U P D AT E
S A LT E X
By Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer
COLLEGE CUP WINNERS VISIT THE BERNABÉU After winning the 2019 SALTEX College Cup, four students from Myerscough College recently enjoyed an unforgettable experience helping to prepare the famous pitch for El Clásico
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Winner Ashley Hill has the honour of mowing the pitch
YERSCOUGH COLLEGE’S victorious team in last year’s SALTEX College Cup comprised apprentices all studying Level 2 or Level 3 sports turf accreditations: Scott Danter, Warwick School; Ashley Hill, Warwickshire County Cricket Club; and Ryan Harrison and Nick George from Leicester City Football Club. The students saw off competition from Askham Bryan, CAFRE, Bridgwater and Capel Manor to win the trophy and the team was presented with a prize that money can’t buy – a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Real Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium, where they would have the opportunity to learn from Paul Burgess, Real Madrid’s director of grounds and environment. As part of the prize, the four students enjoyed an invaluable groundscare work
ENTER NOW FOR THE 2020 COLLEGE CUP The annual SALTEX College Cup, sponsored by Reesink Toro, is a student-led sports turf challenge – an academic test of turf management knowledge for students enrolled at a college on a relevant course of study. Last year’s competition involved paper-based multiple choice and short answer questions on turf management, plus a case study
34 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT April 2020
which required an in-depth written answer. The students were also presented with live test samples in which they had to identify potential threats to turf health. Colleges interested in taking part in the 2020 SALTEX College Cup should email Dan Prest at DPrest@ thegma.org.uk for more details.
“Seeing in detail what the grounds team do at the training ground and stadium was inspirational” experience placement in the run-up to one of the biggest domestic fixtures in world football, the El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. During their weekend visit, the group enjoyed a behind-thescenes experience of just what it takes to prepare the playing surface for such a prestigious fixture, and even got the golden opportunity to be part of the team that maintains the Bernabéu’s hallowed turf. It was an experience that will live long in the memory, according to student Ashley Hill. “This was a real honour,” he said. “Seeing in detail what the grounds team do at the training ground and at the stadium was inspirational. Mowing the Bernabéu pitch was the icing on the cake.”
TAKE-HOME SKILLS
Ryan Harrison believes that the opportunity to learn from Paul Burgess has helped to improve his skill set and will enhance his prospects in the grounds management industry. “Paul and the team were brilliant and I learned so much,” he commented. “Helping to prepare the pitch
