Hertfordshire Grounds Association 2022

The Hertfordshire Grounds Association supports all cricket facility providers in Herts where necessary, with a broad range of member benefits.

The past year has seen a change to the Ground Management Association’s Pitch Advisory Service (PAS). For the first time, two cricket-only Regional Pitch Advisors (RPAs) have been created. One covering the North and Midlands and one covering the South. They are fully committed to supporting cricket grounds management across the recreational game. We are lucky that Phil Jeggo has been appointed the RPA for the South. We have a very good relationship with Phil and he is easily accessible to us, being based in Essex. The Grounds Management Association have a partnership with the ECB which is working well. The GMA and ECB have been working in together to support the development of the Pitchpower Multisport App, which is launching in 2023. This includes technical expertise that can be accessed by grounds managers in cricket. Meanwhile the team has been improving guidance for ground managers and adding content to the GMA toolkit. The GMA also engages with the County Pitch Advisors and has held three seminars this year. Jerry Dovey continues as the Hertfordshire County Pitch Advisor and has continued to offer excellent and crucial support and advice on squares and outfields to numerous clubs over the past 12 months.

The Association has continued to deal with the residual effects of Covid on grounds which had often been left for months without ground maintenance staff. By the beginning of 2022 most grounds had their staff back and progress has been made.

The drought in 2022 is likely to have affected cricket grounds throughout the county, especially if we do not receive sufficient rainfall over the winter months. Most outfields will recover once the dry weather has passed, but there are some exceptions to this in shallow rooted and thatch dominated outfields. Going forwards, outfields, particularly those that support winter sports and especially those on heavy clay soils may well suffer without proper renovation. Many clubs will need deep vertical aeration on the outfield both post and pre-season and possibly the application of wetting agents. Some will need reseeding with perennial ryegrass. The Pitch Advisor can give advice on this.

The Summer has also highlighted a few areas that we already know about, but it took the weather for them to come to fruition. One club was suspended from the League as their pitch was deemed dangerous by the umpires and their lower division X1s also had to cease playing. The Association, in particular Jerry Dovey, has been advising the club and remedial work has now been carried out, it is hoped that it will sustain league cricket in 2023. Another club had their 3rd X1 match abandoned. A third club’s 3rd X1 and 4th X1 had to find an alternative ground to play on. Some clubs are also in danger of losing their grounds altogether.

In general, lack of irrigation or the inability to irrigate along with lack of experience in dealing with these conditions have led to difficulties for clubs without employed staff. This summer may be a ‘one off’, but experts tend to think that drier conditions will become the norm in the future. Therefore, new projects will need to factor in irrigation as a priority. Meanwhile the Association will endeavour to help as many clubs as possible.

The Association reinstated the annual Derek Dredge Award for quality of ground which had been put on hold due to Covid. In 2021 the recipient was John Smith of Rickmansworth CC, who was presented with the award in 2022. This award is sponsored by the Hertfordshire Cricket Grounds Association and by A.T.Bone, who renovate the winner’s square free of charge.

The Dennis/Sisis seminar was also reinstated at St Albans School in February 2023. The event covered “Cricket Pitch Maintenance in a changing environment”. The event was very successful, there were over 200 attendees and the topics covered were: Likely changes in weather and their impact on sports grounds. Reducing the impact of Water Restrictions on Sports Surfaces. Root Zones for a Changing Climate. Pests and Diseases of the future and sustainability for grass roots Clubs. Interesting talks were also given by Karl McDermott (MCC, Lords) and Vic Demain (Durham CCC)

The Association’s Committee consists of: Chris Wood (President) Richard Robertson (Chairman) Peter Wholley (Secretary) Jerry Dovey (Hertfordshire Pitch Advisor) Phil Jeggo (Regional Pitch Advisor Cricket - South of England) Sam Rose (Cricket East) Ian Smith (St Albans School) Rob Kendle (ATBone) Dominic Chatfield (Hertfordshire Cricket Club & Community Manager) Geoff Swinden (Pitch Advisor).

Richard Robertson HCGA Chairman Tel: 07557 539076

E-mail: cilla@richardandcilla.co.uk