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The Hover Cover: Protecting cricket pitches since 1998

by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Stuart Canvas has installed a new Hover Cover at The Ageas Bowl, the home of Hampshire CCC. It is an innovative solution to pitch covering that has revolutionised the way that major cricket grounds around the world protect their pitches.

The Hover Cover uses the same principle as a hovercraft to float across a cricket pitch into place. This allows the cover to be easily moved in any direction with minimum effort. This unique design eliminates the risk of damage to the playing surface made from transporting traditional heavy covers into place. The Hover Cover also reduces the time a square can be completely protected from the elements; it can be deployed within three minutes.

Traditionally, when a cricket game is paused due to rain, it would require a large amount of manpower to deploy a large test sheet to protect the square. The Hover Cover allows for square covers and inflatable tubes to be carried on the side, which can then be easily and quickly deployed. Air circulation can also be used to speed up the drying process.

Back in 1998, Donald Kenyan poses with his invention, the Hover Cover

Back in 1998, Donald Kenyan poses with the new invention

The Hover Cover was originally developed in 1998 by Stuart Canvas and its design has been refined to become even more efficient. Each of them is tailor-made to each cricket grounds own requirement, dimensions are adjustable dependent on the cricket pitch. The average dimensions are 80ft-105ft long and 15ft wide.

Stuart Canvas can provide cricket clubs both large and small with a wide range of cricket ground equipment, including flat sheet covers in a variety of sizes and materials, mobile covers, sightscreens, batting cages, electric scoreboards and indoor practice netting facilities.

Stuart Canvas is proud to manufacture all of its products in the UK.

This is a sponsored post. To make an enquiry about a Hover Cover, please visit the Stuart Canvas website

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