The Kidderminster-based turf specialist TigerTurf had particular reason to be pleased when the Commonwealth Games was announced as being just down the road at The University of Birmingham.
When the news broke, they had only recently completed a £3 million pound redevelopment project at the University site alongside construction partners McArdle Sport Tec, installing two state-of-the-art WETT Pro fields.
When the announcement came that the facility would host hockey fixtures for the 2022 Games, it meant the specialist turf suppliers would leave their own indelible mark on Commonwealth Games history.
Further developments were however necessary for the Bournbrook site to ensure the facilities were ready to meet the requirements for the Games. Although the WETT Pro fields were still in superb condition, there were slight adaptations required, like extending the run-off areas and changing them from red to blue to meet with FIH Category 2 requirements.
The University of Birmingham Hockey Club still made use of the pitches for the 2021/2022 season, before the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee took over in 2022. Further development of the site then took place, including the building of an athlete welfare area, new fencing, spectator stands and team shelters. It is understood that Tiger Turf were delighted to be working with the University of Birmingham once more to deliver this exciting project.
The University is considered to be a world-leading academic institution, ranked 90th in the QS world University Rankings, but is it for sport-related disciplines that the University is particularly widely known, and is ranked an incredible 6 worldwide in that category.
The hockey club is particularly successful; comprising of six women’s teams and six men’s teams, all of which compete in England Hockey’s National, Regional and County leagues and in the British University and Colleges Sport leagues.
WETT Pro is an elite water-based hockey system manufactured by TigerTurf in Kidderminster, just 15 miles from the University. WETT Pro offers unparalleled performance, durability, and economy with a twelve-year warranty – a longer life expectancy than other similar carpets on the market.
David Hook, managing director at TigerTurf UK, said: “To say we are delighted about being part of the Commonwealth Games is an understatement. We are a local business based closely to the University of Birmingham, to have the opportunity to be involved with such a well-known institution and the Games is an incredible honour.
“It also goes to show that you cannot beat British made, quality products, with the University choosing TigerTurf WETT Pro, not once but twice.”
The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was the most successful yet as England women dramatically took gold for their first time in their history and the men took bronze, defeating South Africa in the bronze play-off.
For further information on TigerTurf, contact j.finnegan@tigerturf.com
