White Horse Contractors are delighted that the natural turf works we delivered for our group partner, S&C Slatter, were officially handed over as part of the completed World Athletics Class I facility at the Alexander Stadium in May.
As part of the major redevelopment at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, our group partner S&C Slatter designed and constructed a complete package of world-class athletics track and field facilities. In support of the two cutting-edge World Athletics certified athletics tracks, White Horse Contractors delivered a Sport England Type 7 natural turf infield for the main stadium track, with two further Sport England Type 5 natural grass fields (one for the warm up track infield, as well as an additional practice throws area). The facility has been independently tested and awarded a World Athletics Class 1 Athletics Facility Certificate.
So what exactly is a World Athletics Class 1 Athletics Facility? It’s a facility proven to deliver the standard required to host the highest levels of international competition, including the Olympics and World Athletics Championships. For our experienced teams across The Slatter Group, it was no sweat. Between them they’ve delivered athletics tracks across the country, from community to elite level.
Steve Ayres, Contracts Manager, S&C Slatter, commented:
“This project presented an immovable deadline and demanded the highest standards, but with our expertise, scale doesn’t impact our ability. Strong communication, adaptability and experience is what ensured our programme was delivered to schedule. Others might find the extra scrutiny a challenge – but we produce the best we can, whether for a local school or the highest levels of competition.”
As the newest – and one of just 4 – of these certified facilities in the UK, the world’s best athletes put this accreditation to the test recently at the Wanda Diamond League. It proved to be an exciting first test event for the venue, with Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith seeing off Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson in a neck-and-neck 100m race. Fellow home favourites Laura Muir and Keely Hodgkinson also wowed the crowds with their respective 1500m and 800m wins.
Feedback from the athletes was fantastic, with six-time Paralympic Gold Medallist David Weir calling the track “amazing,”, Jamaica’s Omar McLeod saying: “It is a fast track for sure, I am already looking forward to coming back,” and Olympic bronze medallist Holly Bradsaw stating: “I think it surpasses the Olympic Stadium in London.”
Selected by Birmingham City Council and Main Contractors McLaughlin & Harvey after a competitive tender process, S&C Slatter were responsible for the design and construction of the development’s substantial new athletics facilities. Partnering exclusively with North America’s leading track producer, Beynon Sports, the two new athletics tracks were constructed with Beynon’s World Athletics Certified BSS 1000 system, engineered for world-class venues as part of the company’s Elite Performance Series, and trusted by over 400 track & field venues across 7 countries.
An industry leader in North America, responsible for over 70% of the USA’s World Athletics Class 1 Certified Facilities, Beynon Sports have delivered over 7,500 installations at some of the most renowned venues across the globe over the last 40 years. The Alexander Stadium redevelopment will mark Beynon’s first major installation in Western Europe – and the first under their exclusive partnership with S&C Slatter. Though, as a Tarkett Sports Company – alongside S&C Slatter’s exclusive turf partners FieldTurf, and our own hybrid turf partners GrassMaster Solutions – our partnership is already six years strong. Together we have delivered major projects for clients such as Queen’s Park Rangers, Eton College and Europe’s first Major League Baseball event, MLB’s London Series 2019.
Jason Douglass, Group Director, The Slatter Group, commented:
“We were delighted to work with Beynon Sports on this truly exciting project, producing world-class athletics facilities as part of the Alexander Stadium redevelopment.
With a proven history of delivering sports facilities for the very highest levels of global performance, as well as for community use, we’re thrilled to have provided an outstanding facility for the City of Birmingham and elite athletes across the nation.”
The project benefitted from the in-house expertise across The Slatter Group, with S&C Slatter’s dedicated design team delivering the vision for athletics complex and their construction experts building the two world-class athletics tracks and jumps. White Horse Contractors brought our land drainage and natural turf expertise to the project, working with S&C Slatter to construct the two natural turf infields and an additional natural turf throws area to complete the exceptional new facility.
Work commenced in late 2020 and, despite the substantial challenges faced during the project, including: the global pandemic, materials shortages, shipping delays – and even the ‘great’ British weather! – the project was completed on time and officially handed over in early May.
We were thrilled to deliver such an exciting and innovative project as part of the exceptional Alexander Stadium redevelopment, working with S&C Slatter and Beynon Sports to deliver the UK’s superior new athletics facility in Birmingham.
For more information call 01865 736272 or email whc@whitehorsecontractors.co.uk
