General

1998 The new look STRI evolved at a rapid pace, as it moved forward towards the new Millennium under Mike Canaway’s guidance.

In November 1998 the final piece of the new corporate image was put into place as STRI launched its first website.

1999 Mike Canaway commissioned an extensive market research survey amongst STRI’s golf clients to help determine STRI’s future customer strategies. This resulted in the creation of a new position Customer Services Advisor, and Penny Jordan-Morrisroe was appointed in the November.

Innovation, new ventures and new departments all left their mark in the run up to the 21st century.

2000 As STRI stepped into the new Millennium bug free, Dr Mike Canaway retired in March after 25 years of service. In July STRI welcomed a new Chief Executive Dr Gordon McKillop MBA.

Dr McKillop came from the Central Science Laboratories in York where he was Commercial Business Strategy Manager. Although from outside the industry, he brought with him the necessary skills and experience which would enable him to combine business management with science in his new role.

Advisory

Retirements and staff moves coupled with the appointment of 4 new agronomists, STRI’s first regional Construction Specialist was appointed in Cardiff and an additional Associate, David Hemstock, saw a new stronger Advisory and Consultancy team emerge at the end of 2000.

Between 1998 and 2000 the seeds were sown for some of STRI’s most innovative work to date.

Proposals for both the 2002 Commonwealth Games Stadium in Manchester and the new National Stadium at Wembley were put into place and a prototype was being developed for the first moveable turf crossing for a racecourse, commissioned by Ascot Racecourse.

Two new bowling greens were constructed as the centre piece of the British Bowling Championships at Les Creux in Jersey and 4 new bowling greens were commissioned for the 2002 Commonwealth Games at Heaton Park just outside Manchester.

Increasing requests for work were received from local authorities for schools and sports clubs, and training facilities were developed at Glasgow Rangers FC.

Ecology was given the green light and Bob Taylor’s work flourished.

1998 STRI were commissioned by The R&A to carry out ecology appraisals of the ‘Open’ golf courses.

In January STRI introduced the first ecology supplement “Green Matters” in the International Turfgrass Bulletin.

1999 In January an Ecology Research Unit was established at Bingley and in May The R&A commissioned a Heather Review of golf courses in the UK.

Research

1998 Research was undertaken to establish the pitch performance standards for professional rugby league. The switching of the playing season from the traditional winter months to March-September meant the pitch was much harder giving rise to potential player injuries.

A European Register of Golf Research Projects was established for The R&A.

1999 Development of performance standards for “All Weather Track Materials” for the Jockey Club.

STRI introduced the Hemiview for assessing shade in stadia and on golf greens. It was used extensively for the design of the new National Stadium at Wembley.

2000 The first Gift Aid funding from STRI’s advisory activities lead to research on golf shoe wear on golf greens, “Metal versus alternative spikes”.

With water supplies becoming an issue The R&A provided funding for an appraisal of irrigation in the Sefton area which included the Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

The FA commissioned a study for the comparison of the new generation of long-piled artificial turf surfaces versus natural turf.

The IOG funded a survey on the soil physical properties of rubber crumb.

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme an evaluation of compost as fertiliser.

Dr Ruth Mann, STRI’s new Turfgrass Plant Pathologist set about an investigation of the distribution and severity of pests and diseases on football and cricket pitches and golf courses in the UK and Ireland.

Publications

1998 STRI go On-Line with their first website.

1999 STRI launches “Turfgrass Titles of the World” the first comprehensive mail order book service covering over 200 specialist turf titles. In the same year the second book in STRI’s new ecology series is published “Nest Boxes for Birds and Mammals”.

2000 Linda Gallagher is appointed to run STRI’s new book department.

The first book on grass tennis court management and maintenance is published in conjunction with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Wimbledon “Grass Tennis Courts. How to Construct and Maintain Them”.

2001 In January International Turfgrass Bulletin, first launched in 1996, is given a facelift and a new cover.

Visits and Exhibitions

STRI joins European Stadia Managers Association (ESMA), and takes part in the first Stadia and Arena Management Conference and Exhibition in Italy 1996

1999 & 2000 STRI visits Atlantic City for the New Jersey Turfgrass Convention.

2000 May – STRI has a school visit during its Open Day