

“Over the winter, I had about 50 horses in full training on the Fibresand track, and never had any serious injury problems or hold ups due to the weather. My horses worked well on it and, as a result, performed to their best in races.”

Blockley wrestled the Southwell trainers’ title from David Barron, who had won the award in the previous two seasons. “To beat David in my first full season was a great thrill,” he added. “He has been a top trainer on Fibresand since All-Weather racing began 15 years ago.”

Wax coated tracks such as Polytrack are today enjoying immense popularity, but Blockley believes that Fibresand – installed at Southwell in 1989 and at Wolverhampton in 1993 – has an important role to play in the future of All-Weather racing.

“Fibresand suits certain horses, such as those who need cut in the ground. For that reason, it has been an ideal training surface for the calibre of horse that I have,” he adds.

“A lot of my horses won’t act on the faster Polytrack, but back on the Fibresand they can race regularly without incurring any major problems.”

During the 2003/4 All-Weather season the Fibresand tracks at Southwell and Wolverhampton hosted in the region of 80 fixtures – that’s about 500 individual races, including the valuable Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton in March – one of the established highlights of the winter season.