News
Think again!
Government urged to adopt fresh thinking when making any future sports policy decisions
The UK government needs to embrace “fresh thinking and independent input” when making sports policy decisions if it wants to maximise the potential of sport.
The finding comes from the Sports Think Tank’s Sector Survey, published in July, which questioned one hundred senior sports industry figures on a range of issues.
More than 95% of those questioned wanted a new approach into how policy is created, with 85% saying sport should link with innovators and entrepreneurs to meet consumer needs.
“The survey shows a strong appetite for change,” said Sports Think Tank chair, former MP Andy Reed. “It’s time to embrace new technology, new players and new tactics if we are going to maximise the potential of sport to improve sports participation and the nation’s health, fitness and well- being.”
“Given the revolution in tcchnology over the last decade and the innovations which have occurred in many industries and other aspects of society, it would be madness not to involve a wider range of people and inputs into any new policy debate.”
“The government should heed the survey’s call for new voices and new approaches.”
The survey also showed concerns over further Government cuts. Nearly 90% fear predicted budgetary restrictions will prevent local authorities from providing adequate sports facilities.
It’s just another manic Monday!
BIGGA’s Open Support Team roundly praised for the efforts in a weather interrupted Open
BIGGA’s fifty strong Open Support Team had to battle torrential rain, winds and only the second Monday finish in the history of the competition as they went above and beyond the call of duty at St Andrews.
At times, it seemed that everything was conspiring against the tournament as sections of golf’s most iconic venue were flooded on the Friday; then unplayable for most of Saturday as the sun shone, but high winds prevented play as golf balls began to oscillate on the greens.
30mm of rain in the early hours of Friday morning - including 12mm in a thirty minute deluge - only suspended play until 10.00am as the home greenkeeping team, led by Gordon Moir, St Andrews Director of Greenkeeping, and Gordon McKie, Course Manager on the Old Course, worked wonders to remove standing water from the links.
When high winds suspended play for almost the whole of Saturday, members of the support team showed amazing flexibility and commitment to rearrange personal and professional plans to ensure they could remain on Monday. Many incurred costs to alter flights and trains, and were rewarded by
having the unique opportunity to follow the players battling for the Claret Jug up the fairways on a Monday.
Sam Bethell and Simon Torr, who raked the final two matches on Monday following a random draw, were also on hand to rake, if required, during the play-off. This meant the team were in action from 6.32am on Thursday to 8.00pm on Monday when Zach Johnson finally triumphed - surely some kind of record?
The BIGGA Support Team has a long history at the Open. The R&A kindly provide accommodation, food, refreshments and a smart uniform for the week. As usual, many team debutants mingled with more experienced members to sample the unrivalled atmosphere of an Open Championship.
Team member Scott Reeves, Course Manager at Leyland Golf Club, said: “The commitment shown by all the guys has been phenomenal. As greenkeepers, we’re used to being challenged by the weather, so you need to be flexible, and this event has shown greenkeeping in a really positive light. It’s been a superb effort.”
BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “This Zach Johnson
has been one of the most challenging Opens the team has faced. Inclement weather led to constant logistical issues and the abandonment of the best laid plans yet, without exception, they adapted superbly to two days of uncertainty and delays, and the extension of the tournament into Monday.”
“Many of the team put personal and professional plans to one side and paid out of their own pockets to ensure they could remain at the course on Monday, and we are incredibly grateful to them for their flexibility and outstanding commitment. We congratulate the entire team for their sterling efforts during the week, covering very long hours in many cases.”
“BIGGA would also like to congratulate Gordon Moir, Gordon McKie, the whole greenkeeping team at St Andrews and all the other volunteers who responded wonderfully well to almost unprecedented challenges to ensure an absolutely outstanding links course was presented for the 144th Open.”
The BIGGA Open Support Team 2015 at St Andrews on a sunny Wednesday evening - with no hint of the drama to come!
BASIS Points for Pitchcare Mag
*BASIS awards two CPD points for ‘paid for’ subscribers to the hard copy version of Pitchcare magazine, due to the “diverse range of content that relates to the control, management and use of pesticides”.
8 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
Subscribers can now obtain a further two valuable CPD points for their Professional register, simply by paying for a subscription to the ‘hard copy’ version of the Pitchcare magazine.
Anyone wishing to claim their points should email their full name, BASIS membership number, date of birth and postcode to
editor@pitchcare.com.
*BASIS is an independent standards setting and auditing organisation for the pesticide, fertiliser and allied industries.
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 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164