Pictured above: Viewing from the grandstand: PRIMA Terra-Tech instant roadway protected the hockey pitches from heavy footfall during the international women's hockey championships.

The women's international hockey champions trophy was held on English soil for the first time ever thanks to help from Leicestershire-based flooring and access solutions company, Prima Hire Ltd.

Held at the Nottingham Highfields Sports Centre, home of Beeston Hockey Club, the championships saw six teams compete including England, Netherlands, Argentina, China, Germany and New Zealand. Whilst the club can hold 3000 spectators, the draw of an international event meant organisers needed to increase capacity by constructing a temporary grandstand on one of their artificial pitches.

To achieve this, Prima were contracted to supply and install their award-winning access solutions systems, Prima Gridmat and Prima Terra-Tech, to provide an instant floor for the main grandstand and construction of marquees, pedestrian walkways for spectators to walk around the ground and watch the action and for entrances to the food and merchandise marquees.

Jonathan Vaughan, managing director, Prima said: "Beeston Hockey Club needed a product that would protect the hockey pitch from heavy footfall damage, as the championships were running for a month. Prima's access solutions systems have strong eco-credentials, part of their design includes air holes to allow the surface underneath to breathe, and so offered the ideal temporary solution.

"As big sports fans, the team was pleased to be able to play such an integral role in not only allowing the event to be hosted 'on our doorstep' but also in its overall success." Vaughan concluded.

The venue also hosted the men's Four Nations tournament, where Great Britain lost out to Germany in a 'golden goal' final.