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@IdealStandard
New courts writeup:
First session at the new courts was good.
I don't find the ride to be a problem and the shortcut I know does make a difference. It's about 20 minutes but flat all the way and downhill on the way home when tired. I though the ride back was nice and there's something good about everyone heading home together. Stopping off at a pub en route to break up the journey would be a perfect end to the session. It's just a case of HTFU or GTFT (get the fucking train).
The surface is pretty much perfect, it's brand new, grippy and has good water dispersal which makes it feel grippy even when wet. It was weird how the surface felt wet under foot but it was still possible to stop without skidding too much. It did get a bit skiddy towards the end, but the grass next to the courts was sopping wet by that time. The long and short is that it's winter and will be wet no matter what. I think there's a certain amount of just getting used to a wet court, but It doesn't have the slimyness of PP and there's not a leaf in sight.
We didn't really do any damage, there were a few superficial skid marks and one slight gouge where Jamie skidded out, but nothing that would constitute 'wrecking the courts'. I'll have to wait and see what the uni say about the state of the courts, but I think we'll be ok for now. We dfo have to be a bit careful and not do anything stupid because it's not something I want to lose! The floods are great and provide ample light, but playing under flood lighting is difficult full stop so needs getting used to.
As Dice said, if we could split the court down the centre we would have two perfectly proportioned courts and it would be ideal. Playing on a massive, square court makes things slow and drawn out and goals are infrequent. Very good for our passing, but too big to be practical. In the meantime we could just get a heavy rope like they do in Paris and look at proper solutions as and when people have time.
No-one showed up to use the courts after us and the lights were still on when we left so I think we'd be able to play until 10 if needs be, but for now I think a 6pm start works.
Better turn out next week please, I have put a bit of effort into this and want to be able to enjoy it.