January 31, 2012 in News by pr-team

Danielle Farnsworth is flying high thanks to Mansfield Sand

Competing at the highest level in any equestrian sport takes dedication and hard work.  However, using the correct equipment can be just as important as natural ability – and never more so than in the world of show jumping.  Even the most talented horse and rider can fail to reach the top if they are using substandard equipment.  As a professional show jumper, Nottinghamshire-based Danielle Farnsworth knows this better than anyone.

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January 10, 2012 in News by pr-team

The Seagulls fly high thanks to Mansfield Sand and Kestrel Contractors

This season Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club returned to the Championship after an absence of five years. To coincide with this return the club has unveiled its brand new stadium – The American Express Community Stadium. The heart of the stadium, its pitch, was built by Kestrel Contractors, with the materials being supplied by Mansfield Sand Company.

“Since leaving the Goldstone Ground in 1997, the club has not had a stadium it can call home,” explains Steve Winterburn, Head Groundsman at Brighton and Hove Albion. “We were obviously very grateful to Gillingham for their hospitality, and for the use of the Withdean Stadium but it has not been an ideal situation, especially as the Withdean was originally built for mainly athletics events.” Continue reading “The Seagulls fly high thanks to Mansfield Sand and Kestrel Contractors” »

December 21, 2011 in News by pr-team

Fibrelastic, the surface of choice for Danish national stadium

Fibrelastic-based products from Mansfield Sand Company have been used in the recent pitch renovation at The Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.  Home to FC Copenhagen and the Danish National Team, Parken Stadium also hosts a variety of events from rock and pop concerts, to speedway and dance raves.  To withstand the multitude of events scheduled for 2012, Head Groundsman Chris Hague decided he needed a new pitch.

After researching many options he decided to go with specialist turf installation company, InTurf.  The whole project was a huge logistical operation which saw Fibrelastic turf being custom grown in the UK by Mansfield Sand, specifically for The Parken Stadium, before being shipped to Copenhagen in 30 articulated lorry loads for InTurf to install at the stadium.

Fibrelastic was the perfect choice for the stadium as the innovative dual-fibre reinforced sand-dominant rootzone provides an extra degree of in-built surface resilience.  It also reduces the risk of long-term stress injuries, so protecting players as well.  InTurf had an extremely tight schedule but succeeded in replacing the pitch in just a few weeks.  Within ten days of installation there were three training matches and three full fixtures, including an international game against Norway, which Denmark won 2-0 – sometimes actions speak louder than words!

December 12, 2011 in News by pr-team

Chelsea FC training ground is pitch perfect

The future’s bright, the future’s green

Chelsea Football Club opened its state-of-the-art training facility in Cobham in 2003.  Eight years later, and the £40 million, 152-acre facility is the largest and most advanced in Europe.  It remains the envy of the industry and continues its commitment to remaining the most modern and cutting edge training site in the football world.

Jason Griffin - Head Groundsman at Chelsea FC

Despite being only 30 minutes away from London by train, the facility is located on a green field site.  As such, during the initial pitch construction archaeologists had to survey the site before work could commence and Chelsea FC had to adhere to strict building regulations.  Despite its size and the changes made, the site has retained its green credentials with woodland and a river surrounding most of the ground.  Each player also bought a tree, which was then planted near the headquarters on its official opening.

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November 29, 2011 in News by pr-team

A quality manège is the key to competition success

Mansfield Sand and Bagforce Ltd discuss the importance of a well constructed manège from foundation to surface

Training a competition horse at any level requires time, hard work and dedication.  However, without the correct equipment even the best horse will not reach its full potential.  A surefooted Manège is one element crucial to the successful development of both horse and rider, whilst also helping to reduce the risk of injuries and strains.

“Ensuring you have the most suitable Manège for your needs from the surface down is vital to the training of any horse and rider,  and especially so for competition horses,” explains Louise Barrington-Earp, Equestrian Technical Specialist at Mansfield Sand, a leading supplier of equestrian surfaces.

“However, the drainage base is just as important as the surface when it comes to creating a first-class manège.  This is why it is imperative to work closely with our customers from the outset to determine their requirements and provide them with the best surface possible.”

Sally-Ann Tucker is one such customer who, due to the nature of her business, Bagforce Ltd, and her competitive dressage riding experience understands the importance of a well-constructed, tailored arena more than most.

“Bagforce Ltd is a specialist supplier of aggregate and one of our key sectors is the equestrian industry,” says Sally, Joint-Director of Bagforce.  “Our aggregates are used to create free draining Manèges as well as being used on many cross-country courses.

“However, although the base construction is crucial the surface plays an equally important role in creating a top quality manège, which is why we recommend Mansfield Sand products to our customers,” continues Sally.

Sally also owns two horses, which regularly compete in Medium Level Dressage competitions with Sally and her daughter.

“I have been a personal customer of Mansfield Sand for a while using their Equine Rubber on my Manège at home.  I initially chose Mansfield Sand because of its reputation and locality, and since then it is also the quality of its products, as well as customer service, which has impressed me,” adds Sally.

“My daughter and I use our manège on a daily basis so it is subjected to a lot of wear and tear, but since using Mansfield Sand it has remained stable and requires only the minimum amount of maintenance. This is why I feel comfortable recommending the company to Bagforce equestrian clients.”

June 22, 2011 in News by admin

Ferguson praises Old Trafford pitch

In a recent interview Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson spoke about the improvements to the Old Trafford pitch, which has not been relaid since 2003, when it was once the bane of his life. “By December, January, February, the bad winter months, that was when the pitch used to break up. It’s no longer that way now. It’s absolutely perfect, the best we’ve ever had.”

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.”