Speedcut team report drainage enquiries on the increase

Speedcut Contractors reported a busy BTME with an increase in enquiries for sportsturf drainage following one of the wettest years on record.

"We had a hectic show," says managing director Dick Franklin. "Drainage is certainly very much on the agenda for this year at many sports venues, judging by the number of questions we were asked."

The appalling weather of last year was the main topic of conversation at the show - among contractors and machinery suppliers.

Among the Speedcut projects halted by the wet weather was the re-construction of two new pitches for Swansea Rugby Club, which will continue in the spring.

Speedcut's winter work schedules allow for extensive use of their Gwazae deep-probe aerator which decompacts soils and allows for the injection of materials to help grass survive.

Treatment of golf greens and sports pitches can be carried out using special wide-profile tyres which reduce damage to turf in wet conditions.

Golf work in the last 12 months included Foxhills Resort and Golf Club where Speedcut have completed more bunker remodelling, tee re-levelling, path improvement and greens drainage. They have also installed artificial tees on the Manor course.

In Kent at historic Chislehurst Golf Club Speedcut reconstructed the 7th Hole as well as installing new tees, artificial pathways and drainage. Nearby at Sundridge Park Golf Club they built a new driving range, dredged and re-shaped a pond for a new bridge and walkway and relocated and levelled tees.

Speedcut also carried out tee rebuilding work at Orpington Golf Club, Kent, for owners Mytime Active, and also at Pyecombe Golf Club in West Sussex.

Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire had an old wetland area completely dredged and deepened while at Castle Royle Golf and Country Club, Berkshire, the reservoir has been dredged and is being relined to solve a major leak At Gerrards Cross Golf Club in Buckinghamshire, working with William Swan of Swan Golf Designs, Speedcut started on improvements to the practice area with a new chipping green.

At Silvermere Golf Club, Surrey, they rebuilt the ninth tee and at Wimbledon Park Golf Club carried out drainage.

Drainage was also installed at Royal Mid Surrey, Old Fold Manor, Barnet, and Highgate Golf Clubs.

Football pitches completed

Projects completed included the building of a new Gaelic football pitch near Wembley stadium for Brent Council, constructing a new football pitch at Shenstone, near Birmingham, and constructing a new football pitch for a college at West Bromwich.

At Radley College, near Oxford, Speedcut created a large plateau for new sports pitches on former agricultural ground, dealing with various soil condition problems and an underground spring. At St. Hugh's School, also near Oxford, new sports pitches area have been created.

"We can only hope for some dry weather this year," says contracts manager Barry Pace. "Somehow last year we managed to complete a wide variety of sportsturf construction and renovation jobs by working between weather fronts and by being vigilant not to create undue damage."

SPEEDCUT DETAILS: 01865 331479. www.speedcutcontractors.co.uk