Sports & Recreation Clubs
“
The issue we have, and it’s one we need to try and solve, is that some dog walkers are
irresponsible and do not clean up after their dog. It’s a hard one to police though
One of the 5-a-side PlayBall pitches The new PlayBall facility, which has been
developed with the support of SportNI, aims to make a significant contribution to getting people of all abilities and ages to participate in sport, from grass roots through to higher level competition. Everyone is welcome to use the PlayBall facility. “In particular, we want to welcome
community groups, charities, youth groups, schools, universities, NICSSA members, affiliated clubs, hockey clubs, both professional and amateur football clubs, corporate and public organisations and the general public.” “The international standard water based
hockey pitch is FIH (International Hockey Federation) certified and has been designed specifically for elite level hockey. An identical surface was used during the Athens Olympic Games, so you can see the standards we aim for here!” Philip has received ongoing training to
Philip McCormick - enjoying his first job!
The Stormont weather station regularly records the highest rainfall levels. And what is bizarre is that it does so especially when someone mentions that the international cricket is on!
” 48 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015
assist him in his job and keep him up-to-date with modern techniques and new products. He studied the NVQ Level 2 in sports turf in 1999 and the Level 3 diploma in sports turf in 2014. Philip is also responsible for the day to day running of the overall budget to maintain the grounds each year, including his staffing needs. “We are quite a small team here. I have three full time staff and two part time people when I need them.” “The full time staff consists of Ian McMeekin, who is fifty years old and has eight years service with us. Then we have Matthew Reid, who is twenty years old and in his first year at the job. We also employ Simon Perry, who is twenty-one years old and is also in his first year. And, for the past month we have used Andrew Culbert, another twenty-one year old. We make a good team and work well together.” With such a large site to maintain, it is
understandable how busy Philip and his team are. “All told, there are forty-five acres making up the grounds here. We have seven
five-a-side 3G football pitches, two hockey pitches (one water and one sand dressed); two cricket grounds, three football pitches, three rugby pitches (part of main cricket outfield), a bowling green and four synthetic tennis courts.” The main obstacle Philip and his team face is with the unpredictable Northern Ireland weather. “Excessive rainfall gives us no end of problems,” said Philip. “The Stormont weather station regularly records the highest rainfall levels. And what is bizarre is that it does so especially when someone mentions that the international cricket is on!” “However, we do have contingency plans in place if the heavens do open. The main outfield is superbly drained but, if poor weather is forecast, we would vertidrain before any high profile game. The grounds are quite open here, so we have no real problems with shading and airflow.” One of the other bigger concerns at the
grounds is with the general public, and those who walk dogs in particular. “We do have continuing problems with dog walkers,” Philip said. “As it’s an open estate, members of the public can come and walk their dogs here. The issue we have, and it’s one we need to try and solve, is that some dog walkers are irresponsible and do not clean up after their dog. It’s a hard one to police though.”
The maintenance regime at The Pavilion is
quite varied, but Philip tries to adhere to a programme that coincides with the sporting seasons. “We are currently in the middle of cricket season, so weekly cutting of the square at half inch height with a Dennis pedestrian mower and a John Deere 235d with boxes on. We also scarify the square on a three week basis with a Sisis mark 5 scarifier.”
All of the staff help out in all the areas
when required to do so, so training is ongoing to allow them to be familiar with the various tasks. “It’s all hands to the pump here, combined with training the new staff in
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