EHF Director General Angus Kirkland attended the official opening of the new Astroturf pitch at Irish club Three Rock Rovers this past Saturday. Junior games were held against local team Avoca HC, before the official opening by Three Rock Rover’s President Ailis Kennedy. This was followed by the Men’s first national league game of the season, against Avoca HC.
Left to right: Percy Henchy (President Leinster Hockey), Andrew Walker (Men’s Club Captain) Ailis Kennedy (President TRRHC), Mandy Bools (Women’s Club Captain), Angus Kirkland (EHF Director General)Richard Kendrick(President IHA). Front: Junior players Samuel Nicols and Eimear Cummins.
The surface installed at Three Rock Rovers is is AstroTurf-StadiaTurf PE 13 nsf/mf (FIH Global), a certified water based hockey pitch. The same surface has been installed throughout the world, most notably at the Perth National Hockey Centre in Australia, and at HC Braxgata in Belgium, who hosted the TriFinance Eurohockey Championships 2013.
Brand new Astroturf pitch in Three Rock Rovers
Canterbury HC’s new Astroturf-AstroGrass pitch is also nearing completion. They will have a new main pitch as well as a sand dressed hockey surface installed on their second pitch. This project was fully funded by the club, who were very keen to have a more durable surface and provide equal playing performance. In order to make a decision, Canterbury HC visited several other local facilities and had a small tour of Belgium and The Netherlands to observe the newly laid Astroturf pitches there. Now, an AstroGrass 13 NSF Nylon Water Based hockey pitch has been installed as their main pitch, designed to meet International hockey standards (FIH Global).
New Astroturf pitch at Canterbury HC
Their second pitch saw Astroturf-StadiaTurf PE18 sd/mf installed, and it meets the standards for National competitions (FIH National). This huge undertaking included removal and disposal of the old pitches, new shock pads, new surface installations and ancillary work were all done under the careful management of the Club itself. The official opening of this pitch will take place on November 29th.
Slough HC is also in the process of installing their new Astroturf pitch! Slough HC worked very hard to purchase this brand new surface, AstorTurf-StadiaTurf PE13 nsf/mf waster based hockey surface. Slough HC received part funding contribution from England Hockey, they are immensely are proud to have one of the best pitches in the West of London, where all reviews have been overwhelmingly positive from players and spectators alike.
Ongoing work on the Astroturf pitch at Slough HC
Ongoing work at Slough HC
Source: EHF/Astroturf/Slough HC