of its repertoire of sports facilities, to the tune of over £350,000, forming part of the wider school investment that has been made possible by fundraising of over £1m (taking just two years to amass), which also included a redevelopment of the dining facilities. While the project was under the brainchild of former Headmaster, Robin Badham-Thornhill, it was enthusiastically carried forward by current headmaster David Faber, a former MP and historian who, as a member of the MCC committee, wanted to make his impact on sport in the school - a desire that will, no doubt, see the further progression of cricket provision in good time. Yet, despite the clear support for both
cricket and golf, it was felt the school needed to improve hockey facilities that led to the green light for the project. “The school had earmarked its artificial facilities as those that were in most need of updating, and wanted especially to push participation in hockey and get it back to being a curriculum sport,” Graham explains. “Timescales were also key to the works, so they wanted a contractor that could deliver a turnkey package in a short timescale and at a good cost. Our project manager, Andrew Parsons Associates, recommended White Horse Contractors, and we had heard good things about them from their work at other private schools, as well as their successes at the Chelsea FC training ground,” he adds. “Ultimately though, price was a crucial factor in the decision and, for the work the school needed, they offered us the
best package.” Following a competitive tender process, White Horse were successfully appointed on the strength of their alternative design and construction proposal - one made possible by an in-house availability of surveyors, designers and contract management staff and its highlighting of the merits of redesigning the proposed facility and including a number of additional items. The project involved transforming
tired, over-used tarmacadam tennis courts into a purpose-built facility to stage both hockey and tennis. After stripping off the existing surface, the contractor installed pitch drainage at 5m centres before creating a new sub- base and rubber shockpad, then laying an FIH approved 53m x 43m Tiger Turf Evolution sand dressed monofilament carpet pitch. Two 34m x 31m purpose-built Macadam tennis courts, approved to LTA competition standard are also underway, which will also play host to high-profile competitions. Following the success of the site works, the school has appointed White Horse to design and construct other sport and leisure facilities. These include five-bay cricket nets with artificial turf batting and bowling ends and tiered seating, constructed using an adjacent viewing bund and designed to augment the new tennis facilities.
The contractor was also brought in to design and construct a competition standard, synthetic long/triple jump facility with senior size landing area,
create an artificial practice area for cricket and other ball games, install an irrigation point to the main cricket wicket and add a pond to the school’s nature reserve for educational use by the pupils.
In the words of a White Horse
spokesman: “Our capability to deliver a turnkey package from concept to completion has been fully tested with the facility renovation project here.” The work is set to reach completion in the summer term ready for a formal unveiling ceremony, by the former headmaster, Robin Badham-Thornhill, which will draw a line under the investments that have shaped the school’s sporting future for the last thirty years.
While some minor additions will have to be made, Graham says, including machines to tend the new facilities, all that will be left for the turfcare team to do is carry on delivering their proven maintenance regime. “The whole project has been expertly managed and executed, with all the boxes ticked for handover, when we resume control,” he explains. “The bursar has put together a five to ten-year programme to invest in any new machines we might need. After all, there seems little point investing so much money if you fail to carry it through. ”We’re in the enviable position here that the school have always understood what a big task our job is, and that we need the right tools to carry it out successfully, which I believe we are achieving and will continue to achieve.”
Mix, Match, and Maintain Range for synthetic sports surface management
• From total maintenance packages to one off deep cleans and full refurbishments
• For the supply of simple drag mats and brushes through to contractors’ machines
• For the supply of simple drag mats and brushes through to contractors’ machines
• From non-turf tennis courts and bowls greens to large scale synthetic sports facilities
• From non-turf tennis courts and bowls greens to large scale synthetic sports facilities
Tel: 01675 470770 E-mail:
info@sweepfast.com www.sweepfast.com For expert advice or a full surface assessment contact Sweepfast today
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• From total maintenance packages to one off deep cleans and full refurbishments
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