TRACK MAINTENANCE / STADIUM INFO !

[johncox]

good info but excuse my ignorance, what does the last paragraph ref the trp refer to..in flower pots post..

[flowerpot]

The battle with the grass will be commencing very soon following discussions with MH and the Maintenance Manager . This Monday and part of Tuesday I shall be getting into these huge jungles and try to make a start ! Some members may question whether the gardening work is essential , I would agree and say it is not . I would say though that it is necessary and there is a very thin dividing line between those comments . Some of the trainers and kennel hands are shocked at the " state ' of the lawns although I would say they are in a ' state of required maintenance ' , so a slight difference in that thinking . Its true that MH and the maintenance manager are jumping up and down about these lawns but to be fair the management have to put various projects in the order of priority and the key issue now is to get the racing up and running again . Having achieved that other projects start to come to the surface , such as the gardening ! Some members might be concerned about me doing the necessary work in the searing heat but the maintenance manager has assured me that I will be closely monitored in case I collaspe and regular drinks , coffee , cold drinks and some light refreshments served with PPE equipment will be available . Maybe a few ice creams as well ... ! Of course working in intense heat does actually boost your vitamin D intake and helps you to keep any virus at bay . My Vitamin D level will be going off the richter scale with the mammoth task in hand . We have to remember that from mid June the betting shops will be open again and our meetings will shown in places like Melbourne , South Africa and Nigeria and it won' t be long before a few other countries as well ... the eyes of the sporting world will be looking at dog racing and we have to make sure that we put on a good show . We cannot allow the Belle Vue Stadium to have a run down look as this is completely unacceptable . While the grass is very high I am more concerned with the lack of water over recent weeks , all the sixteen lawns desperately need a good soaking . The hose pipes we have only go to the edges of each of the centre green pods so I have a hose extension to ensure I can water both pods properly . A sprinkler system I think will be introduced at a minimal cost to ensure ' even ' watering , to look after the lawns . Its just a matter of bringing in these controls and I am very confident we can get the best looking trackside on view . The flower displays this year will probably not be on show although I am going to try and persuade MH to have two bulk flower displays on either side of the podium which the camera will show on all the parades . A lot going on then folks !

[johncox]

your doing a great job roy, regarding the heat, i got the missus one of them foreign legion hats works a treat bless her..

[SALFORD GIRL]

Thanks for the update Roy

[johnlamb41]

Keep up the good work Roy your a trooper

[flowerpot]

The turgid battle in the grass in the stifling heat of the last few days I am happy to report of some progress . Both the main centre green pods are now back in order and most of the trackside lawns are sorted . Some trainers have complained about the state of the lawn between the sprint traps and the 590 ' s , I agree this was in a shocking state , happily this is now under control . Various other areas have been strimmed and MH thought we are starting to look like a greyhound stadium again ! However the gardening work is far from over as there are still a few more jungles to battle in but hopefully I will be giving the mower another blast next Monday and Tuesday . Remember the camera picks all these areas on the SIS coverage so the more that gets done , the better . The third and fourth bend terracing , the weeds there are almost sorted and I should be able to blast the strimmer round and clean it up . The temperature last Tuesday must have been around 80 ' degrees but I was well prepared and consumed three large bottle of Vimto , two cans of Fanta , two cans of coke , two bottles of water , three large coffees and four ice creams and two cheese sandwiches .. Belle Vue is looking in a bit better order so there is no reason this cannot continue and at the time of writing these notes we have had some much needed rain . but I should reassure folk that the two pods and the Trackside lawns were heavily watered prior to this downpour !!