Turf management: Better technology, more sport: experts

[1] Ian McKendry
Sports cancellations should be a thing of the past with the modern drainage technology we have, New Zealand Cricket grounds and facilities manager Ian McKendry says.

McKendry has been appointed vice-chairman of the Sports Turf Association of New Zealand (Stanz), and Dr Richard Gibbs has been appointed chairman.

Stanz will bring together experts under one umbrella to work with sports organisations in golf, rugby, cricket, football and hockey to ensure there is support and planning, and that ground use is running smoothly.

In a press release, McKendry said New Zealand was leading the world in pitch innovation.

"New Zealand has embraced technology and built stadiums like Forsyth Barr in Dunedin, and stitched in artificial grass fibres into the natural grass that grow in unison to bind the surface tight and make the perfect stable surface," he said.

Even though pitches were often under enormous pressure, the surfaces had not missed a beat.

Forsyth Barr Stadium operations manager Coryn Huddy said he would support targeting closures and trying to reduce them.

"I think it's a good objective, a good goal to have, especially all your club grounds." But resources needed to be in the right areas, he said.

The stadium's operations now covered a lot more, including preparing for some major concerts and community events.

"We'll do our bit, do our best and hopefully come out the other end better off."

Lake Leisure turf manager Peter Domigan, from Queenstown, said there had always been things that could not be resolved.

"When you get 14 inches of snow there's no modern technology in the world that will allow you to play."

Things were getting a lot better, he said. Drainage systems had been vastly improved and ground closures were few and far between.

"As you're aware, they're [sportsmen and women] not happy to play in knee-deep mud any more," he said. "They are demanding a higher standard of surface." Domigan said the real issue was sports players wanting to play the whole year round.

"Modern football, they play winter and summer, so that in itself creates a few issues because the old days of having the seasons, they're just fast disappearing."

- By Andew MacKay.