Before: Ted Dexter, the ex-England captain, during the removal of the old surface
After: the new outfield at Lord's, during the 2003 season
Top awards for outfield project at Lord's
Date released: 17 November 2003
MCC and its contractors have won top awards for the re-laying of the outfield at Lord's.
This major project, undertaken in the 2002-03 close season, was delivered on-time and on-budget, and involved the removal of the old, slow-draining, clay-based outfield and the installation of a new, fast-draining, sand-based surface.
The work included:
- the laying of two miles of new drainage piping;
- the installation of a £100,000 irrigation system; and
- the laying of 18,000 square metres of new turf.
At its annual awards ceremony on Friday (14th November), the British Association of Landscape Industries presented plaques to MCC (as the client) and STRI (MCC's advisers), and named the main project contractor - John Mallinson (Ormskirk) Limited - as one of its Principal Award winners. The three partners were congratulated on "co-operating together to perfect an award-winning scheme."
During the 2003 season, the scheme (which had cost £1.25 million) succeeded in reducing, dramatically, the number and length of rain breaks at Lord's - to the relief of players and spectators alike.
The new MCC President, Charles Fry, has described the project - which was managed by MCC's Head of Cricket, Tony Dodemaide - as "an outstanding success".