Winter Sports
“At Farleigh House, Darren and Martin are working at one of the most tranquil, unique and best equipped training facilities in Premiership rugby
problems, which were not helped by the weather.
Another long time supplier, Ecosolve, whose skills Darren has been employing at the Recreation ground since he joined the club, were called in to carry out the remedial work.
This consisted of koroing off the top 27mm, followed by a pass with the Imants Shockwave. There then followed three passes with a First Products AeroVator to add cracks and fissures to loosen the surface to act as a key, and to stir the rootzone and fibres. Once that had been completed, 150 tonnes of topdressing were ameliorated in and the surface was bar graded. The pitch was then refirmed using a lightweight roller, followed by the injection of 90 tonnes of drainage specification sand using a BLEC Sandmaster to create a tertiary drainage system that linked in with the existing primary and secondary ones. Following the application of a pre-seed 6:9:6 fertiliser at 35gm/m², the combination of a Vredo disc seeder and a BLEC Multiseeder 2 were used to apply Limagrain’s MM60 grass seed at a rate of 42 grammes per square metre The work was completed by 1st June, with the players able to train on the pitch by 1st September. The grass pitches are marked out using a transfer wheel line marker, usually once
Darren Ball and Martin Hobbs (seated)
or twice a week depending on weather and usage requirements. The 3G artificial has permanent lines, but needs brushing after training sessions to keep the pile standing up and redistribute the rubber crumb infill. Darren has no need to worry about maintaining the gardens as the estate employs three full time gardeners, but there are times when they help each other out and share equipment. As for the future, Bath are awaiting various approvals to modernise the Rec which, once given, would provide a new permanent stand, hospitality boxes, conference facilities, plus other potential retail outlets. There’s even talk of a brand new, state of the art pitch! I would concur with Bruce that a well designed stadium would be a tremendous
asset for the people of Bath. It would not only be a sports facility, it would offer other opportunities in terms of holding public events, conferences, concerts and many other viable services, especially if the council retained a partnership with the club. It would also continue the club’s long association with the city centre retailers. Darren has had to pinch himself at how far the club has progressed in recent years and, at Farleigh House, he and Martin are working at one of the most tranquil, unique and best equipped training facilities in Premiership rugby. Let’s hope that the players respond, so that Bruce Craig’s dream may be realised.
Koroing off vegetation in May 2012 52 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013
Martin mowing Pitch 2 in late August
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