STRI Group explained

STRI
Full Name:STRI
Formation:1929
Founding Location:Bingley, West Yorkshire, England
Status:Company
Purpose:Research, Plan, Design and deliver resilient and sustainable solutions for sports, residential, corporate and public spaces
Headquarters:Bingley, England
Location:Queensland, Australia
Location2:Qatar
Coordinates:53.8475°N -1.8577°W
Owners:-->
Leader Title:Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Leader Name:Mark Godfrey[1]
Staff:75
Staff Year:2013

STRI, formerly the Sports Turf Research Institute, is a consultancy for the development of sports surfaces, based in St Ives, Bingley, West Yorkshire, England, providing advice on the research, design, construction and management of both natural and artificial sports fields of play around the world.

History

STRI was established in the UK in 1929 in response to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews wanting improved greens. Originally, the new outfit rented rooms in St Ives mansion, before moving out into new buildings on the same estate. The institute now operates globally out of three research and design hubs in United Kingdom, Qatar and the Redlands Research Station in Queensland, Australia, servicing over 2,000 clients annually.[2] STRI clients include sports venues, international tournaments, sports governing bodies, sports club owners and facilities managers, local authorities and schools. They provide advice and consultancy to the All England Club for each years Wimbledon championships,[3] and have historically been advisors to the FIFA football World Cup.

In June 1961, Prince Philip became the patron of the institute.[4]

STRI capabilities include R&D, design, consultancy and sustainability disciplines. The headquarters of the STRI is in St Ives, near to Bingley in West Yorkshire,[5] where they have dedicated to turf research.[6] In 2019, a new office was opened in Hong Kong, which is tied into the Chinese governments' drive to build 60,000 sports pitches.[7]

Specialities

Research & Development, Sports Surfaces Design & Construction, Product Testing & Material Analysis, Stadia Pitch Design and Management,[8] Agronomy & Ecology, Sportsturf Consultancy, Planning, Drainage & Irrigation, Aviation, Environment, Green Spaces, Training.

From 2014 through to 2018, the STRI advised the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on turf related matters in the run up to the 100 year commemorations of the First World War. This included over 23,000 locations in 153 countries.[2]

Notable sporting events

Notes and References

  1. News: Shand . Alistair . New chief at Harden-based STRI . 19 May 2020 . Keighley News . 19 May 2016 . en.
  2. News: Holland . Chris . Bingley turf experts land war graveyard honour . 19 May 2020 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 22 April 2014 . en.
  3. News: Ahmed . Murad . Wimbledon aims to be a cut above despite the heatwave . 19 May 2020 . Financial Times . 7 July 2018. subscription.
  4. Book: Murray . Amanda . All the kings' horses : a celebration of royal horses from 1066 to the present day . 2006 . Robson . London . 1-86105-930-2 . 258.
  5. News: Holland. Chris. Conference to be held at Bingley's Sports Turf Research Institute. 29 March 2016. Telegraph and Argus. 5 September 2014.
  6. News: Barnett . David . The grass connoisseurs shaping our sporting landscapes . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/grass-wimbledon-sports-fields-gardening-upkeep-mark-ferguson-stfi-turf-tennis-courts-football-a7817156.html . 24 May 2022 . subscription . live . 19 May 2020 . The Independent . 1 July 2017 . en.
  7. News: Meek . Natasha . Bingley born STRI takes on new turf in China . 19 May 2020 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 12 July 2019 . en.
  8. News: Bingley firm installs pitch at Premiership football club . 19 May 2020 . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . 10 August 2018 . en.
  9. News: Bingley's World Cup turf research . 19 May 2020 . BBC News . 7 June 2010.
  10. News: Bishop . Greg . Wimbledon's Guardians of Grass Face a Challenging Summer . 19 May 2020 . The New York Times . 24 June 2012.