The eyes of the world are focused on the turf in the Beijing National Stadium and Bernhard and Company has been busy preparing for top results – going for gold using its Express Dual and Anglemaster sharpening systems.
With its expertise in top tournament and major event preparation Bernhard has been supporting the grounds staff in the main Olympic Stadium making sure the turf grass is cut with the utmost precision.
To maintain the very best turf health Bernhard’s has been focused upon keeping mower blades surgically sharp using its dynamic grinding system Express Dual and Anglemaster. It is this innovative system and Bernhard’s approach to providing excellence in world class turf facilities that recently won them the coveted Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
Creating top conditions at this stadium, aka ‘The Bird’s Nest’, turf was seeded in a modular box system. The turf is a blend of three varieties of Kentucky bluegrass and is the size of a regulation football pitch (10,000 square meters or about 107,639 square feet). During this vital growing-in process mower blades were kept sharp at all times using Express Dual and Anglemaster 3000s and a Rapid Facer.
In addition to the main Olympic Stadium, Bernhard is also sharpening mowers for the National Baseball Stadium. The grass here is Bermuda, which locally is tougher to cut, so they are sharpening the units frequently out of the nearby Bayhood Golf Course maintenance facility.
Following the Opening Ceremony extravaganza in the Bird’s Nest Stadium the Chinese allowed 24 hours to make the transformation to football pitch – which was the fastest on record. Moving a turf grass pitch that size was no mean feat!
Express Dual and Anglemaster grinders, together with the Rapid Facer, followed the turf into the stadium on 10th August and will stay there throughout the entire Olympic Games.
A highly trained technician from G-Sports, Bernhard’s distributor in Beijing, is now dedicated to servicing the cutting equipment daily – ensuring the setting of a new records in Olympic turf presentation through the cleanest possible cut.
Bernhard and Company Limited www.bernhard.co.uk