NEWI HOCKEY PITCH OPENED BY INTERNATIONAL

Another McArdle AstroTurf water-based Hockey pitch has been opened at the North East Institute of higher education, Wrexham.

The surface is an AstroTurf^® Europa, a superior knitted nylon carpet laid on an engineered base, surrounded by Black 3m high 50/50 weld mesh fencing with kickboards and a 500 lux international standard floodlighting system, with the surface supplemented by an FIH global irrigation system.

The water-based pitch allows for a faster hockey game as the woven fabric, which provides the artificial surface, acts like grass and rests on a cushion of water.

Water is sprayed on to the surface of the pitch before matches and again at half time.
Most drains away, but the water that remains makes for a fast playing surface with fewer friction burns to the players.

Anna Marie Brown, Sports facilities Manager said: “The new pitch will be used extensively by the college, the community and international teams for training and matches. It is part of an ongoing plan to improve the facilities to promote hockey at all levels. We are really excited about having such a first class AstroTurf^® facility built here at NEWI.”

The pitch hosted an international Wales v England men's hockey game on Saturday, which Wales won on penalties after the match was drawn 1-1.

The £1m venue, at the Plas Coch campus, has been jointly funded by Sports Council Wales and the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI).

It is hoped the facility could have a role to play in providing training facilities in the 2012 Olympics.

Professor Michael Scott, principal of NEWI, said he hoped the venue would "make a huge difference to Wales' ability to create and sustain a premiership quality hockey squad".

"To be able to sustain the growth of hockey in Wales, the game requires higher standards of technical ability and fitness than ever before," he said.

"We are proud that, with the opening of this pitch, north Wales now has the coaching and training facilities to meet these needs."

The campus will also host a major International Hockey Competition on 21st - 23rd July 2007. The EHF Senior Celtic Cup features the National teams of Wales, Ireland, France and Scotland.

For more information click NEWI - Hockey Celtic Cup 2007