Thanks go out to the twenty-odd folk who turned out to scrape sludge off the pitch this morning. The pitch was looking rather lovely by the time we'd finished and the Young Farmers managed a game this afternoon too, so it looks as though our efforts will have been worth it.
Fingers crossed that it holds up better in the weeks ahead.
As most people probably now know, the pitch has started to flood again. We think this is because the algae has started growing again, as it does at this time of year. In previous years, the first freeze has killed the algae off again, and the pitch has started to drain (although there is then the matter of getting the playing surface clean). We are investigating what (if any) steps we can take to get the pitch playable in the meantime.
At this point, you are probably wondering what is happening with the pitch replacement project.
We are still working on finalising the terms of the lease for the land under the pitch. We think that we are now down to minor details, and so we hope to have final agreement with KGV soon.
Then we have to award the contract, which is simply a matter of saying who we want to do the work.
After that it's a matter of when the contractor can deliver. This is a function of many things - their workload, the lead time for getting the new playing surface manufactured, and most particularly the weather. The new shockpad needs to be installed when temperatures are above 5°C. This probably means in March at the earliest.
Chins up!
During the spring, KHC members were busy collecting Sainsbury's Active Kids vouchers and all the kit we ordered as a result arrived today.
We have two bags of hockey balls, some cones, a couple of agility ladders and some agility rings; a bag of whistles is following shortly.
Thanks to everyone who made the effort to collect vouchers for us.
After a hard Saturday of hockey in the pouring rain, there's nothing quite like a Sunday in the hockey classroom to set you up for the week ahead. Pete, Ralph, Andy and David Mac, Monty, Kirsty and Claire were at the KGV today, taking first faltering steps on the way to becoming qualified umpires. There was a morning of classroom study and and afternoon of very amusing practical sessions (in the pouring rain, of course) to stop us getting too comfortable.
Thanks to Colleen from SHU for taking the time to come down to run the course.
Stirling Wanderers were in town on Saturday for a series of games against the Kobras. Our younger age groups did particularly well in five- and six-a-side games, while the older age groups were more evenly matched at seven-a-side and in a closing full-pitch game.
As you can see, it was worth turning up just for the weather.
In order to make sure that replacing the surface of the pitch will actually solve the problem of it flooding all the time was to do some porosity testing of the lower layers. This involves lifting the carpet and seeing how quickly water drains away. At the end of the video, you can also see what happens to water put directly on the carpet.
The results seem fairly clear - the flooding problem is caused by the carpet.
The two Andrews - Montford and McIntyre - were honoured with Community Volunteer Awards last night for their work on behalf of Kinross Hockey Club (although Andy Mac couldn't be there to pick his up in person)
But well done us!
The new Kobras strips got their first official airing at the Perthshire Tournament this weekend, and you have to say they look really good.
Thanks again to our generous sponsors - Soho Wealth and Pure Spa and Beauty - for their support and thanks also to Tricia Macpherson and Gerrold Kuijpers, who took on photographic duties.
Congratulations to David, Cammy and Arthur, whose Midland team came away with victory in the Interdistrict U18 championship at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow yesterday. An honourable mention is also due for Alex Wilson, who captained the U16s to third place.
Andy's match report as follows:
Wins against North, East and Highland were followed by a tense final game against West. The boys went 2–0 up then were pegged back to 2–2, Cammie scored a great goal (his third of the tournament) to make it 3–2 which was quickly followed by a third goal for West. A very tense final 15 minutes saw them hold out for a 3–3 draw which won them the title.
Some pics below.
The new Kinross Community Sports Hub launched last weekend, with a fair at the community campus. A team from Kinross Hockey Club were on hand to tell people about what we have been getting up to and to encourage interest in the club.
Thanks to everyone involved!
Visitors to KGV today will have noticed the arrival of the hockey club's new shipping container, the first spending of all those funds raised towards the new pitch. The container will be used to house maintenance equipment - a mini-tractor and various brushes - once everything is installed.
We are nearing completion of the lease of the land from KGV to Kinross Astro, the new charity that will own and operate the pitch. While that is being finalised, we are working on some issues with the drainage underneath the pitch, and after that we hope to be in a position to place the contract to install the pitch.
Which can't happen a moment too soon.
