During 2008, construction of the first National Hunt racecourse to be built in the UK was well under way. Built on the site of a 608 acre opencast coal mine which had been active from 1983 to 1994, permission to build the course was first granted by Carmarthenshire Council in 2003 with final approval given in 2007. Developers, the Walter Group, assembled a team of designers, consultants and contractors including M J Abbott who installed the track drainage and irrigation systems. More than 40,000 tonnes of good quality soil and 15,000 tonnes of sand had to be imported for the two-mile racetrack and surrounding areas. The course was completed and the first meeting staged in June 2009.
Merger talks between the IOG and BIGGA, which had been announced in a joint statement at BTME in January 2007, were brought to halt. Speaking at BTME 2008, BIGGA chief executive John Pemberton spoke of his ‘deep disappointment’, adding “It took a lot of hard work to get to where we were, so the abrupt ending came as a blow. We have natural joint interests, so getting together could have provided a powerful voice for the turfcare industry”. IOG chief executive, Geoff Webb said that problems of selling the proposals to members became unsurmountable. “The main sticking points were reaching an increased membership for IOG members and issues of governance,” Geoff said.
At the 2008 Turf Professional Awards held during SALTEX 2008 at the Savill Court Hotel in Windsor Great Park, Paul Burgess of Arsenal FC won the Turf Professional of the Year Award. The Award was presented to Paul on 18 October 2008 at the Emirates Stadium at half-time at the Arsenal game against Everton. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, said “Thanks to Paul, the playing surface at the stadium has set a new benchmark for clubs all over the world.” Just weeks later it was announced that Paul was leaving Arsenal to take over at Real Madrid. Other winners in the 2008 Turf Pro Awards were St Andrews Links Trust (Sportsturf Project), James Pope (Young Turf Professiona), Tim Packwood (Worcestershire CCC) and a Lifetime Achievement Award to Eddie Seaward (All England Lawn Tennis Club).
Two mower manufacturers ended up in court after turf grower Rolawn accused Turfmech Machinery of infringing its design rights in respect of super wide mowers. Rolawn considered that its home designed and built 21 gang unit had been copied by Turfmech with its Maximow units. However Mr Justice Mann said that he was satisfied that Rolawns wide area mower and Turfmech’s MaxiMow 13 and Maximow 17 were sufficiently different for the breaches not to be upheld. He ordered Rolawn to pay around £600,000 costs to Turfmech for defending the claim.
Just a year before hosting its first ever Ashes Test at the SWALEC stadium, Glamorgan’s long serving head groundsman Len Smith left the club as part of a major shake-up which also saw the departure of chief executive Mike Fatkin. Len, who was voted 2007 Turf Professional of the Year for his role in the development of the ground, took early retirement , so missing out on what is a cricket groundsman’s biggest challenge. In order to continue the Ashes preparation, Glamorgan appointed Andy Atkinson to step in on a short-term contract.
2008 IN BRIEF
Following complaints about the state of the pitch at the Millenium Stadium from the Welsh FA, a new pitch was laid in preparation for the Autumn Rugby tests. There had been three full pitch replacements each year at the stadium.
HRH the Earl of Wessex formally opened the new flagship premises in Rugby of Bernhard and Company.
Well before Sweet Caroline became an anthem for England cricket fans, Neil Diamond played to a packed audience at Hampshire CCC’s Rose Bowl in June 2008.
An industry survey conducted by the IOG concluded that grounds professionals were ‘underpaid, under-trained and underrated’.
Eddie Seaward was awarded the MBE for services to sport in the 2008 New Year Honours list.
. . AND FINALLY
A special Twenty20 cricket match was staged at Coventry and North Warwickshire Cricket Club (Ian Bell’s home club) when New Holland took on a team representing the turfcare press. The New Holland team was captained by James Doyle whilst the press team included John Richards (Pitchcare), Alastair Symondson (Cricket World), Scott MacCullum (then Greenkeeper International), Chris Biddle (Turf Professional) and Dick Spencer (moonlighting from New Holland).