CRICKET GROUND MAINTENANCE

Certificated courses are organised by the Institute of Groundsmanship in conjunction with the England and Wales Cricket Board and will be organised and hosted by the YCB according to demand. Course details are as below.

ROLE OF LEAGUES

The YCB believes the role of Leagues is a vital one in the improvement of playing surfaces and Leagues should discuss four items

 Encouraging clubs Groundsmen to attend ECB/ IOG courses

 Increasing the expertise of League Committees in ground and pitch matters.

 Advising YCB of any list of club Groundsmen and addresses the League may hold.

 Encouraging clubs to use the YCB Pitch report schemes

Contact lan Powell or your YCDO for details of Ground courses

ECB/INSTITUTE OF GROUNDSMANSHIP COURSES

The Institute of Groundsmanship in association with the ECB have designed a structured scheme of short courses to develop the skills and expertise of Cricket Groundsmen.

The outline programme of each course is to be found by clicking here

For further information and application forms contact:

Ian Powell or the Institute of Groundsmanship: Tel 01908 312511, Fax 01908 311140

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RECENT MAINTENANCE AT KIRKSTALL EDUCATIONAL CC WITH A FULL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES BY DAVID HODGSON

With fine weather since the end of the playing season we have been able to make good progress with work on our square this year.

On Thursday 22 September we had KTH Sports Ground Construction of Northallerton to Koro our square. The idea was to remove some remaining saddle from the bottom end allowing water run off, and to top the rest of the square in order to remove any high spots and help to reduce the annual meadow grass population.

In order to create a practice area adjacent to the square, we had an area to the east of it Korroed to a depth of approx 30mm. This area was then spiked with solid tines to provide a key for the application of 2 ton of imported loam. Levelling and seeding with 100% dwarf rye grass. Hopefully we will be able to have some practice sessions on this area next season.

As for the rest of the square deep scarification or as we now call it linear aeration was completed. Any pitch ends were brought up to level, and the whole area was then top dressed after seeding and fertilising with Autumn and Winter fertiliser. Brushing in was then done with a brush attatchment fixed to the back of the Hydramain as shown on the final photo.

FOLLOW-UP WORK AT KIRKSTALL EDUCATIONAL CC
WITH A FULL REPORT BY DAVID HODGSON

Twelve days after sowing the square we have a good cover. Watering the square was necessary on one day to make sure the germinating seed did not dry out. The seed is a mix of 100% dwarf perennial rye grass (30% Sauvignon 35% Ritmo 35% Bellevue) which is blended specially for me by Hurrells Seeds.

As you can see from the second photo we have a problem with worms edging onto the square. These will be treated over the course of the next few days. As will the moss that I could just see the first signs of.

This year I bought a Sisis RR600 Scarifier. You can clearly see the seed pattern in the groves this excellent machine left. It has certainly made my job much easier this Autumn.

On Friday 7th October the outfield was raked with the rake fit to the rear of the Hydromain. Followed by cutting with the Mastiff (now set at a higher cut for the winter months), and boxed off.

Over the course of the next few days when the weather is favourable we will give the square its first cut. This will help the new grass to tiller, and thicken up. Over-seeding any weak areas will follow. At this time of year it is important to keep an eye out for fungal disease. As we intend to treat the worms we should be safe as the carbendazim we use is also a fungicide.