Woodbridge School’s Double Olympian Head of Hockey Excited to Launch New Astro Pitch

Woodbridge School is delighted to announce that it will be providing students with a new state-of-the-art all-weather Astro Pitch, to be completed in October 2020.

The School’s Head of Hockey, Mariette Rix, South African field hockey player and double Olympian in 2008 and 2012, is eager to launch the new facility:

“Excitement is building every day we see the new surface and upgraded facilities progress, and this new, improved artificial pitch will be a big boost to the Sports Department at both the Senior and Prep School.

“Staff and pupils have spoken about ‘When we get a new pitch’ for some time and to see it become a reality is the biggest pleasure and privilege. I can’t wait to see our players try new skills and continue to play exciting hockey on the new state-of-the-art TigerTurf!” 

The School has appointed McArdle Sport Tec – leading specialists in synthetic turf technology – to refurbish its existing facility. They are replacing the previous sand-filled surface with a more advanced sand-dressed TigerTurf system, for enhanced performance and durability, and covering all aspects of refurbishment, including drainage, Macadam base, shock pad, artificial turf installation, fencing, as well as improved LED floodlighting.

This superb all-weather outdoor facility will be used by the Senior School’s highly-skilled Hockey teams – which include 15 County players and two England Hockey Performance Centre players – as well as by Woodbridge School Prep for some of its hockey games lessons. It will also provide a valuable facility for other sports and activities, such as PE, cricket and football.

The pitch will be available for private hire, and Woodbridge School will be looking for new ways in which it can be used to support the local community.

Shona Norman, Head of Woodbridge School, said:

“At Woodbridge School, we develop fully-rounded individuals for the world today, and sport plays a key part in this holistic education. We have been committed to refurbishing our existing Astro Pitch for some time and, now, we have been able to bring this important upgrade forward into the Summer holidays, to the tremendous benefit of all our students.

“We look forward to unveiling our new-look Astro Pitch in October.”

Photo caption: Shona Norman, Head of Woodbridge School, commemorates the start of the dismantling of the existing Astro Pitch. [Credit: WOODBRIDGE SCHOOL]