professional hover cover builders on site. Using a mixture of ‘clunk click’ fixing as well as welding, the cover is assembled in around three days, and addition time is then spent testing the equipment and briefing the ground staff team before it is ready for use. The assembled hover cover is
powered by two 20hp petrol- driven engines that allow it to be self propelled, so that the ground staff can guide the cover over the pitch, bringing protection within five minutes of the start of rain. Ed, continues, “The critical element is that the cover needs to be both easy to use and effective in its job, as no one wants to be faffing around in the rain with big heavy covers as the pitch gets wet.”
An added design element of
integrating gutters down each long side allows additional square covers to be carried on inflatable tubes on to the pitch. These covers can be easily rolled out to protect the square and, if necessary, covers can also be provided for the bowlers’ run-up. Today, the hover covers are bringing a new dimension to the game as an additional avenue for sponsorship. The canvas top has proved popular for sign writing, as in Sure for Men’s
recent sponsorship but, along with this, the covers can be shaped to the sponsors wishes, for example to look like a drinks can or the tail fin of an aircraft. But, can we expect to see
hover covers across the county grounds and further afield, or will they remain exclusive to the most prestigious and affluent test grounds? Ed smiled; “This is a flag ship product and we are immensely proud to have them in five of the most prestigious test grounds in the world. Yes, of course, I would like to see hover covers in all professional cricket clubs, but appreciate that groundsmen need to manage budgets and, in some cases, do the best they can with what’s available, hence why we also offer many other ground covering products.” Undoubtedly, hover covers
deliver both protection from the weather but also additional benefits in pitch preparation and maintenance. With nearly a third of county grounds now using them it seems that they are now an integral part of a groundsman’s arsenal. For those groundsmen who don’t have one yet, maybe it’s time to have a word with the marketing department to see if sponsorship can cover some of the costs!
Planning Assistance Groundworks Design Installation
www.blueriversteelbuildings.co.uk Designed to your specification An authorised Distributor of Capital Steel Buildings Ltd
Blueriver Steel Buildings Ltd 01603 720259
Smarterbuildingsforless
Machinery Sheds Workshops Industrial Units Commercial Garden Centres Animal Housing Automotive
Email:
info@blueriversteelbuildings.co.uk
His brother was in the process of being treated, an x-ray, bandages and a sling required for his dislocated shoulder and numerous cuts and gashes. His clothes were covered in blood, but he seemed happy enough in himself and, when he was discharged, we thumbed a lift back to the bullring. We managed to watch the last of the six fights before we all went back to a hotel for a deserved beer and a shower. With everyone washed and changed the posse went back into town and we were treated to traditional Portuguese cuisine washed down with beer and wine. Although Nuno and I left early to drive back to Lisbon, the drink would be flowing until dawn as these brave young guys enjoyed a tradition that has survived the PC brigade that threatens the very heritage of a country.
These men are following a
father to son tradition and don’t get paid for their efforts. There were four generations of past and present forcados who met to drink and chat that afternoon and evening. The meal and drinks provided by the bullring owner as reward for their efforts. The owner, who I met at the meal, was a famous Matador himself from yesteryear and spoke fondly of his bullfighting experiences. It was my second experience of a bullfight. The first, in Spain,
was many years ago and did little to wet my appetite. While I’m happy to kill to eat or keep pest population down, I’m not a lover of blood sport for the sake of it. This form of bullfighting was more acceptable and pitted man versus beast, more akin to those ancient Roman days of the Coliseum. It was amazing to see the bull
halted in its tracks, but having more than just a fighting chance to take on its assailants. What was equally interesting to see was the make up of the 3000 people in the crowd. It was mostly families including many young children. In fact a similar make up to that you might see at a firework display in the UK. One of Nuno’s friends that sat with us is a vet and I asked him his thoughts about the bullfighting. He said that he’d grown up with it and, although he could understand people’s reservations, the bull wasn’t in distress. The particular breed of bull used are reared only for the ring, as they are aggressive by nature and offer poor meat quality. After the fights they are herded from the ring and taken for slaughter. If a particular bull has fought well, it may be taken back to stud for breeding. Although Luis was not in a fit
state to do very much that evening, I suspect that Nuno was fully expecting his youngest brother to be at work on the Monday!
Problems?
Shelton has low cost techniques to drain established greens, fairways and football pitches
DRAIN TODAY - PLAY TOMORROW
Phone: 01507 578288 Fax: 01507 578790
e-mail:
info@sheltonsdrainage.com www.sheltonsdrainage.com
Machine sales Hire and contracting services
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138