Winter Sports
reinforced rootzone was then laid using specialist
“A further 1,000 tonnes of fibre
reinforced turf was laid, an option Leeds Rugby Club chose for a rapid finish”
equipment, on which mature, custom grown,
Pitch perfect, naturally
The responsibility for choosing the best product and supplier for the upper surface level fell to Head Groundsman, Jason Booth, who has worked with for the club for over thirteen years.
“Due to the transparent and ‘inclusive’ way the club is run I attend all management meetings, together with the Manager, Head Coach and Owner and, as such, I am consulted on all matters concerning the pitch. It meant that, when the time came to replace the pitch, the grounds team was able to advise on the options available and which we believed would be most suitable for the club. After visiting Manchester City Football Club, speaking to them about their Fibresand pitch and seeing how it was managed, we decided a fibre- reinforced surface was definitely the way forward for us,” explains Jason. “With both Leeds Carnegie and Leeds Rhinos playing regular games on the pitch, as well as it being used for small concerts, community games and occasionally as a car park for cricket matches, we needed an
exceptionally durable surface.” “After researching the different choices on the market, we concluded that an artificial, or semi-artificial, pitch would not be right for our needs. However, we did feel that a fibre-reinforced surface would be able to withstand anything we threw at it, which is why we chose Fibresand from Mansfield Sand,” adds Jason. Fibresand, a fibre reinforced
rootzone, is an 80/20 blend of MM45 medium grade silica sand and topsoil mixed with polypropylene fibre. Its stabilising and free draining properties make it the ideal base for a natural turf pitch. Mark Robinson, Sports Surface Manager at Mansfield Sand, explains, “Over 2,000 tonnes of MM45 sand was needed to create a 150mm layer sand bed placed on top of a 150mm layer of gravel. A further 1,000 tonnes of fibre reinforced rootzone was then laid using specialist equipment, on which mature, custom grown, reinforced turf was laid, an option Leeds Rugby Club chose for a rapid finish.”
The turf chosen was 40mm thick
74 PC APRIL/MAY 2013
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