Equestrian Ecosol Turfcare
Sports pitch renovation and construction specialists
Jason inspecting one of the birch fences
currently monitoring some areas of the course for chafer grubs, laying down some plastic sheeting to see if there is a problem. After a quick check under the sheeting, we saw no evidence of any chafer grubs - for the time being! There is also a canter down
that the staff maintain, keeping it topped up with wood chippings. One of the most important jobs is repairs to the track surface after racing. A team of locals comes in to help carry out the divoting repairs, usually between twelve and fifteen helpers; they also work on race days, divoting the take- off and landing areas after each race.
I had the chance to meet
them as they were just finishing off the home straight; a great bunch of characters with lots of friendly banter between them and the ground staff. They were all equipped with long handled forks, with which they lifted the divots and topped up with a 70/30 rootzone soil mix and seed.
Race days are usually long
days with Jason and his staff coming in early at 5.30am to declare the going. He uses both the electronic going stick and
his own wooden stick to check the ground conditions. For the first meeting of the season, the going was soft, hardly surprising after the wet winter we have had. Once the soils begin to dry out in May, the going is generally maintained at a consistent ‘good’. By the time the last race is finished and everything been put away, it is usually getting on for 7.00pm - time for a well earned beer. Working at a professional
sports venues, such as this, becomes a way of life; it is never a 9-5 job, it tends to be so much more. It seems, from what I saw during my visit, that Newton Abbott is a well-run and well-maintained racecourse, with great camaraderie in a small team of dedicated staff who care about the job they are doing. I would like to thank Jason and his Managing Director for their hospitality and for allowing me to find out about this little gem of a course. I look forward to another visit, this time, hopefully, on a race day to sample the atmosphere of a national hunt meeting.
We are professional turfcare consultants and contractors providing solutions to pitchcare problems, including drainage schemes, pitch rebuilds, end-of-season renovation and in-season maintenance. Ecosol Turfcare can help you get the best out of your pitch.
Koro Terraplane Laser grading Sand slitting Sand banding Sand spreading Overseeding
Tel: 01666 861250 Email:
info@ecosolve.co.uk
www.ecosolve.co.uk Ecosolve Ltd, Armyn Cross, Malmesbury, Wilts SN16 9RJ
Stand C58
Canter down PC APRIL/MAY 2014 I 109
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