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| Home » News » PREMIER PITCHES scores drainage goal with Gwazae |
| PREMIER PITCHES scores drainage goal with Gwazae |
By Richard Rennie
Flood drenched playing fields and sodden grounds have wrecked havoc for many sports clubs this year. However Premier Pitches in Sheffield have found a competitive, effective solution for flood struck clients to help maximise playing days and reduce flood damage.
In April Premier purchased its first Gwazae aerator machine to add to a comprehensive line up of ground’s care equipment.
An aeration revolution
Developed under demanding New Zealand conditions, the Gwazae GPA 101 is a revolutionary means of delivering better ground aeration.
Premier Pitches general manager Jonathan Woolfall says while the concept of subsoil aeration may not be new, the Gwazae delivers an aeration solution with speed and accuracy not seen before.
Jonathan says the Gwazae’s ability to move at a constant pace delivering rapid and constant air bursts into the subsoil is a huge advance on other machines he has seen. Most are far slower and more cumbersome to operate.
“We could see the potential to get a lot of work done in a short time, and it fitted well with our grounds business that focuses on turf renovation and restoration.”
Insurance and peace of mind
The Gwazae has proved an invaluable insurance move, protecting Premier’s core turf work from the fickle weather changes of the region and improving drainage for clients affected by extremely wet weather.
At day’s start of a re-turfing job Jonathan would run the Gwazae over the pitch. This would ensure any rain falling would be drained away, leaving the job intact.
That insurance also applies to the benefits the Gwazae delivers clients. Premier Pitches aerated the Leeds Rugby Club grounds six weeks before the 2007 floods. The impact on drainage was immediate, and withstood the soaking delivered in the heavy rains.
“The grounds man rang me the day after, saying he had 65mm of rain overnight, yet was still able to get out and mow the field, he was rapt.”
Technology delivers flexibility
Flexibility in aeration pressure, duration and interval means the Gwazae is well suited to the variety of fairway and football pitch work, depending on sub soil compaction and the depth of soil pan formation.
Aeration depth can be altered by simply inter-changing the probes, useful for clients on pitches with shallow drainage systems requiring aeration to get them kick started again.
John has been impressed with the Gwazae’s relatively low weight, and the consequent minimal ground interference. It has enabled him to engage in intensive aeration and drainage work between playing time, without damaging playing surfaces.
Burnley Football Club was one that benefited from shallow aeration that enabled compacted soil profiles to be broken up without damaging the under turf heating system. The ground received 200mm deep intensive aeration treatment with only 60cm spacings.
Heavy wet conditions were threatening the club’s season, until Jonathan dealt to it with the Gwazae.
“It took us 20 hours, but the pitch came up in good form, draining well afterwards.”
The company also aerated 18 greens at Southport and Ainsdale golf course, breaking up layering under the green surface with minimal surface disruption.
A low cost ground aeration option
For smaller league football clubs in the region the Gwazae can play a valuable role in regular grounds care. Jonathan has found these clubs often cannot afford hi-tech expensive drainage systems. Instead, opting for regular Gwazae aeration helps deliver good downward water movement and minimises pugging over winter.
“We can go in three times a year and do the job for around £1,000 a time, compared to a drainage system costing tens of thousands.”
He sees the Gwazae complimenting more traditional verti-draining methods, breaking up the soil pans that inevitably form after many seasons of using this method.
Only relying on a small 30hp tractor to tow it means the Gwazae has fitted well with Premier’s existing machines without extra outlay. Jonathan sees potential in other markets including aeration around park trees and possibly racecourses.
“I think we are just seeing the start of what it can do, and we would certainly be looking at a second one to add to the business.”
For more information on Premier Pitches services, contact Jonathan Woolfall on:
Office: (United Kingdom) 01246 261 224
Mobile: (United Kingdom) 07957 264 966
j.woolfall@premierpitches.com
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