Irrigation systems for sports fields

Keep Your Cricket Pitch In It’s Best Shape With A Portable Irrigation System

Cricket season has begun, teams across the nation will be playing regularly from early March to late September and as any player, groundskeeper or spectator of the sport will know that the quality of the pitch is one of the most important parts of the game.

There are also a number of risks that can arise from poor irrigation on sports fields, including injuries and games being called off.

Find out more about why a good quality pitch is so important for the sport – and the options available to ensure yours is exceptional.

2 engineers in hi vis jackets in front of two Mawdsleys Vans

Don’t let your pitch get a red card for poor irrigation

With football season almost over and summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to rethink the upkeep of your playing field. Low quality dry or hard pitches are a constant source of embarrassment for clubs and also one of the most common causes of injury in rugby and football; an irrigation system can provide you with a professional standard of pitch at a fraction of the cost.

2 engineers in hi vis jackets in front of two Mawdsleys Vans

Give your Turf a Sporting Chance with the Right Irrigation

We expect a lot from our sports fields.  We increasingly want them to stand up to longer playing seasons, a multitude of uses and all the punishment that the British weather can throw at them.  Waterlogged one minute, dry and parched the next, then completely frozen solid – it’s a wonder that the poor turf doesn’t just decide to give up all together.

Rise to the challenge

If you’re a Groundsperson, you probably feel like you’re fighting your own battle against Mother Nature. No doubt you’re working with constricted budgets and the pressure of having to provide a cost effective service – all while trying to ensure your sports ground looks beautiful and provides a safe surface to play on.

No matter what your sports field is used for, compaction is likely to be your biggest challenge.  Not only is it the primary factor in sporting injuries, it can also mean death to turf. In a compacted soil, the roots have little chance to absorb the air and water they need to feed the grass and ensure its survival.  

Start with good irrigation

The right irrigation system can make your life so much easier. Whilst many sports grounds already use sprinkler systems, better results could be achieved by using a portable long reach irrigation system. These systems can be moved around the pitch, delivering water exactly where and when it’s needed. This ability to control the amount of water delivered in any one place means you can avoid overwatering an area which is prone to waterlogging or concentrate on areas which are especially dry or compacted.

Mark Perrin, Head Groundsman at Crystal Palace Football Club has a system supplied by Somerset Pumps and told us, “We use our long reach irrigators all the time. It is particularly good before training sessions or matches when we need to lightly water the whole pitch in a very short time – the LRIs only take one hour to water the whole pitch, whereas ordinary travelling sprinklers take 3 hours.”

The benefits of a portable long reach irrigation system

These systems can be a real boost for clubs who can’t afford to invest in an underground watering system. Our portable long reach irrigator is the only system of its kind which can run off a standard mains supply.  It’s also able to water large areas of turf quickly and efficiently, even if you’re in an area with poor water pressure. What’s more, it’s easy to move so can be used across all your pitches and to target specific problem areas.

Someone else who wouldn’t be without their Somerset Pumps portable long reach irrigation system is FA Groundsman of the Year, Kevin Turney. He says, “It’s an invaluable part of the grounds team and has never let us down. It has to be seen as an investment not a cost as without it our pitch would be nowhere as good as it is today.”

How our systems work

Here at Mawdsleys Pumps, we have different sized systems available, depending on the size of your sports ground. Both units can be left to run unattended day and night without problems and are free standing and completely portable. In fact they work just like a permanent underground system but for a fraction of the cost.

If you do not have access to a water source with adequate pressure, we can assist with the design and installation of a tank and pump to suit your requirements.

All our football field sprinkler systems are supplied at a highly competitive price and offer significant savings over other pitch irrigation systems. To find out more and get up-to-date prices please get in touch or fill out the form below to request a callback

Perfect pitches for cricket, rugby and football

Different sports demand different playing surfaces but irrigation plays an important role in all of them. On cricket pitches it will help the soil particles stick together and aid the rolling process, while on rugby and football pitches, efficient irrigation will ensure the production of a healthy and resilient turf that delivers maximum playability and reduces the risk of match cancellations due to water logging or dry, hard surfaces.

Talk to the specialists

We’d love to help you produce the perfect playing surface. To find out more about any of our irrigation systems or talk to us about designing a bespoke solution for your sports ground, just call our friendly and knowledgeable team on 0117 954 8030.

 

Football-Pitch-Guide

Sports Pitch Maintenance Tips for Groundskeepers

Having a pitch maintenance plan is essential for groundskeepers at any level of the sport. Without proper care and attention, the quality of the pitch can slip; impacting the standard of play, increasing the risk of injury, causing financial loss for the club and even leading to games being cancelled or forfeited.

At Mawdsleys Pumps, we recognise the importance of keeping a high standard of pitch and have worked with sports teams of all standards to help keep their pitch in order, from semi-professional football pitches to rugby world cup pitches.

If you are a groundskeeper, owner, manager or volunteer that’s responsible for the upkeep of a football, rugby, cricket, golf, equestrian, bowls or other sports field; our top tips to sports pitch maintenance will help you take proper care of it all year round.

Horse riding centre

Dust Suppression For Equestrian Centres and Riding Schools

Horse riding centreHorse riding arenas, equestrian centres and ménages both indoor and outdoor require water to suppress dust when in use. Airborne dust in the arena can cause both health and performance hazards to horse and rider. Because of this, dust suppression is an absolute priority for equestrian centre owners.

Continue reading If you’re struggling with excessive dust in your equestrian centre, riding school or ménage.

Quarry2

Dust Suppression Methods For Quarries and Mining Sites

Controlling dust on quarries and mining sites is becoming an increasingly important consideration for operators. As well as having various health and safety legislations to adhere to for the safety of their workers and nearby residents. Excessive airborne dust can damage machinery on site, leading to expensive repairs and in turn loss of revenue through having to cease work.

Dust is created from various processes on quarry and mining sites whilst the materials are being sourced, crushed, screened, transported and stored – so it’s important to have a solution that can be implemented easily at any stage of material processing.

If you’re struggling with excessive dust on your quarry or mining site – read the post below.

LRI System

The Effects of Poor Irrigation on Sports Fields

With summer just around the corner, there isn’t a better time to consider the health of your pitch in time for next season or to use for training. Dry, hard and withered pitches, playing fields and courses can cause serious problems for the players, groundskeepers and managers of the club – and be a constant source of embarrassment.

Take a look at the effects poor irrigation can have on your sports field, and why you should be taking the health of your pitch seriously before summer arrives.

Irrigation for Football Pitches

The football season is close to an end, and pitches have taken a good beating across this wet season. Pitches are now likely to be used for training in preparation for next season, so it’s important they stay healthy throughout the training season and are in their best condition for summer.

Poor irrigation can have the following impacts on pitches, the football team and the groundsman:

  • Grass takes longer to recover following a game – this can lead to dry and cracked pitches, or cause them to waterlog easily if it rains.
  • A poor playing service means the ball will bobble along the floor, making for a poor game.
  • If the pitch is poor quality, the referee can choose to call off the game causing teams to forfeit.
  • Tough pitches that aren’t irrigated properly have a low level of impact absorbency, meaning players are more likely to get injured if they fall over or are tackled.
  • If a pitch remains in bad condition and is not treated, re-seeding the pitch is an expensive and very time consuming process.

Irrigation for Rugby Pitches

Being a contact sport, it’s crucial for groundsman to ensure that the pitch is in its best condition to ensure the best playing surface. Poor irrigation of a rugby pitch has similar impacts to that of a football pitch; however, due to the nature of the sport, injuries to players being tackled onto a poorly irrigated pitch can be a lot more serious.

The Irrigation Solution: In an ideal world, a permanent underground pumping system would be the perfect irrigation solution; however, these systems are extremely expensive and often only used by professional clubs. A portable LRI system can do the job up to the same standard – for just a fraction of the cost. You can read our Taunton Town FC LRI success story to find out more.

Irrigation for Golf Courses and Bowling Greens

Bowls and golf are both summer time sports; therefore it is important that the green is in perfect condition in time for when the games begin. Irrigation can ensure an even spread of healthy grass and good quality surface for players that allows the balls to skim rather than stop.

The Irrigation Solution: Some golf courses do have pop up sprinklers installed, however, these are very expensive to install and maintain. A portable irrigation system allows groundsmen to choose the concentration of water to allow grass to grow evenly without water logging the green.

Choose the Right Irrigation with Mawdsleys Pumps

Whatever kind of sports pitch or playing field you are responsible for, we’d love to help you keep it in its best condition. To find out more about any of our irrigation systems, or to discuss creating a bespoke system to your requirements, give one of our expert team a call on 0117 954 8030.