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Recyfix Sport wins out on Letterkenny running
tracks THE DEMAND for athletics tracks is on the increase in Northern Ireland and no
doubt one of the key influences is the 2012 UK Olympics, with some of the
North’s tracks planned for use in training.
Ballymena-based Sports Surfaces Ireland is a market leader in the design,
construction and installation of synthetic sports and play surfaces. Last
October they completed outdoor sports facilities including three natural
pitches, an athletics track and all-weather pitches at the new Letterkenny
Leisure Park & Community Facilities, commissioned by Letterkenny Town
Council.
Project managed by architect John Murphy of Ranelagh-based The Holohan Group,
specialists in sports, leisure and recreation facilities, the project is valued
at €15m. Contractors Joseph McMenamin & Sons, based in Stranolar, nominated
Sports Surfaces Ireland to sub-contract on the sports facilities, worth €1.5m.
According to Ed Crawford, founder and director of Sports Surfaces Ireland,
constructing sports and play surfaces is their main business. The market for
polymerics and running tracks is increasing. Ed’s business philosophy is to
continually strive towards innovation, to develop new markets and introduce new
products and services. “We try to stay one step ahead of our competitors.”
Superior Recyfix Sport A running track has to be as strong as a regular road in order to carry heavy
construction traffic and emergency vehicles. The polymeric track is manufactured
on site using rubber granules mixed with polyurethane binder.
“We used a Conipur SP system which has a red porous polymeric surface with
a rubber basemat so the water flows down through the track. The Recyfix Sport
drainage is flush with the top of the surface. The architect had specified a
different product initially but we changed over to Recyfix Sport because it’s a
much more superior product, it’s good value for money and it was available
quickly. We’ll definitely use Galco products again.” Established originally as a private civil engineering firm in 1992, Sports
Surfaces Ireland employs over 30 people and is very much a family business with
Ed at the helm. When director James Anderson joined, they won their first sports
pitch tender. As the market evolved they grew with it and today they are one of
the largest installers of synthetic sports surfaces in Northern Ireland.
Recyfix Sport drainage channels are specially designed to work alongside
modern sports surfaces. The channel covers are made from UV resistant white
synthetic resin. They don’t absorb water and they are fracture-proof. The entire
system is intended to be lightweight and easy to assemble and install. The
Recyfix Sports range also includes ‘soft edge markers’ and ‘soft kerbs’ as well
as purpose designed sand traps for the Long Jump and water jumps for the
Steeplechase.
“Recyfix Sport is a superior product and good
value for money.” Ed Crawford, Founder/Director Sports Surfaces
Ireland
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