Issuu

THE

GROUNDSMAN WWW.IOG.ORG

AUGUST 2018 £4.00

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN GROUNDS MANAGEMENT

THIRSTY WORK

NEW LEARNING

Carl Reeves boosts knowledge for Eton College page 50

How to deal with drought and keep grounds playing perfectly

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Leicester City FC’s plans for a new training centre

IN S IDE

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR PITCH PRESERVATION IOG BOARD REPORT AND AGM UPDATE BEST NEW BUYS FOR GROUNDS TEAMS SALTEX 2018’S NEW INNOVATION HUB

Contents REGULARS

August 2018 MOVING FORWARD

05 Welcome

A call for industry investment

Leicester City FC grounds team has a new challenge ahead page 16

06 Update

Important industry news and the latest products

12 SALTEX news

Get the low-down on this year’s new Innovation Hub

15 GaNTIP update

A significant pitch overhaul brings new opportunity for Birmingham football teams

37 Product showcase

Artificial surfaces and maintenance, plus sweepers, blowers, collectors and vacs

45 Tools & guidance

Maintenance and weather

FEATURES 16 Best practice

Exclusive insight into exciting developments at Leicester City FC

20 Pitch preservation

The benefits of season-long maintenance policies

22 Award sponsor

The best in turf-cooling systems for hot weather

ON THE COVER

Drought presents challenges for grounds and greens teams, alike Photo:

24 Board report and AGM

A fantastic year of progress from the Institute revealed

33 In action

Getty Images

Best buys for cricket and more

34 COVER: Tech update

Essential advice on saving water and dealing with drought

50 Grow with the IOG

Eton College’s Carl Reeves

THE GROUNDSMAN

Editorial address: 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill East, Milton Keynes, MK12 5TW t: 01908 312511 Managing editor Karen Maxwell e: kmaxwell@iog.org t: 01908 552987 Features editor Colin Hoskins e: editor@iog.org t: 01634 832 221 Product editor Charlie Lyon e: charlie.lyon@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk t: 01225 337777 IOG membership and general enquiries t: 01908 312511 e: membership@iog.org Magazine subscriptions Sue Fernandes t: 01908 312511 e: accounts@iog.org Subscriptions £72 UK, £82 Europe, £112 rest of world Publisher James Houston Head of design Simon Goddard Advertising Jasper Keeling e: sales@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk t: 0203 859 7097 Published by James Pembroke Media The Groundsman is published monthly by the Institute of Groundsmanship. All material is copyright of the Institute of Groundsmanship and may not be reproduced without permission. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any advertisement appearing in the journal and cannot be held liable for editorial omissions or errors. The views expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Institute of Groundsmanship.

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Welcome

Contributors

Karen Maxwell Managing editor

The evidence is clear! If ever there was a need to proactively invest in the mass of grass pitches that predominate the landscape of football, the evidence that is emerging from the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme proves the necessity for accelerated investment. Because 65 per cent of the pitches surveyed were compacted, a large majority of sites visited were not meeting adequate standards as defined by the IOG’s pitch grading standards and many clubs are unaware of the opportunities for training. This evidence-based research has been used by The Football Association as part of the recent select parliamentary hearing regarding the sale of Wembley Stadium. This sale appears to be edging to a conclusive yes (with conditions) despite Gary Neville’s passionate defence and suggestions of alternatives, which included a levy on agents’ fees or Premier League clubs offering to reduce the seasonal prize money and re-direct some of it to the grassroots game. It’s a bold challenge and it will be interesting to see the reactions these suggestions receive. Whatever the outcome, it’s imperative that natural turf pitches receive the investment they need and deserve. But it will take a decade of investment to ‘bring them back’ as regrettably without statutory investment in sports provision funding and frontline pitch maintenance skills, many pitches have been decimated. In large, this factor can be traced back to the implementation of compulsory competitive tendering, followed by best value while, in parallel, local authority leisure departments are largely a thing of the past and are now consumed within a wider social services directorate. The erosion of investment in sports facilities coupled with austerity and a lack of focus has led to the quick-fix approach; a mass investment over the past 18 years into 3G surfaces has been seen as the panacea. But is it? Surely there should be parity of investment into natural turf? With an estimated 44,000 pitches, of which some 92 per cent are natural turf, our evidence shows that pitches can be significantly improved with good advice, knowledge, understanding and training.

Colin Hoskins Features editor

Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

Chris Gray IOG learning programme architect

Tom Grafen Technical sales engineer, SGL

Whatever comes of the sale of Wembley, and regardless of whether it’s sold, the evidence is clear: natural turf investment is of paramount importance to ensure more matches take place and there are fewer cancellations. It’s not rocket science, it’s just understanding the problem and doing something about it.

Andy Spetch Volunteer head groundsman, Bury St Edmunds RUFC

Geoff Webb Chief Executive The Institute of Groundsmanship

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Kevin Duffill GaNTIP regional pitch advisor

Update

IOG NEWS

Read all the latest news and updates, and discover what members are entitled to www.iog.org

THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM THE IOG AND THE INDUSTRY

CRICKET SEMINAR

FREE RENOVATION DAY DENNIS AND SISIS’ cricket renovation day for 2018 will be held at Cheltenham College on 7 August. The free event will feature a mix of indoor presentations and discussions, and outside practical demonstrations. Industry sponsors will also be offering support and advice. To register, contact Roger Moore at Dennis & SISIS on 01332 824777 or email roger.moore@dennisuk.com

ACADEMY PL AN Two-thirds of grass roots pitches are “inadequate”

WEMBLEY SALE

Grassroots-level pitches are “inadequate”, says FA THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION has told a parliamentary hearing that two-thirds of football pitches at grassroots level are inadequate and that the poor facilities actually led to the cancellation of 150,000 matches last season. The figures were revealed at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) parliamentary hearing on 28 July to discuss the possible sale of Wembley Stadium. The FA wants to sell the national

“The FA wants to sell the national stadium because it represents a ‘transformative opportunity’ to change ‘the poor state of community football facilities’”

6 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

stadium because it represents a “transformative opportunity” to change “the poor state of community football facilities”. It has received an offer of £600m from Fulham owner Shahid Khan. Kenny Saunders, who runs pressure group Save Grassroots Football, said the situation had reached crisis point. “Government cuts to local councils are having a massive impact. Councils can’t maintain pitches and more of them are selling them off. “I would welcome the sale of Wembley if the money is ringfenced for grassroots football and used wisely. We need to build from the bottom.” The FA said that 33 of 50 county FAs are without their own 3G pitch and also that there are twice as many 3G pitches in Germany as there are in England.

TRAINING BOOST LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB (LFC) has confirmed that it will proceed with the redevelopment of its KSS-designed Academy site in Kirkby. The scheme will see the Reds’ First Team and Academy football training operations and facilities come together on one site in a new training campus. The project will provide LFC with world-class training facilities including an Elite Performance Centre for the First Team and state-of-the-art Training Centre for its U23s team.

DOUBLE WIN

AWARDS FOR GLENDALE NATIONAL GREEN SERVICES provider Glendale is celebrating after scooping two industry accolades. The firm was awarded Business Award for Arboriculture Contractor of the Year at The Horticulture Week Business and Custodian Awards. It also picked up the industry magazine’s Custodian Award in the Best Parks Partnership – Commercial category.

U P D AT E

NEWS

DIARY DATE

AMENITY CONFERENCE

Knotweed growing unchecked in a residential garden

WEED RISK

SURVEY SAYS BRITS STRUGGLE TO IDENTIFY KNOTWEED A SURVEY HAS revealed that less than a fifth of people in Britain can identify Japanese knotweed. Described by the Environment Agency as “the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant”, Japanese knotweed can grow by up to 10cm a day during the summer, quickly becoming well established. It can damage buildings and render them unsellable until a treatment plan is implemented, and it costs the UK £166m a year to treat it. The survey, commissioned by Environet, also found a lack of awareness about the legal responsibility of homeowners to prevent the weed from spreading. Only 36% knew they could be sued and just 18% were aware that they could face prosecution under ASBO legislation.

Despite people struggling to recognise the plant by sight, general awareness of knotweed is high, with 76% of Brits having heard of the plant, compared to 75% last year. www.environetuk.com

NUMBERS UP

TOP-CLASS TRAINING JOHN DEERE HAS been named for the second year as one of the best 100 employers for school leavers in the UK – the only agricultural and turf machinery company to be recognised. The firm has also seen a 60% increase in 2018 in the number of young service technicians being trained on its Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech advanced apprenticeship programmes, run in partnership with training provider ProVQ.

A heat map showing the prevalence of knotweed throughout the UK

NEW SKILLS

CASH BOOST

£10m for rugby league facilities

THE RUGBY LEAGUE World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) has announced its second major initiative from the tournament’s ‘Inspired by 2021’ legacy programme. Some £10m will be invested in local clubs and community projects as part of the RLWC2021 Facilities Legacy programme. The government investment, delivered by Sport England, is part of RLWC2021’s ambitious plan to grow KEEP IN TOUCH

THIS YEAR’S AMENITY Forum annual conference and exhibition has the theme ‘Change, Challenge and Opportunity’ and will be held once again at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent, on Tuesday 9 October. Delegate rates: £75 + VAT for supporter organisations and £85 + VAT for others. There is a £10 discount for early bird registrations before 1 September. For further information, visit www.amenityforum.co.uk/conference/ the-amenity-forum-conference-2018

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the sport and make it more visible, engaging and welcoming to current and potential participants. The funding will be split into large transformational community projects, for example refurbishing changing rooms and installing new artificial pitches. The remainder of the funding will be used for smaller-scale initiatives such as supplying new kit or new equipment to clubs.

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Institute of Groundsmanship

DURHAM WORKHOP The Durham Cricket Board Groundstaff Association (DCBGA) will be running An Insight into Football Groundsmanship at Professional Level workshop at Newcastle United FC’s Academy Training Centre, Benton on 13 August from 6.30pm to 8pm. The session will cover preparation, maintenance and renovation and will include informative talks. Call 07739 856564 to book. twitter.com/the_iog

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 7

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NEWS

After 21 years, Reesink’s Mike Stephenson is retiring to spend more time on his hobbies

TOP PRIZE

WIN VIP TREATMENT AT THE STIHL TIMBERSPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

REESINK TURFCARE

MIKE STEPHENSON AFTER 21 YEARS in a variety of roles, Reesink Turfcare’s business information manager Mike Stephenson is retiring. Mike studied agricultural engineering at Rycotewood College and started out at a tractor dealership in Yorkshire. “I worked in a range of engineering, sales and aftermarket positions for irrigation equipment and agricultural machinery companies, before joining Lely Turfcare [now Reesink Turfcare] as turf product manager in 1997,” he said.

Mike was instrumental during many Reesink milestones. Managing director, David Cole, said: “His positive approach and attention to detail has served the business extremely well through many important projects.” Mike said Reesink had been a brilliant company to work for. “My job has been varied and my role within the business challenging. It’s thanks to this and the relationships with my team that I always looked forward to going to work.”

SIMON TULLETT MACHINERY

Simon Tullett WE ARE SAD TO REPORT that one of the well-known names in this industry has left us. Simon Tullett, founder of STM Co of Simon Tullett sadly passed away in July

8 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

Warwickshire – well known as the supplier of SCAG equipment – died in hospital recently, succumbing to kidney failure. It is very touching that the hospital assisted in the arrangements for a wedding blessing to take place at his bedside for the marriage of his daughter Olivia, so that he could give her away. Simon had always been involved in the outdoor machinery world and spent many years in sales at Turner International, then worked for Agria before deciding to set up on his own. Simon made a mark on the industry and is greatly respected for the company he developed.

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS IS offering 12 lucky extreme sports fans the opportunity to experience the full VIP treatment at this year’s Stihl TIMBERSPORTS World Championship, being hosted in the UK for the first time on 19-20 October at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. To enter, TIMBERSPORTS fans simply need to upload a picture of themselves wearing or using an item from the new limited-edition range of Stihl TIMBERSPORTS World Championships Liverpool merchandise, which includes t-shirts, hoodies, caps and bespoke Liverpool 2018 chainsaw bars, and is available at STIHLapproved dealers. Entries need to be made at www.stihl.co.uk/st-win before 31 August 2018. To find your local Stihl dealer, visit www.stihl.co.uk

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NEWS

TOUGH ENOUGH?

GO NUTS for HortAid 2018 THE COMPETITION IS hotting up ahead of Perennial’s biennial GO NUTS for HortAid Challenge – a 5km mud run with over 60 military-style obstacles. Landscape Associates has already signed up for the race on 30 September, in Dorking, Surrey, and managing director Richard Curle is urging other firms to get involved. “We think we’ll win but we’d love to know if you think otherwise. It’s well known that landscapers are the strongest, fastest, leanest, meanest horts out there but if you think you’re up for proving us wrong, we’d love to see you on the starting line.” The inaugural NUTS event, in 2016, raised more than £13,000 for Perennial, a charity that supports

people working in the horticulture industry during tough times. Other teams already signed up for the challenge include headline sponsors Gabriel Ash, Perennial’s PR team Bloom PR & Communications, Knights Landscaping and Chartfords Trees. To find out more about the GO NUTS for HortAid Challenge, and to sign up as a team of between five and ten people, visit www.perennial.org.uk/events/ nuts-challenge Perennial has also launched a new Child Bursary scheme to help horticulturists who may not need Perennial’s help themselves, but whose child or children have an educational need that their income will not support. Visit www.perennial.org.uk/help

Will you conquer the mud to help raise money for Perennial?

ARSON ATTACK

FIRE DESTROYS RUGBY PITCH A RUGBY CLUB in Swansea says it is ‘devastated’ after one of its pitches was set alight in a suspected arson attack. The second pitch belonging to Vardre RFC, based in Clydach, was very badly burnt during last month’s fire. The facilities are used by the mini, junior, youth and senior section of Vardre RFC, and by Clydach FC, and it costs up to £5,000 a year to fertilise and reseed the pitches. A spokesman said the club was proud of the

quality of its surfaces, but now it is concerned for the season. “We are worried that it will affect our season and prevent players from all ages enjoying the sports they love. “It’s heartbreaking when so many good people volunteer their time and effort to improve facilities and provisions for the local community and a mindless, selfish few vandalise them.” The club is unsure how long and how much it will cost to get the pitch back to its original state.

NEWS

NEW LEARNING

IOG AND LANTRA JOIN FORCES THE IOG IS DELIGHTED to announce that Lantra has become the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) for the new Level 2 Sports Turf Operative Apprenticeship Standard, which has been developed by a large employer group and the IOG. There are already more than 50 apprentices undertaking a learning journey to achieve this high-quality standard. Commenting on the EPAO announcement, Chris Gray, IOG learning programme architect, says: “After sustained work by the IOG; advocating for a solution and making representation to government and key stakeholders, the initiative by Lantra in becoming the government-approved Assessment Organisation for the Sports Turf Operative Standard is to be welcomed wholeheartedly. This provides further reassurance to the industry that we are on a sound footing to raising standards within our industry and to further promoting this as a sustainable career for many.” IOG CEO Geoff Webb added: “This complements our work in developing a national, natural turf Pitch Grading Framework.”

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 9

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PRODUCT UPDATE

S H OWC A S E Discover more essential products in our round-up page 33

GROUNDWATER 3 DYNAMICS RIGBY TAYLOR

WANDSWORTH COUNCIL IS using a new vertical drainage system to tackle waterlogged playing surfaces on Wandsworth Common. The system, from Groundwater Dynamics, uses vertical plastic pipes (EGRP) to draw in excess water horizontally. It is being trialled on three of the council’s seven winter pitches and, if successful, could be rolled out across all 96. Suitable for all soil types, the system involves drilling a series of bore holes in a grid shape across the playing surfaces. Each borehole accommodates an Energy-passive Groundwater Recharge Pump (EGRP) pipe, the top of which sits 300mm below the surface. The hole is then ‘plugged’ and top-dressed. The EGRP draws in water horizontally and this then drains away into the lower unsaturated strata/water table. www.rigbytaylor.com

The latest developments in mowers, drainage and hydration aids

1 SWIFT ROLLER MOWERS

NEWS

The new roller mowers are designed for compact tractors

MAJOR EQUIPMENT

MAJOR EQUIPMENT HAS upgraded its range of tractor-mounted Swift Roller Mowers. They are available in working widths from 1.9m to 5.4m, and are built light for smaller compact tractors – the mowers are made of Strenx 700 MC high-yield steel. The mower bodies have now been finished with zinc hot-dip galvanisation, which doubles the

lifespan compared with paint and helps to protect the steel from corrosion. The roller mowers’ custom-designed gearbox has been upgraded and highspeed blade tips offer higher output. Major has also introduced a threeyear professional warranty for all models in the range. For more information, call 01524 850501 or visit the website, www.major-equipment.com

The new vertical drainage system at work

2 OARS AND AQUIFER PELLETS AQUA-AID EU

Breathe life into dry spots with OARS and Aquifer pellets

GROUNDSMEN ACROSS THE UK have been turning to Aqua-Aid EU’s OARS and Aquifer pellets, used with the PROportioner application system, to cope with the prolonged dry spell. The OARS (organic acid redistribution system) pellets are used to treat localised dry spots (LDS). They help to remove the build-up of organic acids that coat the surface of sand particles causing water repellence.

The product is commonly used with Aquifer, which provides hydration for a 30 to 45-day period. It provides uniform downward and lateral water movement in the top several inches of the root zone and doesn’t need to be watered in after application. Both pellets can be applied with the PROportioner system, which is designed for use on all types of turf. www.aquaaideu.co.uk

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 11

U P D AT E

S A LT E X

Rigby Taylor’s Jayne Leyland collects the trophy for joint �rst place for last year’s Innovation Award

By Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

NEW INNOVATION HUB AT SALTEX

The Fleet MAQA line-marking machine was also joint winner, praised for its timesaving qualities

This year, SALTEX visitors can expect an area dedicated to innovation and new concepts in grounds management

ALTEX PLAYS HOST to the most technologically advanced equipment showcase, with hundreds of exhibitors pushing the boundaries with new products and services. Within this fast-paced and evolving industry, manufacturers are more forward-thinking than ever before, ensuring their products match their clients’ needs, and with over 8,000 SALTEX visitors, these new technologies are certainly under the spotlight. According to the SALTEX 2017 visitor survey, an incredible 97 per cent of people claimed that their main reason for attending the exhibition was to see the latest innovations. Taking this feedback on board, SALTEX event organisers have decided to host, for the very first time, a dedicated Innovation Hub. Visitors can expect to watch interviews with industry experts and those at the forefront of groundscare innovations, listen to research and trial work findings. Furthermore, a number of key speakers will take to the stage to discuss and explore current groundscare trends such as cordless and environmentally friendly equipment, robotics, GPS-controlled machinery, pesticide alternatives, pitch lighting – 12 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

including watering systems and oxygen – and pitch-monitoring systems. In this exciting new feature, delegates will be able to engage in conversation regarding key topics, or seek advice, while using the opportunity to network with the industry’s most innovative business leaders and exporters. All this makes the Innovation Hub a must-visit area for attendees. The Innovation Hub will also play host to the second ever SALTEX 2018 Innovation Award ceremony, giving visitors the chance to see the latest and very best in new groundscare technology. Entries for the award are now open. Making its debut at last year’s show, the Innovation Award attracted a number of high-quality entries from across the globe, spanning a wide variety of products, services and equipment. The independent panel of judges, who based their decisions on a number of factors, including what the entry offers the industry and how it makes life easier for the person using it, were unanimous in selecting four stand-out entries. Viewing the entries it transpired that 2017 was the year for new line-marking technologies. The standard was incredibly high, resulting in a tie for first place. Rigby Taylor’s

Intelligent One autonomous robotic line marker and Fleet Line Markers’ MAQA line-marking machine were announced as joint winners last year. Second place went to Oregon’s Gator Speedload, which judges said was a quick and simple device that removed the need to dismantle the head each time the user had to reload or wrap a new strimmer cord. Third place went to the Etesia Hydro 80 MKHP4 E-Connect, due to its ability to set up multiple users and record data – allowing organisations or clubs to monitor the amount of use and user’s ability. Due to the popularity of last year’s Innovation Award, SALTEX 2018 is expected to attract even more entries, which will be revealed in the lead-up to the show. Additionally, by referring to the show guide, SALTEX visitors will be able to follow an Innovation Trail, enabling them to see every single entry on the show floor. SALTEX takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 31 October and 1 November; register to attend for FREE at www.iogsaltex.com. Nominations for the Innovation Award can be made at www.iogsaltex.com/innovation-of-theyear-award

Improved aeration and intensive overseeding were just two PIP recommendations that transformed Sutton Cold�eld Town Juniors FC’s pitches

ALL-ROUND IMPROVEMENTS Additional equipment and improved pitch maintenance regimes have led to fewer lost games at a Birmingham football club

F By Kevin Duffill Regional pitch advisor

ormed in 1970, Sutton Coldfield Town Juniors FC has grown from 18 teams at the time of my initial visit in 2016 for The Football Association’s Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP), to 24 teams today. The club has also been recently identified as a Birmingham County FA ‘Hub Club’ and has developed a successful collaborative agreement with neighbouring Bishop Walsh School. The 12-acre school site includes three mini soccer pitches, two 9 v 9 pitches and two 11 v 11 pitches. There is also a rugby pitch which, in the long term, will be developed into a premier football pitch. The pitches are heavily used, with at least 10 matches being played every weekend – this equates to more than 300 matches a season. Around three weekends were traditionally lost each season on the main pitches, and four weekends on the mini pitches, due to them becoming compacted and waterlogged.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Heavy use meant pitches became compacted and waterlogged

Pitch maintenance is undertaken by the school’s groundsman who, in addition to wider responsibilities, mows using a triple-cylinder mower and marks out. There was originally no equipment for brushing or aeration. After the initial PIP visit, recommendations were made for improved pitch maintenance: the use of selective herbicide for weed control; deep aeration and surface slitting for improved aeration; more

“Surface quality has risen from intermediate to high and there have been fewer postponements” intensive overseeding; an improved fertilisation regime; investment in some new equipment – a compact tractor, a roller mower and a grass care combination system. Following the implementation of the new regime, and a successful funding application for the new machinery, the pitch quality has improved; surface quality has risen from ‘intermediate’ to ‘high’, and there have been fewer postponements. According to club chairman Steve Banks: “PIP has been of critical importance. The initial visit set the direction and follow-up visits have been vital for fine-tuning how the pitches will be developed.” Birmingham FA’s facility development officer Olly Hitchcox said: “This is an excellent example of how a number of partners have worked successfully together to maximise the potential of what is a very significant site for Birmingham FA. As a result, levels of both participation and utilisation have increased, and there are plans to further develop the site.”

Visit www.iog.org for more information about GaNTIP www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 15

ELITE FOOTBALL

Wes Morgan during pre-season training at Belvoir Drive. The ground is set to move from the current 24-acre site to a new 180-acre facility

BEST PRACTICE

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Leicester City Football Club has firm plans to build on its considerable success as a Premier League club, with a new world-class training ground, as grounds manager John Ledwidge explains 16 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

By Colin Hoskins Features editor

BEST PRACTICE ELITE FOOTBALL

The new site will accommodate the �rst team as well as development and academy squads

ver since Leicester City Football Club appointed John Ledwidge as grounds manager, he has always professed the wisdom of empowering his grounds team and providing comprehensive training to equip them not only for their current roles but also to help them meet future aspirations. Now, after four years in the post, he is quick to assert that the club has “a great team of reliable professionals” who successfully maintain and manage the club’s King Power Stadium (led by head groundsman Simon Gibson, who also runs the club’s under-23 facility) and the training ground (where Callum Allsop is head groundsman). Further to this John manages the pitches at Belgium club OudHeverlee Leuven (OHL), on behalf of the owners King Power, where Ollie Makin is head groundsman. “Having such a reliable team is critical at this stage in the club’s history and its future plans,” says John, as he becomes

“Having such a reliable team is critical at this stage in the club’s history and its future plans”

increasingly involved in the delivery of a new training centre. Importantly, too, his remit includes a five-year mission to improve and develop the playing surfaces and staff at the site in Leuven, Belgium, to match the standards being attained in the UK at the stadium, at the Belvoir Drive training facility and at the Holmes Park LRCFA HQ, the under-23s venue. “The aim also is to engage with the local people and surrounding sports turf managers to help improve the standard of groundsmanship in Belgium, using OHL as a hub for training and education,” he says. In season 2016/17, John project managed the upgrade of the local (UK) County FA headquarters, with the club investing in the pitch, new stands and changing rooms to alleviate the demand of fixtures on the stadium pitch.

A STRONG FOUNDATION

Training has (and continues) to play a key role in staff development with, for example, various members of the team now accredited to Level 3 and Level 2, as well as everyone being fully qualified spraying operatives with PA1 and 2a licences. John himself is two years into a business and management HND qualification. The club also works closely with its key equipment and amenity suppliers and they stage a number of education and training events throughout the year.

“The club has always believed in the maxim of training staff so well that they will not only be able to do their current jobs properly but will also be well-equipped for the future, while treating them well enough so that they don’t leave,” John says. “Our aim is to create pathways for everyone, starting with our apprentices.” It’s a strategy that certainly pays dividends, not least in contesting the annual IOG Industry Awards, with John and his team winning the 2015 Professional Football Grounds Team award and, last year, the IOG SGL Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year Award in a category open to grounds teams from the Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League. “The high standards of presentation and the progression of our grounds team go hand in hand,” he continues. “Every member of the team contributes to the effectiveness of the department, from myself and the head groundsmen who plan and set the strategies for the team members who carry out their duties professionally. They also religiously log the hours of pitch use and keep diaries of the weather, machinery and maintenance operations.” Both head groundsmen produce weekly plans for the pitches. These are sent to all squad coaches and the daily working frameworks are circulated among the grounds team. The plans also form www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 17

BEST PRACTICE

ELITE FOOTBALL

“Just because we’re a Premier League club, it doesn’t mean we have an open cheque book to buy anything we want” part of monthly reports that are used by John in his discussions with the club board, for example. “It’s a system that highlights our professionalism and it eliminates guesswork,” says John. “For instance, recording the hours of play on each pitch leads to historical information that is indispensable when it comes to discussions over, say, pitch upgrades. It also means we’re constantly using the data to benchmark ourselves and the pitches to create the optimum grounds maintenance strategy.” One important point, he says, is that “because we’re a Premier League club, it doesn’t mean we have an open cheque book to buy anything we want”. He adds: “Everything has to be justified and I instil this sort of thinking in every one of the team – detailing the costs and benefits of each item of expenditure, as well as the consequences of not investing, gives them a flavour of the decisionmaking process that is essential in such an organisation.”

BUILDING ON SUCCESS

John’s view that “having dependable staff is essential,” is, however, somewhat of an understatement when it is realised how his role now reaches far beyond pitch preparation/usage. As grounds manager, he is not only ultimately responsible for the club’s stadia and training grounds, of course – which involves regular commutes between the UK and Belgium – but he is also part of the club’s project team to deliver a new multi-million-pound training ground. He affirms: “It is fascinating to be part of a team that is planning from scratch a site which is expected to be in use within the next few years. In addition to exploring all pitch technologies – stitched, reinforced and natural root zone – we are also looking at all aspects of ecology and sustainability, including composting and water attenuation (drainage) as well as water harvesting. It’s a facility that will be here in 70-80 years’ time and we want to ensure that

John (back row, fourth from left) with operations director Kevin Barclay and the grounds team, winners of the SGL Professional Football Grounds Team

the decisions being made today remain sustainable in the years ahead.” Set in 180 acres (formerly an 18-hole golf course), the new facility is set to replace the 24-acre Belvoir Drive ground that the club has used for the past 54 years. With 14 pitches, plus a mix of small pitches, goalkeeper and training areas, a ‘show pitch’ for up to 499 spectators, plus a full-size indoor synthetic surface as well as a nine-hole golf course, the new site will accommodate the first team and development and academy squads. While the site will undoubtedly set new and higher standards in facilities for the players, it could also feature an exciting new industry development: a groundbreaking sports turf academy which, John says, “will be a facility the whole industry can be proud of”. Full details of the academy and how it will operate have yet to be finalised, but what is certain is that it will offer world-leading classroom and practical training in sports turf surface maintenance and management – “we plan to have all the appropriate surfaces on-site” – greenkeeping, equipment mechanics and horticulture. Commenting on the developments at the time of the announcement, the club’s vice chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, said: “The new training ground is a truly exciting phase of our development and a once-in-

a-generation opportunity for us to demonstrate both our ambition, and that of the city, on such a large scale. We want to invest in the best possible training facilities to develop and attract the world’s elite sporting talent to Leicester and to give them a competitive edge in a game that is constantly evolving. It is crucial to us that the benefits brought about by the new development make the facility a source of pride for the Leicestershire community.”

GROWING TEAM

The new complex will see the club grow John’s current 14-strong team, (potentially including a full-time horticulturalist, a team of groundstaff, greenkeepers and mechanics), and John says that being part of the project team has really been an eye-opener in terms of the scale of the decisions being made. He also confesses: “Everything considered, it means that I’m hardly likely to be getting on a mower and cutting any grass soon, though I do ensure I walk the [UK] stadium and training pitches every morning, discussing issues with Simon and Callum. I can rest assured knowing that they and their teams will carry on the excellent work that continues to help everyone here build a fantastic future for Leicester City Football Club.”

For the latest news on Leicester City FC, visit www.lcfc.com www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 19

PITCH P R E S E R VAT I O N

T E C H N I C A L U P D AT E

A POLICY FOR SEASONLONG USAGE

An agreed pitch policy can help preserve surfaces and make them playable for a complete season while reducing annual pitch maintenance costs at the same time A universal pitch policy helped transform this Su�olk rugby pitch

H By Andy Spetch Volunteer head groundsman, Bury St Edmunds RUFC

aving a playing membership of 500 using three full-size pitches, a three-quarters 4G surface and four mini pitches, Bury St Edmunds RUFC in Suffolk finds balancing demand for use while minimising pitch damage is a real issue. Six years ago, after monitoring training sessions and games, it was clear that skills sessions such as lineouts, rucking and repetitive passing were causing the highest amount of wear in concentrated areas. If the pitches were to last the complete season, a ‘pitch policy’ was needed to ensure the needs of the teams – four senior men’s, ladies, youth from under 12s through to colts and minis aged six to 12 – were met. The policy’s objectives were to: Improve and maintain the playing surfaces of all pitches to the highest standard Ensure season-long playable pitches. The policy covers everything from where to carry out pre-season training, lineout practice and pre-match warm-ups through to the management of spectators. Management of player traffic on the pitches, and keeping training off the playing areas as much as possible, has helped to significantly reduce compaction, especially under the floodlights. This is better known as ‘first floodlight training syndrome’. Having drafted the policy, it was important to get the club’s buy-in and meetings were held with

20 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

“It was important to get the club’s buy-in” the committee, team managers and coaches to get feedback and produce a policy agreed by all.

THE RESULT

Specific zones off the playing areas were introduced and marked out for skills work – which means coaches can deliver the sessions they need while keeping damage to the playing area to a minimum – and run throughs are allowed on the playing areas on a rotational basis, again to reduce overuse on any one area. On match days, coaches and managers are now asked to meet and greet the opposition and show them where to warm up, and to point out the route to the pitch they will be playing on. This has helped stop opposition players, and their supporters, from walking across one pitch to get to another. While the pitch policy has also helped to manage expectations and conflict between teams, the greatest results can be seen through the condition of the pitches, the very small number of cancelled games and the reduction in annual maintenance costs, especially in the outlay on seed. Before the introduction of the policy and an annual pitch maintenance plan, overseeding rates would be 25-30g/m2. Today they are down to just 15-20g/m2.

IOG INDUSTRY AWARD SPONSOR

UK TURF COOLING The UK is experiencing one of the hottest and driest summers since the 1970s, which has led to huge stress on grass plants across the country. SGL discusses the benefits of cooling systems for grass plants in sporting environments

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The turf-cooling fans work through the principle of adiabatic cooling, also known as evaporative cooling. It is a method of cooling air through the evaporation of water. The systems spray a consistent stream of mist, which can then be carried 50m across the pitch by the high-powered fan. The mist abstracts the heat energy from the air above the surface, making the mist evaporate before it touches the grass, resulting in a cooler, dryer playing surface. This ‘wet cooling’ process can lower the surface temperature by an average of 7-80C, depending on the outside temperatures and natural wind. The graph, right, indicates the temperature difference with and without the use of the TC50s. The readings were taken 22 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

Technical sales engineer, SGL

speed created by the TC50 unit. This can vary from 14m/s at a range of 5m, to 4m/s at a range of 45m. An environment with the capability to increase air flow and air movement, and a similar capability to decrease air temperature can be a big advantage to any grounds team. It can help aid plant growth and recovery and reduce risk of disease in a sports stadium, training ground, court or course environment.

specifically over a 50m distance using the TC50 at FC Barcelona’s ground. The TC range is not just beneficial in hot temperatures. With the flexibility of being able to turn the cooling system off, the fan can help air circulation and the drying of the grass plant in a damp, still environment of the stadium structure. These turf fans help to accelerate the drying of the plant with increased air flow and circulation, which can also lead to a drop in temperatures. Another study revealed the difference between natural wind speed and the wind

For more on Turf Cooling systems, visit www.sglconcept.com

TEMPERATURES 10CM ABOVE GRASS 28

Degrees centigrade

hree years ago, SGL introduced a range of Turf Cooling systems, including the TC25, TC40 and the more common TC50. These machines have been used in southern Europe at football clubs such as FC Barcelona and Juventus FC. More recently, they have been introduced into northern European clubs, including Paris SaintGermain, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

By Tom Grafen

26.1

26.9

27.2 24.1

17.3

17.5

10m

20m

18.1

30m Without TC50

20.3

40m With TC50

50m

IOG BOARD REPORT

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) Notice is hereby given that the annual general meeting of the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) will be held at Weetwood Hall Hotel, Otley Road, Leeds LS16 5PS on Wednesday 19 September 2018, commencing 12pm. The meeting is due to finish at around 1.30pm and will be followed by lunch and a tour of the Leeds United FC ground and facilities at Elland Road. Included in the following pages are: This year’s report to members from the Board Minutes of the 2017 AGM (page 27). Would you like to attend this year’s AGM? You’d be very welcome. Please contact the IOG headquarters by calling 01908 312511 or emailing iog@iog.org.

The latest technology at last year‘s SALTEX show

YOUR BOARD’S REPORT On behalf of the IOG Board of Directors, we report on another proactive year for our members, promoting groundsmanship across the UK and abroad. We are all clear that sharing knowledge and an understanding of grounds management ensures better surfaces for sport and recreation, thus increasing pitch capacity and quality. The IOG provides much-envied leadership and support through its range of programmes, events and, in particular, its comprehensive Learning portfolio, and a skilled membership that represents every aspect of groundsmanship, ranging from the iconic sports stadia to the local community. The IOG truly ‘Serves you through the Seasons’.

24 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

SALTEX

Let’s report first on SALTEX – still the UK’s leading show, representing you and your industry. Since taking the landmark decision to relocate SALTEX to the NEC, we have worked hard and effectively to deliver a top-quality event that takes the industry forwards. SALTEX 2017 witnessed continued growth, with over 8,700 visitors (independently audited) and 300 exhibitors. Encouraging, too, is the numbers of visitors from abroad – 43 countries – all drawn to view the latest innovative products from our leading-edge exhibitors. SALTEX 2017 also hosted 26 hours of education with Learning LIVE, plus the second edition of the SALTEX College Cup competition, and the first Women in Turf Forum, each adding valuable content to this must-visit exhibition. The Board of Directors thanks everyone who helped make SALTEX such a success. The IOG also extends grateful thanks to all those who exhibited and visited, as well as to the generous sponsors of the IOG Industry Awards, which are held concurrently with SALTEX (see page 25 for more details). We are in good shape as we approach SALTEX 2018, with the forecast for a larger

show footprint than in 2017 and another packed programme of events.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership income remains strong and our membership team continues to hone our services and benefits, promoting the ideal of the IOG ‘Serving you through the Seasons’. We are always looking to improve on past performance by delivering a range of benefit options that are tailored to the needs of the sectors where groundsmanship is practised. Our membership is wide and varied, and we have learned that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. We continue our mission to develop and serve. The Groundsman magazine has been transformed to great reviews. Following a readership survey, we are responding to feedback and improving further on the content and the magazine’s ‘look and feel’. Alongside this we continue to embrace new technologies and trends with our communications portfolio which enables a wider reach and accessibility to IOG products, news, programmes and services – examples include monthly digital newsletters and product information, plus

MEMBER BENEFITS

IOG awards: an industry celebration

the ever-growing social media platforms. Embracing new media to communicate with our membership, alongside the more traditional channel of a monthly printed magazine, delivers a more rounded offering, promoting sustainable news events, programmes and information that members truly value. At the core is our education programme, available now with what we call a ‘blended learning approach’, combining online learning with workplace or class-based opportunities. The programme is designed to support members throughout their careers, whether they are professionals or volunteers; the IOG has developed a suite of courses for everyone at any level of the learning pyramid.

THE IOG AWARDS

The 2017 Industry Awards ceremony was, for the third successive year, a sellout event with record numbers attending. The event is held on the evening of the opening day of SALTEX, our industry’s shop window, joining together the two key events for grounds management and groundsmen. It creates an opportunity for groundsmen to come together to experience ‘your industry, your show’. The IOG Awards event is put together by a small, dedicated team, and it depends upon the great support of sponsors who give something essential back – creating great moments for those who work across sport at every level, be it in a voluntary capacity or as a professional. Suppliers and users gather together to celebrate the diversity of our industry and its wealth of expertise across the sports turf sector. The IOG is indebted to all of those who have helped raise the profile, status and standing of our profession through the annual awards event.

IOG LEARNING

Significant enhancements have been made during 2017-2018 in the IOG’s provision of knowledge, expertise and advice, supporting our members ‘through the seasons’ and contributing to our vision for ‘quality services excellence in grounds

management’. A number of new services have been introduced that complement the already game-changing Pitch Grading Framework initiative. A Training Needs Analysis advice service has been launched that provides turf managers with an insight into how they can develop their teams’ skill sets and career opportunities. A Site Audit Service has also been introduced, providing groundsmen, facilities and finance managers with a sound insight into their grounds, assets and working culture. It answers the question ‘Is the facility operating in the most efficient way possible while complying with legislation?’. Both of these new services map out a learning pathway for participants mapped against the Pitch Grading Framework. Other new learning and education developments this year include a one-day training course for the maintenance of reinforced pitches and a one-day course covering warm-season grasses. Both are an essential knowledge base for any elite-level playing surface manager. Work continues with the Sports Turf Operative qualification developed by the IOG. Having gained approval over the course of the year, this standard will provide opportunities to integrate with the more defined approach within a common, clear framework that provides signposts both for the employer and employee of what is needed academically, alongside an individual’s experience and day-to-day knowledge. Throughout this year the IOG has represented the grounds management sector, talking to government bodies and other stakeholders resulting in Lantra becoming the government-approved assessment organisation for the Sports Turf Operative Standard.

THE GROUNDS AND NATURAL TURF IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME (GaNTIP)

Under the direction of Jason Booth, the GaNTIP team of regional pitch advisors (RPAs) has successfully created a solid platform of improvement and investment Learning LIVE at SALTEX 2017

IOG BOARD REPORT

“GaNTIP has become the most comprehensive, evidence-based research programme” into natural turf pitches, working alongside The Football Association (FA), the Football Foundation and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The programme continues to grow its role and impact. As we approach the AGM, we successfully completed the challenge of expanding the team’s and stakeholders’ commitment until 2021. This ongoing investment by The FA, the Football Foundation and the ECB underlines a new focused commitment to investment in natural turf, which was one of the original aims of the GaNTIP. Year Two and Year Three achievements gained in 2014-17: Created a larger support network that will enable the County FAs to offer a quality service Met The FA’s Pitch Improvement Programme demands (and targets) alongside County FAs Continued to raise awareness of the availability of an RPA and services within County FAs Presented over 40 workshops for both in-season and renovation maintenance procedures Developed a new report and data template that will enable more relevant information to be gathered Achieved sustainability of natural turf pitches through enhanced education and training of volunteer and professional grounds managers with improved maintenance and provision of specialist equipment and materials Provided an enhanced network of support and expertise for people and organisations maintaining natural turf pitches, particularly those working at local level. It is important to report that GaNTIP has become the most comprehensive, evidence-based research programme ever conducted in natural turf grassroots sport. The GaNTIP team has completed over 2,000 site reports. The reports themselves reveal key trends and issues but importantly show grassroots clubs how better to manage and plan the surfaces they have. Compaction is, for example, a key issue. Armed with this knowledge, both the IOG and the stakeholders can take

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 25

IOG BOARD REPORT

“There is no doubt that the YIOG group is spreading the message of ‘Get Into Grounds’” Informing and inspiring the next generation

appropriate steps to reduce cancellations and increase carrying capacity. GaNTIP desired outcomes for 2017-21: Enhanced player experience Increased player participation Increased pitch capacity to sustain activity Fewer cancellations due to poor quality of surface in adverse weather conditions and periods of drought Support for and development of the volunteer network Provision of a support network during a continuing period of austerity at both national and local government level. GaNTIP has been a catalyst for change in the culture of thinking and the approach to grassroots sports facilities. It has the support of all the Cricket Grounds Associations – and due to the team of RPAs, we have seen significant awareness of the IOG’s role and achievements over the last three years. Producing case studies to highlight and promote the good work being done sets a solid foundation for ongoing investment into grassroots natural turf projects. It is widely accepted that better playing surfaces generate more participation and thus enhance healthy lives. GANTIP is leading the way.

THE YOUNG IOG BOARD OF DIRECTORS (YIOG)

The YIOG Board continued to work with schools and industry events throughout the year, passing on their groundscare experience as part of a strategic three-year plan for growing this initiative using a host of innovative inputs and ideas. One example is the YIOG’s outstanding Schools into Stadia events, which target schoolchildren aged 14 and over who are taking GCSE-level science. The full-day events – staged, for instance, at Arsenal FC, Leicester City, Stoke City and Liverpool FC – are examples

26 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

of how the IOG works in partnership with major football clubs to use the links between groundsmanship and the curriculum. Also, the YIOG Board continues to build its social media following. It creates opportunities for engagement with our profession and to promote groundsmanship to a wider audience, whether by attending schools’ career sessions or events such as the Chelsea Flower Show where sports turf as a career has been fully promoted. The IOG is very grateful to the YIOG sponsors and to the clubs involved in the Schools into Stadia events. There is no doubt that the YIOG group is spreading the message of ‘Get Into Grounds’ and helping to raise the profile of sports turf management. A particular thank you goes to Will Graves who took over from John Ledwidge as chair. He provided a driving force to the YIOG and was an outstanding YIOG chairman, impressing everyone involved in this initiative. Will recently handed over the reigns to Anthony Facey from Colchester Utd.

IN SUMMARY

Your IOG has increased the momentum of SALTEX, maintaining the visitor presence and upping the number of exhibitors. It is now very much your industry’s premier

exhibition for the sports turf sector and for the profession of groundsmanship itself. We will continue to strive to improve the event while also maintaining all our other key initiatives and programmes, such as GaNTIP, a well-rounded learning programme, the annual IOG Awards and a proactive YIOG. And we are continuing to progress vital new initiatives such as the Pitch Grading Programme and a new National Framework for Natural Turf. You have a committed and proactive Board. Its membership reflects well the industry sectors where groundsmanship is represented. We argue over the right priorities for our great profession – there is always new thinking and fresh work in progress. We are always actively looking at how we can improve our service. We continue to strive to enhance the status of our vital industry and profession. The Board and staff continue to monitor financial performance, and we have a sub-committee (of the Board and senior management) who meet regularly to review our financial performance and discuss strategy. Over the next year we plan to further accelerate knowledge and understanding of our profession under the umbrella of ‘Grounds4Sport’ that will link the programme’s products and initiatives in this report to a new generation and wider audience with the aim of promoting the profession and increasing knowledge, understanding and awareness of the turf industry. So, we continue to work from the ground up to truly ‘Serve our members through the Seasons’.

A GaNTIP regional pitch advisor gets to work

For and on behalf of the IOG Board of Directors: Geoff Webb, chief executive, and David Teasdale, chair.

MEMBER BENEFITS

AG M M I N U T E S 2 017

MINUTES OF THE 2017 AGM

The 2017 AGM for the Institute of Groundsmanship was held at St George’s Park on 20 September 2017 ALL IOG events promote the profession and increase knowledge and understanding of the turf industry

Ordinary Business: to transact the following ordinary business…

Opened by the IOG chairman, David Teasdale, who welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.

Apologies – Geoff Burgess, John Rodney Heyhoe, David Hodgson, Chris Mauge, Ian Wall, Dougie Robertson, Anthony Facey, Iestyn John, Martin Stephenson, Lewis Pattinson, James Franklin, Alex Latto, Len Smith, Ian Morris, Chris Gray.

Voting details – Green and red cards had been handed out to voting members prior to the start of the meeting. There were 41 members present with 17 eligible voting members.

Approval of the minutes of the 2016 Annual General Meeting (held at Leicester City Football Club, 21 September 2016): Proposer was Les Gibbs; seconder was Fred Hammond. Approved with no objections.

RESOLUTION 1 To receive and approve the statement of accounts and the balance sheet of the Institute for the year ending 31 March 2017. Chair introduced the auditor, Ruth Dorans. The auditor explained that the accounts and performance were virtually

all highlights. She thanked the staff at Milton Keynes for their help and assistance in completing the audit, Alan Clarke and Sue Fernandes in particular. Overall performance showed increases in several areas including SALTEX, learning and consultancy, with other cost centres performing stronger than the previous year. The debtors figure had increased by 12.4 per cent and tangible assets had increased by a small amount. The investment portfolio market value had increased by 22 per cent during the year. As a result of the overall improvement in performance, the IOG Board had approved a ring-fenced figure of £100,000 to be allocated to Grounds4Sport, rising to £300,000 subject to funds being available over the next two financial years. The auditor explained that, for an organisation the size of the IOG, it was unusual there were no borrowings or loans, which was a testament to the overall management of the institute. She said that she was happy to take

questions from anyone at the end of the meeting; there were no further questions on the accounts. The chair explained that the IOG had been through a difficult period regarding where our accounts had been in past years. This had led to the establishment of the Strategy and Finance Group, which met every six weeks throughout the year and helped take interventionist action and assisted the Board with key decision making, both at a strategic and financial level.

St George’s Park played good host

“Overall performance showed increases in several areas including SALTEX, learning and consultancy, with other cost centres performing stronger than the previous year”

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 27

MEMBER BENEFITS

AG M M I N U T E S 2 017

ONLINE UPDATES

New learning and education developments are implemented each year

“The Board and staff were now working on developing a new programme entitled Grounds4Sport, set to launch in 2018. £100,000 has already been committed” The chair thanked members of the Strategy and Finance Group, which was made up of a sub group of the Board and key executives, for their work during the past year. The chair also thanked the CEO and the entire staff group for the results achieved over the past financial period. esolution 1 to approve the accounts: R proposer, Derek Walder; seconder, Mike Lewis; unanimously approved.

RESOLUTION 2 To approve auditors for the ensuing year: proposer, Derek Walder; seconder, Mike Lewis; unanimously approved.

GaNTIP Performance Quality Standards testing

CEO UPDATE Board elections The CEO explained that the only nominations to the Board had been advertised in accordance with the Articles of the IOG. For the position of representative for the professional sport sector, Dave Roberts was re-elected for a second term unopposed. For the position of representative for the local authority sector Kimiyo Rickett was appointed unopposed for a first term (this follows a period on the Board as an observer). The CEO informed the AGM that regrettably nobody had put themselves forwards to the Board to represent the voluntary sector. The CEO would therefore look to find an interim observer position with a view to full election at the 2018 AGM. General update The CEO began by placing on record his thanks to the chair, the Board and staff for their invaluable contribution to the IOG over the accounting period. It was important not to be complacent, he said, and assured the AGM that everyone connected was working hard for and on behalf of the institute to keep it relevant and an attractive proposition to its membership. A diverse membership operating at all levels of sports turf from professional through to

Please note that any proposed changes to the IOG’s Articles of Association and details of any elections that are required will be posted on the IOG website (www.iog.org) during August. This will also provide members with access to the relevant voting and proxy forms. We invite any voting members who do not have access to the internet to contact the IOG head office on 01908 312511 and register to receive a voting pack by post.

the volunteer level provided challenges in terms of promoting membership benefits that were relevant to the appropriate sector. Moving forwards, the Board and staff were now working on developing a new programme entitled Grounds4Sport, set to launch in 2018. £10 0,0 0 0 has already been committed and included in the accounts and the aim is to build on this figure with a further investment over the next two financial periods to take the overall figure to £30 0,0 0 0, to make the case for natural turf and to create a long-lasting legacy of investment into the turf sector. Aligned to this was the need to repeat the Hidden Profession Research, and to roll out the IOG Pitch Grading programme and the linked education and qualification framework. The IOG, through these programmes, is intent on addressing the quality and standards of roughly 10 per cent of the playing provision (based on Sport England data) and estimated that this would require circa £17m investment over the next 10 years. The IOG would actively seek partners and funding to deliver the ambition. The CEO reported on a successful staff event held the previous day and outlined the overall component parts of the business, which had been the focus for discussion bringing together

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 29

IOG BOARD REPORT

IOG 3G training event at BT Murray�eld

“We need to work together to go forwards and strive to do better, placing the IOG as the world’s foremost professional sports turf institute” 44 people across the business of the IOG including Board, staff, consultants, Young IOG, the GaNTIP team and tutors. The CEO closed by saying that the IOG is focused on engaging members and creating a different type of organisation that is better placed to grow; we need to work together to go forwards and strive to do better, placing the IOG as the world’s foremost professional sports turf institute.

Schools into Stadia programme in action

30 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

QUESTIONS The chair asked if there were any questions. David Robinson, Yorkshire Branch, asked what the figures for the next financial year looked like following the reported profit of 2016/17. Alan Clarke, IOG finance and office manager, replied that it was still early days, but that we are currently on budget and expected another year where a surplus would be posted. David Robinson asked about the future returns on the investments? Alan Clarke clarified that with the fund now split into two separate accounts that the methodology of investment was different to how we operated previously and created the potential for more proactive investment. The chair emphasised that what we cannot ignore is the challenge we face as an institute operating in these times as a membership body and running the SALTEX exhibition. Funding and its availability allied to Lottery spend is on a downward curve as is direct

investment into sport’s national governing bodies. The IOG had, in fact, performed well despite the challenges and while optimistic based on past years’ performances both he, the Board and the staff were focused on the delivery and not complacent to the challenges that we face as well.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS Bob Smith, Derbyshire, asked the CEO what the latest on BIGGA was. The CEO responded that his focus was on the IOG so had nothing to report. However the CEO does meet with the CEO of BIGGA and they enjoy a constructive and cordial relationship. The 2016/2017 National Quiz runnersup were the Teesside Branch and Dan Prest (on behalf of the branch) received the runners-up trophy from the CEO. The winners were the Yorkshire Branch and David Robinson accepted the winner’s trophy from the CEO on their behalf. There being no further business the chair announced that the AGM was now closed.

By order of the Board of Directors Geoff Webb, CEO, the Institute of Groundsmanship, 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill East, Milton Keynes MK12 5TW.

IN ACTION

RAKE “NEEDS TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED” A reliable solution for Shrewsbury School’s cricket pitches The SISIS Auto Rotorake MK5 needs to be seen to be believed, reckons Andy Richards, grounds manager at Shrewsbury School. He is amazed at the amount of material it removes from the school’s cricket wickets. Set over 120 acres with approximately 800 pupils, Shrewsbury School is a prestigious independent school that has some of the finest sporting facilities in the UK. Cricket writer Sir Neville Cardus once described the school’s cricket facilities as “the most beautiful playing fields in the world, spreading and imperceptibly mingling with the pasture land of Shropshire”. However,

these facilities don’t come easily. Andy and his team work tirelessly throughout the year to provide sports pitches of the highest quality, and when it comes to his cricket wickets he puts his faith in the SISIS Auto Rotorake MK5. “We use the Auto Rotorake specifically for cricket because it does such a good job,” said Andy. “I had a demonstration of it last year, purchased one, and it is a definite upgrade. The amount of material you can take out of a wicket with the brush reel and the verticutting reel needs to be seen to be believed.” The SISIS Auto Rotorake MK5 is a

powerful, self-propelled heavy-duty scarifier designed for the removal and control of thatch on fine turf. “We use it all the way through the cricket season,” continued Andy. “In summer we do 30 match wickets a week and it will be part of the preparation for every one of those. From the middle of April to the last cricket match in August we host around 250 matches and the Auto Rotorake is used on every one of those.” For more information call 01332 824777 or visit the website at www.sisis.com

DENNIS RAZOR IS A WIN AT MERCHANT TAYLORS’ Prestigious school relies on mower for precise cutting After Richard Ayling, grounds manager at Merchant Taylors’ School, drew up a shortlist of new potential machinery to purchase, the Dennis Razor fine turf mower saw off competition to receive a unanimous vote from himself and his team. The illustrious Merchant Taylors’ School in Hertfordshire has approximately 80 acres of sports fields on the main school site and 20 acres on the prep school site. When it comes to purchasing new machinery, Richard insists that it must be a team decision. “We were looking for something that was fairly simple to use, had easy height adjustment and a nice balance,” he said. “I took my staff to SALTEX in

November last year and had a good look round the show to see what was on the market. We looked at various machines and drew up a shortlist. After a couple of demonstrations we were all in favour of the Razor.” Superbly balanced and ideal for cricket pitches and other fine turf surfaces, the Razor features a 560mm (22in), 11-blade cutting cylinder for a perfect finish. An ultra-short wheelbase ensures easy manoeuvrability and excellent performance, even on undulating surfaces. The Dennis Razor encompasses simple ‘no tools required’ height adjusters for easy operation, a feature that struck a chord with Richard and his team.

“Its ease of use is the best feature and I particularly like the click system on the height adjustment setting. The Razor was exactly the machine we were looking for.” Richard purchased four Dennis Razors – one for the school’s lawn areas and three for cricket pitches. “For cricket preparation we use the Razor to cut down to 3-4mm but they are superb for trimming off the squares as well,” he said.

For more information visit www.dennisuk.com

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 33

SAV I N G WAT E R

T E C H N I C A L U P D AT E

ADVICE TO TAP INTO

All sports facilities and organisations have a role in conserving water, and grounds staff can help reduce the pressure on resources while also providing good playing surfaces by adapting pitch maintenance routines

ood club and facility management is essential at all times, and during spells of water shortages and drought everyone should be involved – the committee and management teams – not just grounds staff. Co-ordinating fixtures, facility availability and pitch rotation are all key tasks, and it is important to educate members and users with appropriate messaging on signs and via newsletters, websites and social media. Tough decisions on surface safety, fixture cancellation and 34 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

renovation and construction projects may also be needed, and such decisions have a better chance of being understood if there is clear communication with members, users and stakeholders.

HINDSIGHT IS WONDERFUL

In drought areas it is particularly important to use water as efficiently as possible and to minimise waste, as this will help reduce the impact of drought on the environment and on others – including us in our homes – and it will extend the period before hosepipe bans

“It is important to educate members with appropriate messaging on signs and via newsletters, websites and social media”

T E C H N I C A L U P D AT E

S AV I N G W AT E R

WHY SPORTS PITCHES NEED WATER

Increase mowing height to help maintain soil moisture

“Help infiltration by loosening capped and compacted soils; wetting agents can overcome water repellency that occurs in some soils, particularly sandy and thatch” are introduced. The following steps can help reduce water consumption: Encourage deeper plant roots by removing compaction – it may be too hard to do this now, so wait until autumn when it has rained and the ground is softer. It may not help this time, but it will make your ground more resilient when the next drought comes Increase mowing height Reduce mowing frequency Return clippings if possible without impacting quality Manage wear by calling off unnecessary games or practice sessions Service irrigation equipment to make sure it is working properly Apply water using efficient equipment Never leave a static, hose‐fed sprinkler system unattended Apply water to grounds in larger amounts on fewer occasions Only apply the amount of water needed Do not allow water to pond or run‐off Never irrigate during the heat of the day Look for signs of water repellency and treat with a suitable wetting agent Limit evapotranspiration Consider only watering the minimum number of pitches possible and let lesssensitive areas drought out Consider water-retaining amendments.

WHAT ABOUT DURING A BAN?

When water restrictions are in place, note the above advice on how to limit water demand. Take care, though, not to use aeration or decompaction equipment – significant surface damage and increased rates of drying will occur. In addition, the following will help:

imit wear L Avoid applications of fertiliser and pesticide Limit machinery use to essential maintenance Accept that the grass will brown Monitor pitch safety regularly and cancel fixtures where appropriate Make the most of any rainfall that does occur – capture rainfall from roof surfaces Use covers to reduce drying rates Look for alternative sources of water (you may be able to take some from adjacent rivers if the Environment Agency permits it) L ook to see if your sports ground can get an exemption.

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE DROUGHT ENDS

It should be possible to start renovations as soon as drought conditions are lifted. Look to re-establish grass, if temperatures allow, by seeding, and consider seeding with more drought-resistant varieties and species if possible and appropriate. Help infiltration by loosening capped and compacted soils; wetting agents can help overcome water repellency (hydrophobicity) that can occur in some soils, particularly sandy and thatch soils. Review how you have managed the drought and problems with water supply, and look at what you can do differently in the short and medium term to help maintain your facility to the highest possible standards.

o support plant growth, T allowing the grass to recover from use and wear To ensure safe surfaces with the correct hardness – this is particularly important in contact sports such as rugby, and sports where ball bounce is critical. In cricket and tennis, water is needed to roll pitches and courts to produce hard, smooth surfaces with even ball bounce.

DID YOU KNOW?

A hosepipe uses

540 litres of water an hour

– as much as an average family of four would use in one day – while a sprinkler left running overnight uses as much water as a family of four would use in one week. The advice given in this article is based on a report from Cranfield University. Find more water conservation advice from the England & Wales Cricket Board at www.ecb.co.uk, or search for ‘drought guidance’ at www.sportengland.org

For more, visit www.sportengland.org/ facilities-planning/further-guidance/ drought-guidance

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 35

www.replaymaintenance.co.uk

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Synthetic pitch holding water? Compacted? Moss or algae problems?

Give it some Replay TLC a one-off visit or a complete rejuvenation

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REVOLUTIONISING MAINTENANCE

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FOCUS ON: ARTIFICIAL SURFACES AND MAINTENANCE, PLUS SWEEPERS, BLOWERS, COLLECTORS AND VACS

SYNTHETIC SUCCESS

The triangular brush shape ensures smooth running

BRUSHING UP

Three sides for pristine condition surfaces

SCH SUPPLIES RECOMMENDS the Triangular Brush to carry out routine maintenance on artificial playing surfaces and natural grass, keeping it in top condition. The device is a small, basic machine that gives artificial and natural grass areas that vital ‘scratch’ in between major services. The wheels on the upper side of the brush make it easy to transport to the storage area – simply turn the brush onto the wheels. A weight tray is incorporated in the design in order that top weight may be added to aid penetration on heavily compacted surfaces. The Triangular Brush is just a small part of SCH Supplies’ lowcost artificial surface maintenance systems. It has a range of handheld and towed rakes, brushes and drag KEEP IN TOUCH

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mats, all of which can be found on the SCH website (see below) or inside of the free 80-page brochure. SCH has always designed and manufactured with a specific purpose in mind – that is, to provide robust machinery and equipment to people who want the best but don’t want to pay over the odds. Because SCH carries a huge range of spare parts, the lifespan of its machines is greatly increased. www.schsupplies.co.uk

“The device is a small, basic machine that gives artificial and natural grass areas that vital ‘scratch’ in between services”

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VERTI-TOP TOPS THE LIST AT SWSG THE LATEST ADDITION to the fleet of machinery at South Wales Sports Grounds (SWSG) is Charterhouse Turf Machinery’s Redexim VertiTop 1200. “We started to have quite a few issues with our previous machine so decided to have a look at what else was available,” said construction director Francis McDermott. The Verti-Top conducts surface and deep-cleaning using a rotary brush to lift the pile and extract up to the top 15mm of infill and foreign material. The infill is then sieved to remove dust and detritus before being returned and brushed into the surface leaving a clean, level and aesthetically pleasing finish. “We looked at a few alternatives but felt the VertiTop was a better machine all-round,” said Francis, and he and his team took delivery of one in March this year. www.charterhouse-tm.co.uk twitter.com/the_iog

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE FO C U S O N : A R T I F I C I A L S U R FAC E S & M A I N T E N A N C E

LATEST PRODUCTS Newest turf buys on the market page 11

SCRUBBED UP

SPORTS SURFACE GETS NEW LEASE OF LIFE contractor but this is really just on an ad-hoc basis and following months of poor weather and high play usage the pitch was in need of a more thorough deep clean.” The services of Replay were recommended by a local England Hockey representative, to which Replay is the sole maintenance partner. “[The Rejuvenation process] refurbished the pitch to a point where it looked like a new surface.” The process uses constant air-flow plenum technology and compressed air to remove the contaminated top layer of sand, restore the pile to vertical and fill again with new, clean infill. It can restore a surface to an ‘as new’ condition for appearance, drainage and performance, and often double the playing life of a pitch. www.replaymaintenance.co.uk

The synthetic turf surface as it was (top) and after Rejuvenation

#SoMuchChoice

S8 0

S5 5

0S P

Brush or Disc spreading - it’s your choice!

Pedestrian, Trailed or PTO

THE PASTURE (FAIRWAYS) Sports Complex boasts an astroturf surface that is a hub for sport in the community of Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. A true multifunctional pitch, it sees many hours of play per week taking its toll on the condition of the surface. Synthetic specialist Replay Maintenance was called in in April to conduct its Rejuvenation process, which has given the pitch a new lease of life. Owned by Selby District Council, the day-to-day running of the site is controlled by parish council clerk of 34 years, Margaret Gibson. “The Pasture is a great asset and hosts a variety of sports including hockey, football and tennis. The upkeep of the pitch, together with the surrounding park, falls to a

0.95M spreading width to 15M

www.charterhouse-tm.co.uk | 01428 661222 38 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

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HEAT STRESS

Horger Sku for surface hygiene

IN THE USA, during hot periods artificial grass football fields are watered in an attempt to reduce the surface temperature, noticed Sam Breeden, managing director of Sweepfast on a recent trip. “It is only partially effective as the temperature quickly rises again, and use of fields in the middle of the day is banned for safety reasons. In some instances surface temperatures can rise to double the air temperature. It seems there are potential risks to health as well as performance when it comes to heat stress,” he said. Similarly the current UK high temperatures of over 30 degrees can make 3G surfaces hot to touch, and too hot to kneel on for long periods of

time. It has sparked concerns about the wellbeing of children on 3G sports surfaces, and toddlers and pets on artificial grass lawns. Also, in these temperatures, dust is produced by the players’ movements on one of the seven-a-side pitches being used at a Midlands five- and seven-a-side football centre, even though these pitches are regularly brushed, cleaned and de-compacted with an ATC machine, noticed Sam. With the documented concerns surrounding cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma potentially associated with 3G rubber infill, plus the risk of

Top left: the ATC machine; above: the Horger in action

infections caused by high bacteria counts on these surfaces, dust removal with a specialist machine, such as a Horger Sku equipped with vacuum dust extraction, should be carried out regularly, making sure operators use the correct dust PPE. www.sweepfast.com

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RAKE OVER IT

SURFACE RAKE MAKES LIGHT WORK OF SAND BASES THE ARTIFICIAL SURFACE Grooming Rake is a small, basic machine designed to carry out routine maintenance on artificial playing surfaces with a sand base. The two rows of spring tines tease through the playing surface to remove the surface compaction and aid drainage. A weight tray is incorporated into the design in order that top weight may be added to aid penetration on heavily compacted surfaces. The trailing brush will then level and groom the play area leaving it in a ready state for many hours of hard use. Each working row of tines may be lifted out individually to suit your grooming requirements – for example, lift out the two spring tine rows and leave the brush in work. This simple grooming unit may be

towed behind tractors of 13HP and above. The groomer can be lifted out of work for simple and safe transportation to the storage area. www.schsupplies.co.uk

PRESERVE YOUR PITCH

Find more technical advice on page 20

A weight tray gives scope for heavier penetration

GREENER DAYS

NeoGrass works hard to meet increased demand UK COMPANY NEOGRASS has seen a three-fold increase in business over the last year, with UK inhabitants falling in love with artificial grass.

New nylon technology keeps things cool

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NeoGrass offers a range of options, each featuring unique technology that seeks to reshape the industry. NeoGrass’s Instant Recovery Technology, which uses nylon instead of the prevalent polyethylene and polypropylene, gives a more durable, resistant artificial grass surface, and the manufacturer has been turning out more than ever before. NeoGrass’s Feelgood Technology, which stays cool and comfortable during the summer heat, and its Natural Look Technology, which looks and feels like real grass, have seen similar rises in purchase numbers. www.neograss.co.uk

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE FO CUS O N : SW EEPERS , B LOW ERS , CO L L EC TO RS & VAC S

SWEET SUCK-CESS

LEAF COLLECTION MADE EASY

FOUR SU60 VACUUM units from Trilo are the latest additions to the fleet at the City of Wolverhampton Council and have quickly made the momentous task of leaf collection much easier. At just shy of 5,000,000 sq m in area, the grounds and street maintenance operation is certainly large in scale. The 131-person team is headed up by citywide area manager for environmental services, Richard Macvicar. “Our leafing period usually lasts from October through to Christmas and the New Year,” explained Richard, who has been in his current role for 26 years. “During this time, the mechanical road sweepers are out but trying to collect all the leaves saw them blocking up quite quickly, so we looked around for something that could be used in conjunction with our current activities.” The team had previous experience of Trilo equipment. “We looked at a few alternatives at SALTEX but after seeing the SU60 on demonstration, together with our past experience, we had no problem in placing the order,” said Richard. “The Trilo SU60s are towable on a general licence and can be detached and easily manoeuvred for easy transportation around the yard and out in the field. The manual Wonderhose helps us get to space-restricted areas, with the size and capacity of the machine ideal for roadside work, where you’re additionally restricted by traffic.” www.trilo.com

The Wonderhose reaches any area

42 THE GROUNDSMAN August 2018

The Pellenc Airion is incredibly light, weighing just 2.55kg

IT ’S OH SO QUIET

Airion maintains scenic estate tranquillity JOHN RIPPIN, HEAD GARDENER at the stunning Bodnant Estate in North Wales, believes that his battery-powered Pellenc Airion is the perfect machine to avoid disrupting the estate’s visitors. Set in hilly and wooded countryside in the lower reaches of the Conwy Valley, the National Trust property commands spectacular views across to Snowdonia. With intimate corners, sweeping lawns, grand terraces and verdant woodland, huge crowds are drawn to Bodnant all year round to soak up the beautiful sights. It is for this reason that John is extremely selective about which equipment he uses to maintain the estate. “Visitor enjoyment is our first priority so our machinery is picked as much for noise levels as it is for performance. One of the most useful machines in recent years is the leaf

“The Pellenc Airion is extremely silent throughout operation with an intensity level of just 79db”

blower. There are now hand-held electric models that run off battery packs and make as much noise as a hair dryer.” The Pellenc Airion is extremely silent throughout operation with an intensity level of just 79db – perfect for sensitive areas such as Bodnant. Furthermore, the Airion stays perfectly balanced during operation, regardless of the speed – which can be altered depending on the task required. With a four-speed setting it is possible to manage the blowing power based on the surface to be cleared. Weighing only 2.55kg it is extremely lightweight and is the only battery-powered blower on the market, with a powerful thrust of 17.5 newtons. It is also waterproof to IP54 standards and is protected from dust and moisture. Operators can expect a full day’s work from the lithium-ion battery. “They are great for blowing dust and debris away from patios, paths and drives, blowing grass clippings off a lawn, clearing out gutters and drains and blowing mulch back onto beds,” said John. www.etesia.co.uk

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TOOLS & GUIDA N CE More seasonal advice & help page 45

ATTACH & GO

CORE AND COLLECT IN JUST ONE PASS GROUNDSMAN’S FLEXBLADE CORE Collector attaches to any aerator, pedestrian or tractor, mounted with swath widths from 60cm (24in) up to 210cm (83in) to core and collect in one pass. It is available also for compact tractors and turf vehicles for follow-up collection of cores and linear aeration soil. The patented FLEXBLADE Core Collector System, developed by Groundsman Industries, is the most efficient method of collecting cores, wet or dry, with minimum disruption. When attached to an aerator, more than half are caught before they touch the ground, the remainder are scooped cleanly from the surface by the FLEXBLADE that follows

undulations like shovels for the cleanest possible collection. www.groundsmanindustries.com

“The FLEXBLADE Core Collector System is the most efficient method of collecting cores, wet or dry”

The Core Collector will attach to any aerator

THE RIGHT DIRECTION

The Whisper Twister is a machine for all seasons

Leaves can be blown continuously in one direction

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WIEDENMANN UK’S WHISPER Twister couldn’t be more aptly named, with its whisper turbine and clever swivel action. Ideal for removing leaves and debris, this powerful blower has a unique patented mechanism that can be swivelled steadily by 180º with only one hydraulic cylinder. Leaves can be blown continuously in one direction without the need to back up. The swivel nozzle allows efficient working from left to right in one pass without the need to turn and also adjusted vertically; a large support wheel minimises

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compaction and helps the machine follow contours. Operating at 540rpm the Whisper Twister produces an impressive airflow of 200m³ per minute at 50m per second while keeping noise to a minimum. www.wiedenmann.com

“The swivel nozzle allows efficient working from left to right in one pass without turning”

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Tools & guidance MAINTENANCE CALENDAR AND WEATHER UPDATE

MEMBER BENEFITS

The IOG Board report and minutes from the 2017 AGM page 24

SEPTEMBER OPERATIONS BOWLING GREENS

Hollow-tining a green can be readily carried out within a day using a suitable machine that may be designed to collect the cores or staff may be used to brush, rake and shovel up the cores as soon as the machine starts working. If the cores are dry, a litter blower vac can be used to blow most of the cores into defined areas of the green making it easier to remove them. Once the hollow-tining and clearing up has been completed, the green should be cut to provide a satisfactory playing surface. This hollow-tine operation can also be carried out a second time, at the end of the playing season.

CRICKET SQUARE

With the season now closing, or closed, a thorough renovation of the square will be required. Mow the whole square to 5mm or so, to produce a fairly clean top surface. Scarify thoroughly: this could be from three to 10 passes/occasions. It is important that if the square is to be aerated, ideally with a punch action solid tine machine to 100-150mm depth, that sufficient irrigation is carried out beforehand to assist in tine penetration. Sarel spike the square then overseed at 34-50g/m2. Typically a pure 100 per cent perennial rye grass mixture is applied to the whole of the square.

A pre-seed fertiliser containing approx 5-8 per cent of nitrogen can be applied.

CRICKET OUTFIELD

Now is the month to reduce the amount of mowing; also, height of cut should be raised to 25-35mm after the final game. The onset of winter sports games will mean that an application of fertiliser will help and assist in creating strong growth to help sustain the required usage throughout the winter.

FOOTBALL

The pitches should be in excellent condition by now. A few divots may have been made, and these should be repaired/replaced wherever possible. A light topdressing may be needed in a few places. Weeds can be a problem. This is the last realistic month for any selective herbicide application, although the grass should be growing well if an application is to be considered. Thin areas can be seeded and a germination sheet applied to help make the most of the remaining good growing conditions.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Mow at 30mm every day plus a once weekly cut at 25mm to remove annual meadow grass seedheads. Vertidrain bi-weekly going down

to a maximum depth of 12 inches with 4-inch spacings. Fertilise – generally using 12+0+9 or a 14+2+4, 12 x 25kg. Brush every morning – this will help stand the grass up and eliminate morning dew. Spray – an application of selective weedkiller will be required, plus liquid fertiliser. Irrigate as often as possible as time constraints and training times allow.

RUGBY UNION

Mow – at 30mm everyday. Plus a once weekly cut at 25mm. Aerate – Vertidraining bi-weekly going down to a maximum depth of 12 inch with 4-inch spacings to aid drainage and root development. Fertilise – with a pedestrian cyclone spreader, generally using 12+0+9 or a 20+10+10 if a flush of growth is needed – 12 x 25kg. Topdress – generally not required but if needed then use mediumgrade sand or a 70/30 rootzone depending on drainage. Brush – every morning using a tractor-mounted dragbrush, this will help stand the grass up and also remove morning dew. Irrigate – irrigate as often as possible as time constraints and training times allow.

TENNIS

Commence renovation as soon as possible after the end of the last match. A typical renovation programme will probably include the following: – irrigation to soften the surface soil profile – initial aeration to penetrate the surface layer – further irrigation to soften the

lower soil profile – further aeration, this time at a greater depth – scarification to remove any thatch build-up and lateral growth – mowing to produce a clean surface – overseeding (especially important along the base line and service boxes) making sure to use the correct type of grass seed – topdress with a suitable loam, with 1-3kg/m2 being suitable depending on the degree of wear and aeration equipment used. If a fertiliser has not already been applied, now is the time to do so.

HORSE RACECOURSE

This is the main renovation period for flat racing courses. Where race meetings finish at the end of September, renovation will occur during early October. Typical renovation work will include: – scarification (or chain harrowing with the tines facing downwards) – deep aeration – mowing grass to a shorter length to expose thin areas –fertiliser application, if not undertaken at the end of August – overseed thin and bare areas – topdress thin and bare areas – light roll – irrigate, particularly seeded and thin areas.

GOLF COURSE

Renovation of the greens will be a priority this month. Aeration of the fairways can be carried out before the soil becomes too wet. Traffic areas around greens and tees should be forked, or cultivated if relatively bare, then seeded or turfed.

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TOOLS & GUIDANCE

REBUILD ROOTS FOR WINTER STRENGTH

TOP TIPS •M inimise turf stress that may trigger Anthracnose atch out for Leaf Spot on •W hot, humid days • M anage turf to rebuild strength se GreenCast to predict •U disease attacks

effects of heavy rainfall and keep surfaces dry, but then hold soil moisture deeper in the profile to encourage greater root mass development. It is also a useful technique for seed establishment in stadia. Once good growing conditions return, used in conjunction with Primo Maxx II, to concentrate chlorophyll levels in the leaf and enhance summer sun photosynthetic activity, as well as diverting more energy into root production, it gives a real chance to minimise effects of stress on plants and build carbohydrate reserves.

STRESSFUL TIME FOR DISEASE

Relieving summer weather stress on plants is an important Integrated Turf Management tool to minimise risk of Anthracnose outbreaks. However, if stressful, high-

AUGUST 2017 WEATHER FACTS

Managing moisture becomes a challenge under extremes of rainfall weather patterns. Qualibra wetting-agent effects built up over a summer programme ensure rapid penetration of surface water to minimise the

STADIUM LEAF SPOT

Hot humid days in August can be the precursor for Leaf Spot breaking out, especially in a sheltered sports stadium environment and where cutting height is being reduced ready for the playing season. Attacks of melting out now will leave little chance for recovery. Medallion TL has proven extremely effective in preventing turf damage to stadium and training ground playing surfaces.

TEMPERATURE & RAIN FOR NOTTINGHAM Rainfall 2017 Rainfall trend 1991-2018 Temperature max 2017 Temperature min 2017 Soil tempertaure 2017

24 22

Rainfall mm

• UK rainfall of 103mm was slightly above average overall, but included periods of very heavy rain and localised flooding. • In Scotland rain fell on 20 days in August last year – five more than normal for the month. • UK temperature average of 14.5°C was 0.4°C down on recent years, but still above the historical long-term average. • Sporadic flooding has occurred in eight of the past 10 years.

risk periods occur – particularly around maintenance or high wear-and-tear use – an application of Banner Maxx or Headway can help plants to cope. Proactive disease planning in the late summer will ensure turf is in the best health going into the autumn and winter.

18 14

Temperature °C

ake advantage of good growing conditions in August to rebuild rooting ready for winter. Long hours of sunshine can build essential carbohydrate reserves, but plants need to have adequate water and nutrients available. This season has already seen record temperatures and extreme dry conditions across the country. The effects on plant leaves burning up have been clear to see, but roots are likely to have been equally adversely affected. Long-term weather models are pointing towards continued above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall right through into the beginning of autumn. Once again, the pattern is for prolonged dry spells, with any rain coming in short, sharp interludes (Fig 1).

W E AT H E R

8 6

4 6

2 0

0 06 Aug 2017

13 Aug 2017

20 Aug 2017

27 Aug 2017

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RECRUITMENT

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GROW WITH THE IOG

LEADERSHIP LEVERAGE

ENHANCED LEARNING FOR ETON COLLEGE First team senior sports groundsman Carl Reeves keeps his knowledge up to date on the changes in sports turf surfaces The IOG Level 4 course improved Carlâ€™s management skills as well as his turf knowledge

By Chris Gray IOG learning programme architect

What was the main reason for studying an IOG Level 4 qualification? It was the next progression from my NVQ Level 3, which I achieved 10 years ago. I thought the Level 4 sports turf construction and management course with its six modules would really test me and enhance my knowledge and skills, and hopefully take me to the next level as a head groundsman or grounds manager. Also, the home study option was ideal for fitting into my busy home and work life. How do you think you can apply learnings from the course to your work situations? In our industry we have many changes on a daily, monthly and yearly basis â€“ equipment, materials, working practices and daily situations with staff. Looking back I realise that during the year I completed the six modules I gained new ways of finding answers and put them into practice on a day-to-day basis. This proved very helpful for the management of staff in situations like our secondary drainage work. In general, I feel this course has taken my role as a first team senior groundsman to another level. Which subject area most interested you? I enjoyed all six modules, but the design and construction of a natural turf surface was the most enjoyable as during the course our first team football pitch was having secondary drainage installed (over the original drainage system). The reading and revision I was doing for this module fitted in perfectly

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and helped my input into what secondary drainage system would be best to give us the optimum playing surface and produce the best results for the busy schedule on the pitch. This also gave me a greater understanding of what the contractors were doing and enabled me to liaise with them on a daily basis. What do you think the major challenges for the turf industry will be over the next five years? Changes in sports turf surfaces. You need to keep your skills and knowledge up to date with either day courses or online learning studies, as people who you are supplying the surfaces to (professional teams, colleges, universities, schools) are looking for higher standards on a daily basis. This means knowing your soils, seeds, fertilisers and working practices, as well as having a knowledge of the different surfaces. Another challenge is sustainability. I think the sports industry needs to grasp this. We need to be more open minded, especially when it comes to the removal of chemicals, and we need to find new ways and ideas to move forward. I think it will take time, but I think we will find ways. We also need to get sustainability values into our yearly routines and involve the schools, clubs or whoever we work for, as well as the general public. For more information on IOG learning or courses, call 01908 552984 or email learning@iog.org

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