PORTFOLI O

Choppers no challenge to Challenge Pro

A crew from Desso Service & Contracting were just carrying out maintenance on the artificial grass pitch of TSV Loffenau when work had to be stopped. Following a serious motorcycle accident, the normal road ambulance was unable to provide swift enough transport for the critically injured motorcyclist. The emergency services had to call in a medevac helicopter. The only available landing zone was right in the middle of the pitch. The artificial grass withstood the ordeal coming through with flying colours. Desso grass to the rescue! There was some serious concern when the football pitch of the local football club in Loffenau, Germany had to be cleared to make room for a medical helicopter to land right in the middle of it.

Wagener Stadium gets new cover

Wagener Stadium in the Netherlands is considered to be the country’s temple to field hockey. The Royal Dutch Field Hockey Association (KNHB), which owns the stadium, schedules all of the national field hockey teams’ important games here. Wagener Stadium has played host to European and World Championships, as well as other international tournaments. The ties between the KNHB and Desso Sports Systems go back many years. For the renovation of Wagenar Stadium, which is situated in the Amsterdam Woods, the KNHB called on Desso yet again. Having been very happy with their previous Sportilux pitch, they chose Desso Sportilux once more, this time incorporating the latest developments in sub-base technology with the tried and tested Sportilux hockey surface. But that is not the end of the story. Wagener’s old Sportilux pitch still had some life in it. Being re-installed nearby as the training pitch for the Amsterdam Hockey & Bandy Club (AH&BC) it gave that facility a much-needed facelift and replaced AG&BC’s so-called Sydney pitch. Perfect teamwork between KNHB, AH&BC, and Desso Sports Systems, and 2 pitches for the price of one!

GrassMaster scores in the English Premiership

“ Desso GrassMaster is a reliable grass system that has more than proved its worth with different clubs in the Premiership,” according to Paul Burgess, Head Groundsman of Arsenal FC, who was named Professional Football Groundsman of the Year in 2005. Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Bolton Wanderers, Reading, Aston Villa, Manchester City, West Ham, Wigan Athletic ... all top class clubs in the English Premiership. But these premiership clubs have more in common than that. They also all play their home games on Desso GrassMaster. “It is a pleasure to play at the Emirates Stadium.” Darren Baldwin, Head Groundsman for Tottenham Hotspur, was this year’s recipient of the coveted Groundsman of the Year award. Darren Baldwin: “It is such an advantage when you can play on a top-quality grass surface throughout the year. Despite our sometimes atrocious weather conditions, the stadium pitch at White Hart Lane remains in perfect condition... and that’s reassuring.”

Three in one

Pim Mulier Sports Park in Haarlem is home to RKV DS, HFC Kennemerland, and the baseball and softball club DS. Desso Sports Systems teamed up with the installation firm, Krinkels, to equip the pitch adjacent to the Pim Mulier stadium with a Desso Challenge Pro
2 grass field. This summer, at the request of the city of Haarlem, Desso and Krinkels replaced a natural grass pitch with the most up-to-date artificial grass possible. A number of different sports can use the pitch without problems thanks to the multi-functionality of the artificial grass. Multiple game lines have been tufted in so that baseball and softball can be played in the summer and football fixtures in the winter. The football goals can be rotated away, and the holes for the football corner flags can be used to anchor the home plate for baseball and softball games. “ It is rare to combine softball and football like this, but in practice, it works fine ,” adds Gijs Peters of Desso Sports Systems. “ Neighbouring schools can also use the pitch for their sports activities.”
BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND FOOTBALL ON ONE PITCH DESSO ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCH IS HELICOPTER-PROOF THE ARTIFICIAL GRASS FIELD FROM WAGENER STADIUM HAS BEEN MOVED… © Krinkels 7