Long-awaited softball diamond for Papanui

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 38

Long-awaited softball diamond for Papanui

By

TIM DUNBAR

A long-talked about project in Canterbury softball circles — an all-weather skin diamond — should finally become a reality at Papanui Domain next month. The Papanui club was yesterday given the go-ahead to start the diamond at a special general meeting of the Canterbury Softball Association. Papanui has been granted a loan by the C.S.A. which it can pay"back over a 10-year period. According to the association's president, Mr Dale Eagar, Canterbury softball is certain to benefit from the fact that there will now be a “proper surface’’ to play on.

“Every other centre with one has maintained that their playing strength had increased,” Mr Eagar said. Only six skin diamonds exist at present — and none of these are in the South Island. Skin diamonds are basi-

cally composed of a very porous mixture of crushed clay and lime. A skin diamond has two major advantages. “Firstly, the bounce is always true if the diamond is maintained properly. And if laid properly they are a lot more dependable in poor weather,” Mr Eagar said. Half an hour of rain would not make the surface slippery as was usually the case. It is expected that it will cost between $13,000 and] $14,000 to put the diamond! down, with the association prepared to go up to a $15,000 loan. Mr Eagar said that there will no more club games than usual at Papanui Dorr ain but the diamond would be the obvious place for games against visiting teams. “Hopefully, everyone will want to play on it.” With the preparation of a perfect surface an infielder will be able to put his glove down for a ball, confident in

the knowledge that it won’t jump up and knock his two front teeth out. One problem, though, said Mr Eagar, was that teams would have to put up with playing on a perfect surface one week and then face “the equivalent of the middle of Colombo Street” the next week. It is expected that the diamond will be laid down by mid to late November and certainly in time for the South Island Jefferies Cup j tournament in the first I week-end of December. A | special publicity game will probably be held between “oldies” and celebrities when the diamond is completed. The new diamond will be just part of a full sports complex going into the domain in the near future. The Papanui Leagues’ Club plans 1 increase its building to cater for a gymnasium, squash courts and other recreational facilities. “It will benefit the whole community,” Mr Eagar said.