Too Wet or Too Dry? Rangiora Trials Cancelled Today 13 October 2020

[Chief Stipe]

MEETING NEWS

Rangiora Trials Cancelled for Today

The Rangiora trials scheduled for today have been cancelled after a track inspection early this morning. Further information will be sent out later today.

[Freda]

I'm guessing overnight rain on a firm track... but will know more later. 

[Chief Stipe]

Obviously same problem as Riccarton.  Seems vertidraining is the panacea - NOT! 

 

MEETING NEWS

Rangiora Trials - Tuesday 20 October

 

The Rangiora trials cancelled today have been re-scheduled for Tuesday 20 October. New nominations will be taken.

The Rangiora track will be verti-drained on Friday (previously scheduled).

Nominations close with the bureau on Monday 19 October at midday.

[curious]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Obviously same problem as Riccarton.  Seems vertidraining is the panacea - NOT!

I think verti-draining is a pragmatic annual or maybe bi-annual turf management process to support soil structure, root development, drainage and aeration, and this seems to have been pre-scheduled in that vein, not a reaction to current events.

Edited October 13, 2020 by curious

[Chief Stipe]

6 minutes ago, curious said:

I think verti-draining is a pragmatic annual or maybe bi-annual turf management process to support soil structure, root development, drainage and aeration, and this seems to have been pre-scheduled in that vein, not a reaction to current events.

So the verti-draining on the Riccarton track done less than 14 days before race day was "pre-scheduled"?

[curious]

40 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

So the verti-draining on the Riccarton track done less than 14 days before race day was "pre-scheduled"?

Don't know. Just says it was for Rangiora.

 

[Chief Stipe]

5 minutes ago, curious said:

Don't know. Just says it was for Rangiora.

 

Why did they feel they needed to make the distinction?

[curious]

29 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why did they feel they needed to make the distinction?

No idea. And obviously, they would only do it Friday anyway if soil moisture content is appropriate for it to be effective wouldn't they? Not sure why they would even mention it if it's part of regular track maintenance especially in the context of announcing a trial date. They don't usually say things like "track will be mowed to 4" on Saturday".

[Chief Stipe]

11 minutes ago, curious said:

No idea. And obviously, they would only do it Friday anyway if soil moisture content is appropriate for it to be effective wouldn't they? Not sure why they would even mention it if it's part of regular track maintenance especially in the context of announcing a trial date. They don't usually say things like "track will be mowed to 4" on Saturday".

So I guess they are irrigating between now and Friday because there is stuff all rain forecast.

Also verti-draining 3 days before the trials would be a bit late wouldn't it?  Unless you are working on a short-term fix which it appears was the case for Riccarton.

It would appear that verti-draining as a stop gap measure is being pushed by the NZTR National Track Manager.

[curious]

3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

It would appear that verti-draining as a stop gap measure is being pushed by the NZTR National Track Manager.

Where did you see that? I'd have thought the point of vertidraining is to improve soil structure, fertiliser uptake, root development etc over upcoming months?

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, curious said:

Where did you see that? I'd have thought the point of vertidraining is to improve soil structure, fertiliser uptake, root development etc over upcoming months?

Where else is it coming from?  I bet they've done it at Avondale since that debacle.  NZTR were engaged to advise on that issue.

Yes my understanding of the outcomes of verti-draining is the same as yours.  However you don't achieve those outcomes in 3 days.  What you will end up with is a loose top still on top of a hard soil.

[Freda]

The verti-draining was already scheduled. 

Apparently water was applied Friday/Saturday,  a strong norwester nullified that on Sunday, and of course, watering is not allowed the day before.

[Freda]

1 minute ago, Freda said:

The verti-draining was already scheduled. 

Apparently water was applied Friday/Saturday,  a strong norwester nullified that on Sunday, and of course, watering is not allowed the day before.

Soil structure is very different at both venues, Rangiora is light, free draining soil, and the minimal staffing there makes maintenance matters very testing. 

[Chief Stipe]

5 minutes ago, Freda said:

The verti-draining was already scheduled. 

Obviously too late to assist the trials today.

5 minutes ago, Freda said:

Apparently water was applied Friday/Saturday, 

What about Sunday?

6 minutes ago, Freda said:

of course, watering is not allowed the day before.

Which is a problem because if you have got it wrong in the prior days you are vulnerable to showers on the day.

Regardless it is all symptomatic of an underlying problem  - stuffed soil structure.

Doesn't matter anyway because next year the trials will be on the new Polytrack!

[Chief Stipe]

4 minutes ago, Freda said:

Soil structure is very different at both venues, Rangiora is light, free draining soil, and the minimal staffing there makes maintenance matters very testing. 

If that's the case then why the need for verti-draining?!

Seems like they have lost control of the irrigating and/or a hard crust has formed on top.

[Freda]

Bottom line, both tracks have been reconstructed in the last twenty or so years. 

Riccarton will overlook the flaws in its turf track and concentrate on the AWT.  That's all well and good, but the turf track issues remain.

Rangiora has been for the chop since its own rebuild was less than ideal.  A loyal group of locals have done an enormous amount of fundraising and voluntary work ( as is the case with many country or community venues)  but support from the wider industry has not been forthcoming. 

The Cjc has given token assistance but , after assuming ownership of a portion of the land assets,  the main aim has been to capitalise that asset, so financial support has been minimal. 

[Joe Bloggs]

6 hours ago, Freda said:

Bottom line, both tracks have been reconstructed in the last twenty or so years. 

Riccarton will overlook the flaws in its turf track and concentrate on the AWT.  That's all well and good, but the turf track issues remain.

Rangiora has been for the chop since its own rebuild was less than ideal.  A loyal group of locals have done an enormous amount of fundraising and voluntary work ( as is the case with many country or community venues)  but support from the wider industry has not been forthcoming. 

The Cjc has given token assistance but , after assuming ownership of a portion of the land assets,  the main aim has been to capitalise that asset, so financial support has been minimal. 

Rangiora Caviar broke the clock here on the course proper yesterday Freda, unbeaten at Rangiora, can't ever lose that tag, head wobble, swagger, glide in the stride, the gals gotta glow on!