The Stuart Canvas Hover Cover
The Hover Cover is currently used at:
- Lords, London
- Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Trent Bridge, Nottingham
- Glamorgan, Cardiff
- Old Trafford, Manchester
- Utilita Bowl, Hampshire
- Dakha, Bangladesh
- Pune, India
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Speak to our team 01925 814525The ultimate cricket square cover system
Designed by Stuart Canvas, the Hover Cover is an innovative product that has revolutionised the way that major cricket grounds protect their squares and pitches.
Playing time lost to rain and the resulting need for drying time led to Stuart Canvas developing the Hover Cover in 1998 with the effect of reducing time lost to rain. In addition the nature of the product enables ground staff to cover the pitch and square within three minutes with reduced manpower. It was installed at Lord’s in the year it was developed and along with it’s potential for generating sponsorship and advertising revenue, it is the ideal product for covering all Test Match and County grounds.
The business case for the Hover Cover was highlighted by Tony Dodemaide, Head of Cricket at the MCC, following the Nat West Series Final between New Zealand and West Indies in 2004. Play was completed on the day despite several rain interruptions, meaning unnecessary expenditure from an extra day was avoided, leading him to say “This is not only perfect for cricket – it makes good business sense too”.
The Hover Cover has many advantages over conventional pitch covers and these include:
- Speed – The Hover Cover can be protecting the pitch within 3 minutes of the start of rain, whereas normal cricket covers would take up to 10 minutes to cover the pitch completely.
- Manpower – Being self-propelled, the Hover Cover requires less ground staff to manoeuvre it onto the square, than traditional mobile pitch covers.
- Transportation – The Hover Cover glides to the centre of the pitch, thus meaning there are no wheel marks or damage to the turf after a deluge of rain. The hover cover, which is motorised, may be loaded with side sheets and bowlers’ run-up covers, thus avoiding extra manpower and time getting the covers to the middle.
- Sponsorship – The Hover Cover is an ideal sponsorship medium for your venue. The canvas top is perfect for signwriting and it may be shaped to the sponsor’s wishes, e.g. made to look like an aeroplane fuselage with a tail fin or even a can of drink. The Hover Cover may be used as a mobile advertising hoarding, during intervals if required.
- Benefits to the groundsmen – The air circulation units may be used to speed up the drying process and are ideal for controlled germination, especially out of season. It can also be moved sideways easily, on and off the pitch, when work is necessary during showery days.
- Dimensions – ts dimensions are custom made to the customer’s own requirements, but would normally be between 80ft – 105ft long and 15 ft wide. It is powered by two 20 hp petrol-driven engines, one at each end. Integral gutters down each long side are designed to carry square covers on inflatable tubes, and extra covers, if necessary, for the bowlers’ run-ups.
“when rain stops play, we can get it into the middle before the players have left the pitch. We can get the whole of the square under cover within three minutes.” Mick Hunt – Head Groundman at Lord’s Cricket Ground 1985 -2018
(Mick Hunt speaking to Pitchcare Magazine, article by Neville Johnson, “People and Cricket”29 Oct 2018, Issue 81.)
Contact
Discuss all your requirements with our expert team. They can advise on the best options and solutions for your project. They can also send you a free quotation.
Design
Our in-house designers will create detailed digital CAD files to ensure accuracy in the design of your project.
Produce
Our team of expert craftsmen will use their years of experience alongside our cutting-edge machinery to handcraft your project.
Deliver
Once your project passes our quality control, it will be distributed via secure carriers or by our specialist installation team.
PVC material is durable, sturdy, waterproof, and tear-resistant, giving it versatile applications. PVC is simple to maintain; it can be cleaned with a wet towel or washed with soapy water. It is waterproof with great weather resistance, including rain, snow, hail, UV rays, and frigid temperatures. We offer PVC in 580gsm to 900gsm weights with our most popular being 610gsm, which offers a great balance between performance and aesthetics. PVC is also available as a fire retardant option.
Manufactured from 580gsm PVC, this durable PVC comes in a variety of striped colours, making them versatile for different aesthetics. Specifically for canopies and market stalls, they offer ideal protection against the elements, being both waterproof and UV stabilised, ensuring longevity and reliability in outdoor settings.
Clear PVC is ideal for creating window sections in tarpaulins and covers, to allow extra light through. Clear PVC is available in 580gsm and 610gsm weights. It is UV-stabilised and offers the same waterproof and weather protection as coloured PVC.
Our heavy duty polyester cotton canvas fabric is a woven fabric with a composition of 50% Polyester and 50% Cotton. It is naturally breathable, and its ability to regulate temperature and moisture makes canvas fabric unique. This water-resistant material creates an organic look and feel.
This recyclable material offers a fabric weight of 350gsm whilst providing a tensile strength that is greater than a heavy duty PVC of 610gsm. The material is entirely PVC-free as it is manufactured from recyclable polypropylene. It can come with a polypropylene rope inside the hem. It also has a high UV durability of at least 5 years for Northern Europe. Recyclable polypropylene can be used on any application in which PVC would typically be used. It is also available in an extra-heavy duty 600gsm weight.
Durable and stylish multi-purpose ripstop fabric is available in a range of vibrant colours. Ripstop Canvas is a specially woven fabric that prevents tearing and ripping, making it ideal for projects that require the organic look of canvas but need the strength and durability that ripstop can provide.
Woven Polyester offers the perfect balance of science, toughness and style. It is a lightweight, highly water resistant, breathable, non sagging and durable fabric, ideal for covers, awnings, UV strips, upholstery, cushions, umbrellas and sun shades. It is available in two weights with various finishes and a wide range of colours to suit all applications.
Specially designed windbreak material is manufactured from robust polypropylene. It is UV stabilised, making it ideal for year round outdoor use. The material blocks the majority of wind from passing through, creating a still air area behind it. The porous nature of the martial prevents it from acting like a sail in high winds, while still offering protection.
Designed to provide a controlled environment for the germination of grass. It also provides frost damage protection to grass during freezing conditions. It is manufactured from 155gsm black porous material which can be produced as a single skin to a triple skin cover.
Heavy duty PVC mesh is an extremely strong hard wearing fabric with a high tensile strength. The mesh allows for wind to pass through while still creating a strong barrier; it is ideal for areas requiring increased ventilation. It can also be added to PVC material to create an opening, for example, to create a window on a PVC machine cover to the retractable tunnel.
Our semi-translucent material is reinforced and designed to allow sunlight through onto the grass below in sporting venues. It is available in set and bespoke sizes, and we can add reinforced hems, eyelets, and grab handles.
We can offer a wide range of netting weights and materials. These can be used in ball sports as ball stop netting and in mobile batting cages. Our netting can also be used in industry as debris netting and cargo nets. Our netting is available in a range of colours to suit all uses.
Our seasoned install manager oversees our in-house installations teams. With decades of experience and SSSTS qualification, he brings extensive knowledge and skills to our teams.
Depending on the job requirements, our install staff can hold CSCS cards along with ASMA, IPAF, and FLT certifications, ensuring they are equipped to handle diverse tasks safely and efficiently.
From working at height to groundwork, we use a wide range of machinery tailored to suit every job. Our arsenal includes diggers with various ground working attachments and our own scaffold tower, welding machines, and a fleet of vans and extra long wheelbase trucks.
We maintain contracts with major suppliers of plant and powered access equipment, ensuring access to top-quality resources for every project.
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