THE
GROUNDSMAN WWW.IOG.ORG
JUNE 2018 £4.00
ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN GROUNDS MANAGEMENT
WET WICKETS
Cut-out-and-keep rolling advice page 30
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Holding court
How Nottingham Tennis Centre shines on the international stage
Turf experts help keep Russian stadia looking good and playing well
I N SIDE
RAIN DOESN’T STOP PLAY FOR COMMUNITY FOOTBALL TIME FOR YOUR IOG INDUSTRY AWARDS NOMINATIONS PRODUCT SHOWCASE: LINE MARKING AND SURFACE MAINTENANCE
Contents
June 2018
REGULARS
KEEP ON KICKING!
05 Welcome
Adapting to change
Turf companies working at the Russia World Cup page 26
06 Update
Top industry news
12 SALTEX news
Registration is open!
15 GaNTIP update
Transforming pitch quality
33 Product showcase
Line marking and surface maintenance equipment
45 Tools & guidance
16
Weather and maintenance
FEATURES 16 IOG Awards
A roll-call of winners
18 Award sponsor
Mower expert Cub Cadet
20 Best practice: tennis
The pressure is on for the grounds team at Nottingham Tennis Centre
24 Job clinic
Advice on managing up, from Frank Newberry
26 World Cup winners!
20
Turf companies are making sure Russia’s stadia pitches play well this summer
ON THE COVER
30 Tech update
When rain hits the cricket pitch, here’s what to do
Turf care professionals, as well as players, will win recognition in the FIFA World Cup Photo:
40 In action
The technology that’s aiding ground strategy
50 Grow with the IOG
New Level 5 turf care course
26
Getty Images
40
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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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 3
Welcome
Contributors
Karen Maxwell Managing editor
Adapting to change The weather this spring has played havoc with the preparation of pitches for summer sport, not least our cricket pitches. There have been a few cancelled matches but, by and large, our cricket groundsmen have thankfully managed to catch up with their preparations. There’s some timely advice on rolling regimes in this issue (page 30) and this sort of article is ideal to cut out and keep for future reference. The future for sport, however, is forever changing. Grassroots 11-a-side adult football is showing a marked decline in participation, and those playing golf have also reduced – male numbers dropped by 692,000 between 2012 and 2016, and there were 19,000 fewer females enjoying the sport during the same period.
Colin Hoskins Features editor
Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer
Lifestyle and societal change both play a part in who plays sport, as well as when, where and how. And with people generally working longer hours, that means less time for simply relaxing, let alone playing sport. In response, sports bodies are looking at their offerings. The Football Association has set targets to double female participation levels – these numbers would accompany the increasing popularity of five- and seven-a-side games, a growth that has no doubt been facilitated by the increase of multi-pitch 3G facilities at leisure centres.
Frank Newberry Conference speaker and careers counsellor
Cricket is moving from five-day Test matches and 40-overs games to the 20-20 and 100-overs formats. But has anyone considered how the new formats will impact the lives and working week of cricket groundsmen? How much increased pressure will this cause? And will such changes lead to an increase in mental health issues? In a changing sporting landscape, what will the turf industry do to survive? How will we adapt? This summer we have the Ryder Cup (golf), England versus Pakistan and the ODIs against Australia (cricket) as well as the FIFA World Cup (football). Our industry is at the heart of every event being played in front of a global audience. It’s an increasingly pressurised environment for the teams of groundsmen and women who create such wonderful surfaces for sports, season after season, year after year.
John Coleman UK managing director, MTD Specialty Turf Products
Recognise their efforts now by nominating those deserving of an IOG Industry Award (read more on p16). The awards ceremony will be held on the opening day of SALTEX (31 October at the Birmingham NEC), where you can catch up on industry innovations and new products. Darren Symonds Regional pitch advisor
Geoff Webb Chief Executive The Institute of Groundsmanship
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Alex Vickers Independent consultant
Update
READ MORE
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
ONLINE INFO
AGS LAUNCHES NEW SITE
GROUND CONTROL HAS been awarded its eighth consecutive Gold Medal in the international RoSPA Health and Safety Awards. Mark Curry, national HSQE compliance manager at Ground Control, said: “We’ve seen great effort across the board, with various challenges along the way; each helping us further improve and champion safer ways of working.” www.rospa.com
EQUIPMENT DEAL NEW LEARNING
IOG launches warmseason grasses training The IOG has developed the new ‘From C3 to C4’ introductory course on warm-season grasses in response to the increasing demands being placed on UK grounds staff at high- and elite-level facilities to make recommendations on playing facilities across the globe. Written by Steve Prinn MSc, respected UK turf grass lecturer, and ‘checked over’ by Pam Sherratt of Ohio State University, the course
6 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
content covers the differences between C3 and C4, establishment methods, common C4 grasses, threats to health and typical maintenance regimes. The course is not sport-specific and is highly informative. The one-day course was trialled last month, at Edgbaston, and attendees came from Leicester City FC, Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC, and their feedback included comments such as “A good four hours spent”, “I really enjoyed learning about the science behind C3 and C4 grasses”, and “A good, well-delivered course containing great knowledge that was clearly presented”. The new course also links perfectly to the IOG’s Pitch Grading Framework strategy (see page 50), which serves to educate all levels of grounds teams, both volunteer and professional.
WESSEX TEAMS UP WITH RFU
WESSEX INTERNATIONAL HAS teamed up with the RFU to become a partner in Rugby Groundsmen Connected, the RFU’s pitch maintenance equipment package, which now includes the Wessex ProLine CRX-180 combination mower. Pete Farndell of Wessex International said: “Being part of Rugby Groundsmen Connected is a wonderful opportunity to get close to grassroots and rugby groundsmen.” www.wessexintl.com
BASEBALL FIRST
GLOBAL VISION MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB) will be making its European debut next year, when the London Stadium will host two regular season games between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The landmark fixtures will see the sport played in the UK for the first time and is part of the USbased league’s strategy to expand its reach beyond North America.
U P D AT E
NEWS
NEWS IOG AWARDS
NOMINATE NOW! PERSONAL CHALLENGE
MARATHON EFFORT RAISES £3,200 FOR CANCER CHARITY EMMA KILBY, technical area sales manager for ICL, has not only beaten three types of cancer but has also conquered the London Marathon, raising over £3,200 for Children with Cancer UK. This year’s London Marathon was the hottest on record and Emma ran the 26.2-mile race in gruelling temperatures of 24C in a time of fiveand-a-half hours. “I’d been training for 16 weeks in extremely cold weather conditions,” said Emma. “Nothing prepares you for
the heat we were running in that day, but I never felt that I was going to quit. It just wasn’t an option. The crowd and the adrenaline help you to cross the finish line. It has been on my bucket list ever since I was ill. There were times when I wasn’t even able to walk from all the treatment I was receiving so for me to be able to run a marathon was a huge, emotional achievement.” Emma is now back to work and says that she is overwhelmed with the support she received. www.justgiving. com/fundraising/emma-kilby
FONDLY REMEMBERED
Obituary: Steve Wood
STEVE WOOD, a member of the IOG London North West Branch for many years, has died following a short illness. He retired last year and had moved to North Devon. As the branch press officer, Steve wrote many articles for The Groundsman, and one in particular comes to mind. After visiting SALTEX at Windsor, when mobile phones were becoming the new must have, he wrote asking if anybody “could tell me what is this ‘thing’ that’s stuck to people’s ears; answers on a postcard please”! Steve developed an interest in groundscare at an early age, helping my father on the Church Lads Brigade ground in Harrow. He left school early KEEP IN TOUCH
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NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for the IOG Industry Awards 2018. The judging criteria has expanded this year, allowing more teams and individuals at all levels of ability – from grassroots clubs, through to educational facilities and top professional stadia – to win one of these prestigious awards. Visit www.iog.org/awards to make your nomination today!
PROSPECT DEAL
OFFER ENDS SOON THE IOG’S THREE months free membership offer with the union Prospect will come to an end on 30 June 2018. IOG members can still take advantage of the saving if they sign up with Prospect before the end of this month; thereafter, they can join at the standard rate. IOG CEO Geoff Webb says: “We’d encourage all grounds professionals to join Prospect to ensure they have employment advice and representation when they need it.” Call 01908 312 511, or email membership@iog.org for more information.
TRAINING
IOG COURSE DATES so that he could become my assistant at Schweppes sports ground, and became head groundsman there after me. Following the closure of the ground, he joined me as my greenkeeper at Hoovers and subsequently became head groundsman at the GEC and Abbey National sports grounds. His last job for more than 30 years until retirement was as head groundsman at Caldicott School in Buckinghamshire. Written by John Ayling
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• 21 June - Warwickshire / Rugby Town Junior FC / L3 Winter Pitches: Applied Turf Culture • 19 July - Warwickshire / Rugby Town Junior FC / L2 Grounds: Maintenance & Management • 6 August - Cambridge / St John’s College / L2 Cricket Pitches: Applied Turf Culture • 11 August - Kent / Sutton Valence School / L1 Cricket Pitches Email learning@iog.org or call 01908 512 311 to book your place. twitter.com/the_iog
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 7
U P D AT E
NEWS
MOVERS & SHAKERS Meet the people taking on new challenges in the industry
Clive Pinnock
REESINK
TRAINING TRAILBLAZER CLIVE PINNOCK RETIRES FROM REESINK
1 MARK HARROD MH GOALS
MARK HARROD, MD at MH Goals, has been recognised as an expert for the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). Sports equipment safety has been an integral part of Mark’s career for more than 40 years, and he has advised on many of the standards that have been conceived and implemented in the UK and Europe. Mark has been advising the BSI and CEN on the new BSEN16579 safety standard which will come into full effect in July. He also sits as a technical expert on CEN/TC 136 advising on manufacturing, safety and test methods for goals.
Mark Harrod
2 CRAIG LALLEY ICL
Craig Lalley
ICL HAS APPOINTED Craig Lalley as its new technical area sales manager, covering northeast England, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Craig joins ICL with a wealth of experience. He was a golf greenkeeper for 13 years before moving into amenity sales, and for the past four years he has been football and golf sales manager at Mansfield Sand. Craig will be responsible for providing support to distributors and creating nutritional and diseasecontrol programmes. www.icl-sf.co.uk
AFTER 34 YEARS, Clive Pinnock is retiring from Reesink Turfcare and the training department he helped to develop. Turf equipment aftermarket manager at Reesink, David Jackman, said Clive was a trailblazer and would be much missed, not just by Reesink but the whole industry. “Clive has been instrumental in helping us grow the company to where it is today,” he said. “He has passed his wealth of knowledge onto so many of our customers, employees and distributors.” Clive started his career at Lely, as it was then, a year after it became Toro distributor for the UK. “Clive has been an inspiration, his passion for learning and sharing his knowledge was evident in how he delivered our training; it was always with such enthusiasm attendees couldn’t help but be motivated.”
TEAM EXPANDS
NEW RECRUITS
3 GLENN KIRBY SYNGENTA
GLENN KIRBY HAS joined Syngenta as its new UK technical manager for turf. Glenn brings 25 years’ experience of practical turf management skills from downland and parkland environments, and golf clubs. “Syngenta has been at the forefront of helping me achieve my objectives on the golf course,” he said. “This new role gives me the opportunity to support more greenkeepers and to help the industry to adapt to the changing picture of products and pressures.” www.syngenta.co.uk
8 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
Glenn Kirby
GREENFIELDS HAS expanded its UK team with the appointment of Andy Lovell and Stephanie Jones. New national sales manager Andy Lovell has more than 30 years’ experience in sales; five in the sports turf market. Stephanie joins the GreenFields team as estimator and has already passed a CAD course while in post and has been visiting new clients.
U P D AT E
NEWS
CONFERENCE LINE-UP
AMENITY FORUM ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE SPEAKER LINE UP RECENTLY ANNOUNCED SPEAKERS at the Amenity Forum’s Annual Conference, to be held at the Pirelli Stadium on 9 October, include Professor Michael Eddleston from the University of Edinburgh who will present an informative presentation on Human Health issues, while Francesca Baylis, from Royal Holloway, will provide an update on her ongoing research into biological control for weed, pest and disease control.
Other high-profile speakers from the Environment Agency and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate will offer policy updates. During the conference, category winners for the Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards will also be announced. The cost to attend for non-Amenity Forum members is £85 or £75 (+ VAT) before 1 September. Email admin@amenityforum.net
NEW DEALER
PLOUGHING AHEAD
TYM TRACTORS HAS welcomed Devon-based KJ Stoneman & Co to its dealer network. The appointment extends TYM’s coverage in mid and north Devon as well as providing the agricultural dealer’s customer base with a comprehensive compact tractor range. Scott Turner, southern regional sales manager at Reesink, said: “KJ Stoneman was looking for a tractor range suitable for its customers’ needs and TYM fit the criteria.”
DEMO DAY
Award winners at the 2017 Amenity Forum Conference
ANCHOR
Technical tips and product demos at open day CHARTERHOUSE TURF MACHINERY and Ben Burgess GroundsCare hosted an open day for more than 80 groundsmen and greenkeepers at Thetford Golf Club. The event included a technical talk from the STRI and gave turf managers the opportunity to share best practices with other partaking industry professionals. Four stations hosted talks and demonstrations on all areas of surface maintenance, including aeration, scarification and topdressing. Nick Darking, sales manager at Charterhouse TM, said: “We find these KEEP IN TOUCH
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sorts of gatherings very worthwhile, not only to show what our products can really do, but also to spend some time talking to our customers.”
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Live demos showcased Charterhouse TM products
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TROWBRIDGE TURF CARE TROWBRIDGE RUGBY CLUB, in association with Fleet Line Markers and Ecosol Turfcare, is organising a demo day for sports pitch maintenance practitioners on 26 July. Live demos and practical turf care advice will be available from the IOG, Fleet Line Markers, Ecosol Turfcare, Leigh Park Garden Machinery, DLF Seeds, Sherriff and more. For information contact Nobby Knight on 07762 095517.
ONLINE INFO
NEW AGS WEBSITE ADVANCED GRASS SOLUTIONS has launched a new website to showcase its products and services. Visitors to the site can also access technical data, news and a wide range of useful information regarding plant health and a strategy for reducing fungicide usage. www.advancegrass.com
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U P D AT E
PRODUCT UPDATE
S H OWC A S E
Fnind out more about line marking and surface maintenance in our round-up page 33
The latest developments in mowers, chainsaws and total herbicides
1 HM600 FLAIL MOWER
The HM600 eradicates need for a second mowing
RANSOMES
BUILDING ON THE foundations of the Ransomes MP wide area mower platform, the new HM600 features a 65.2hp Kubota turbo diesel engine and has been developed to meet the expanding needs of grounds maintenance teams. The HM600 has a cutting width of 3.2m (1.6m at front) with all mowers engaged, combining a high cutting capacity with exceptional productivity. The HM600 features mulching technology from Müthing, ensuring Bayer’s Pistol Flex is available in Ireland
a superior after-cut appearance, and an even spread of clippings even in wet conditions. The cutting units also feature rear rollers, to stripe sports pitches or finer turf . The HM600 can turn fast and cut close to parkland furniture, and the fingertip control of individual units makes trimming around obstacles easy. Operators can then fold up all units securely to transport easily between work areas and access confined sites. www.ransomes.com
3 PISTOL FLEX
NEWS
2 MS 500I STIHL
THE NEW STIHL MS 500i is the world’s first chainsaw with electronic fuel injection and a never-before achieved power-to-weight ratio. With the MS 500i, STIHL presents the world’s first standard chainsaw with electronically controlled fuel injection, consolidating its position as a technology leader. The STIHL injection technology (i) not only provides the chainsaw with excellent torque, but also ensures rapid acceleration of the saw chain from 0 to 100 km/h in 0.25 seconds. The intelligent, lightweight design means that the MS 500i is also outstanding with the best ever power-to-weight ratio 1.24 kilograms per kilowatt – an exemplarily low value, never achieved before by series-manufactured chainsaws. Together with the many additional design optimisations, there is a substantial increase in operator comfort. The reduction of gyroscopic forces provides the 80 cm³-class high-performance professional saw with dynamic manoeuvrability, which is a particular advantage during limbing. This makes the professional big timber harvester easy to handle in all types of disciplines - from felling to cutting to length. www.stihl.co.uk
BAYER
A PRE AND early post-emergence total herbicide for control of annual and perennial weeds has been launched into the Irish market. Pistol Flex brings a new active ingredient to the market for broad spectrum control over a wide range of uses, including treatments applied to open soil, gravel surfaces, fence lines, industrial areas and railway ballast.
It was launched by Bayer, and the herbicide has a dual-active formulation containing 360g/kg diflufenican and 10g/kg iodosulfuronmethyl-sodium. Using Pistol Flex can help amenity contractors minimise resistance as part of an integrated vegetation management programme. www.environmental science.bayer.co.uk
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 11
U P D AT E
S A LT E X
By Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer
SALTEX 2018 VISITOR REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Event organisers have announced that visitor registration for SALTEX 2018 is now officially open
S
ALTEX 2018, Europe’s largest annual event for groundscare professionals, takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 31 October and 1 November. Visitors can now register their attendance for free via the newly-designed website. The new website has been built to provide the ultimate user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality, allowing both visitors and exhibitors to access all the information they need in preparation for SALTEX 2018. The site is compatible with many browsers and all mobile devices, meaning that visitors and exhibitors will have easy access and can stay informed with the latest show news and exhibitor event previews. With over 230 exhibitors signed to date, visitors to the website will see an extensive exhibitor list complete with individual profiles, each containing relevant information on products, services and show offers.
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR
Visitors will also be able to find out more about new and exciting show attractions, 12 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
as well as popular features such as: Learning LIVE – SALTEX’s free and all-encompassing education programme; outdoor demonstrations, which take place directly outside the SALTEX halls 6, 7 and 8; the SALTEX College Cup – a national student-led, sportsturf challenge; Pathology & Soil Science LIVE, which allows visitors to look in detail at the symptoms of some common turf grass fungal disease problems; Ask the Expert – a team of 10 IOG regional pitch advisors providing free pitch care advice; and the Job Clinic – a chance to receive specific career advice and find out all the latest job opportunities from industry expert Frank Newberry. Information on how to nominate a winner or book a place at the IOG’s 10th annual Industry Awards event can also be accessed via the site.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT
SALTEX exhibitors will notice some improvements to the portal, which is an indispensable tool for maximising event presence and making connections with potential customers in advance of the
show. All the exhibitor forms, such as the Health and Safety Declaration and the risk assessment form, have now all been digitalised, meaning that exhibitors can fill out the relevant forms online without having to print them off. Register to attend SALTEX at www.iogsaltex.com. Visitors will receive a confirmation email with a badge to print and take along to the show, to gain free entry. For show highlights and key interviews, visit www.youtube.com/MyIOG You can also follow SALTEX on Twitter: @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook: www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX
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By Darren Symonds Regional pitch advisor
RAIN DOESN’T STOP PLAY! The implementation of improved maintenance regimes, and the use of new equipment, has helped one community football club to transform its pitches and minimise match cancellations caused by wet weather
M
y initial visit to Gerrards Cross & Fulmer FC’s King George’s Field site – the main playing venue of the Buckinghamshire-based FA Charter Standard status club that has around 200 players in 12 age groups from under 6 to under 18 – was in May 2016. It was under the auspices of the Football Association’s Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP), and I found the ground suffering in certain areas, primarily due to drainage issues. We provided advice on improvements to general maintenance and renovation practices, as well as machinery procurement. Today, two years on, the hard work and dedication of the grounds team – Paul Colloff and Phil Mooney – has been rewarded with a much-improved playing surface and new machinery, part-funded through the PIP. PQS (Performance Quality Standards) measurements taken during the initial visit benchmarked the pitch as ‘intermediate’, with heavy wear and tear through the middle and in the goalmouths. Now, however, there is a marked improvement – 40-90 per cent overall – in both areas. Taking into consideration the ground is also used for cricket, as well as this spring’s harsh weather, such improvements are testament to the efforts of Paul and Phil.
“We receive regular compliments from opposition teams on the pitches”
With the pitches being used as cricket �elds in the summer, grass had to be left meticulous at the end of the season
The initial recommendations also highlighted the need for linear decompaction, as well as the application of 50 tonnes of 70/30 root zone. Overseeding with rye grass was also needed as part of the renovation process, and the ground required twice-a-year fertilisation, plus regular cutting, brushing, slitting and surface grooming.
DRYING OUT
There is a specific area on the site that tends to sit wetter than most, and the club has been working hard to eradicate this problem. After the initial PIP visit, recommendations were given for the top dressing, increased decompaction and general maintenance practices. The improvements were made and now the team has the option of installing a suitable drainage system in this area. While carrying out the improvements suggested by PIP – which also involved Paul and Phil attending a GaNTIP Winter
Pitch Maintenance workshop – the club also managed to take advantage of funds for additional machinery. Commenting on the newly acquired 36hp tractor, tractormounted turf maintenance kit and rear roller rotary deck, Paul says: “The equipment has made a dramatic impact on our ability to prepare and maintain a high standard of pitches. In the two months we’ve been using it we have had no cancellations due to rainrelated problems, and we receive regular compliments from opposition teams on the state of the pitches. Being a dual-sport site, the equipment allowed us to successfully transition the football pitches into a cricket outfield and the ground was as good as it normally is at the end of summer.” For more information on GaNTIP or the FA’s Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP), contact your local County FA (www.thefa.com) or visit www.iog.org
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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 15
IOG INDUSTRY AWARDS 2018
The IOG Industry Awards ceremony is a great opportunity to meet other people in the profession
TIME TO MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS The 2018 IOG Industry Awards are now open! We look back at the roll-call of winners since the awards launched 10 years ago, which includes grassroot as well as professional grounds staff and venues
W
ith 22 categories this year, including new and redefined categories, the IOG Industry Awards continue to expand and, importantly, to take on board industry feedback that “will help to improve the awards year on year”, says IOG chief executive Geoff Webb. “This year, the awards have created more opportunity for greater recognition of those working in all sectors of society and at all levels of the sporting spectrum,” says Geoff, “by redefining the unsung hero and lifetime achievement awards, we are recognising the work of those who sometimes operate under the radar”.
IOG PRIVATE MEMBERS SPORTS CLUB GROUNDS TEAM OF THE YEAR 2017 WINNER
“IT WAS GREAT THAT WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED FOR ALL ASPECTS OF OUR ENDEAVOURS” Graham Kimpton, The Queen’s Club
16 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
Nominations for every category are encouraged, from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, as well as England, and the awards are not confined to IOG members. As always, a very robust judging process will be in place for the awards, which are judged by a panel of grounds personnel who have a range of backgrounds encompassing the diversity of the industry and profession: Stage one Stage one is judged by the panel on the information supplied by the applicant. This desk-based process is carried out entirely on the basis of the application form, so it is important to ensure the application is complete and that images and documents are included to support the entry. The more information provided then the more information the judges will have to help them arrive at a shortlist. This first stage of judging will be carried out during August. Stage two This involves site visits to the shortlisted nominees. These visits will enable a more
By Colin Hoskins Features editor
RANSOMES/DLF JOHNSONS ALEX R MILLAR GROUNDSMAN OF THE YEAR 2017 WINNER
“I WAS GOBSMACKED TO BE PERSONALLY SHOWCASED WITH SUCH AN ACCOLADE” Vick Demain, Durham CCC
in-depth analysis of the site and will be conducted by an independent person who does not sit on the judging panel. The visits are to verify the recommendation and to ensure transparency. Visit www.iog.org/awards to view the full list of categories and to make your nominations online.
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IOG INDUSTRY AWARDS 2018
AWARDS ROLL-CALL
It’s important to recognise all the hard work and innovation in our industry – and what better way than this?
Since the IOG Industry Awards were launched in 2009, these are the individuals who have won. NB: all winners are listed with the name of their winning club/site at the time.
Darren Baldwin, Tottenham Hotspur FC Gary Barwell, Warwickshire County CC Jason Booth, Leeds Rugby Keith Boyce, Yorkshire Steve Braddock, Arsenal FC Dean Bryce, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes Paul Burgess, Real Madrid C.F. Jonathan Calderwood, Aston Villa FC Richard Campey, Campey Turf Care Systems Michael Crew, The Hurlingham Club Katie Croft, Manchester City FC Ian Darler, Cambridge United Jim Dawson, BT Murrayfield Stadium Vic Demain, Durham CCC Luke Dodge, Manchester City FC Stephen Fidler, St James Senior Boys’ School, Middlesex Martin Ford Les Gibbs, University of Glamorgan Ryan Golding, Leeds Rugby Peter Green, Honiley CC, Holmfirth Simon Gumbrill, Stadium Grow Lighting Neil Harvey, The Hurlingham Club Antony Haywood, Chesterfield FC Niall Hazelhurst, Bolton Wanderers FC Rod Heyhoe, Lightcliffe Cricket Club, Halifax John Heyworth, Aspatria RUFC, Cumbria Michael Hitt, Kingston University Keith Hughes, Menai Bridge CC, Anglesey Mick Hunt, Lord’s Iestyn John Adrian Kay, York Racecourse Keith Kent, Twickenham Stadium Myles Landick, Jersey RFC Susan Lawrence, University of Nottingham Iain Main, Surrey Sports Park Tara Massey, Manchester City FC Lewis Pattinson, Leeds Rugby Nick Phillips, Tottenham Hotspur FC Keith Porter, Leigh Sports Village, Wigan Ryan Powell, Everton FC Ian Reid, Vipers RFC Shaun Reilly, Huntingdon Racecourse Paul Roberts, Grayshott Cricket Club, Hampshire Eddie Seaward, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Philip Sharples, Azerbaijan Adam Shoesmith, Myerscough College Tony Sinclair, Manchester United FC Bob Smith, formerly head groundsman, Derby County FC Len Smith, regional pitch advisor
Andy Spetch, Bury St Edmunds RUFC Nicholas Staff, Otley College Martin Stephenson, Ashbrooke Sports Club, Sunderland Robert Stretton, Aylestone Park FC Neil Stubley, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Philip Swann, Bridge Trust Society, Birmingham Nico van Vuuren, Stadium Grow Lighting Derek Walder, ‘Mr SALTEX’ Lee Watson, Clay Cross Town FC Reece Watson, Arsenal FC Stuart Wilson, Croke Park, Dublin James Wood, Manchester City FC Loucas Xenophontos, Hertford Town FC
CLUBS/SITES/ORGANISATIONS
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Ashton on Mersey Cricket Club Barnoldswick Town FC Bath Rugby Beversbrook Sports Facility, Wiltshire Bletchley Town Cricket Club BT Murrayfield Stadium Burnham Hillside Bowls Club Bury FC Castleford Tigers Charterhouse School, Surrey Cleckheaton Sports Club, West Yorkshire Cramlington Learning Village and Sporting Club Cranfield University Durham CCC Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham Essex County CC Etihad Stadium, Manchester Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council Forest Green Rovers FC, Glos Flow Control (GB) Goodison Park (Everton FC) GreenMech Hampton School, Middlesex Harrow School, Middlesex Headingley Carnegie Stadium The Heatons Sports Club
Highfields Sports Complex,
University of Nottingham
Huntingdon Racecourse King William’s College, Isle of Man Leamington FC Leicester City FC Leeds Rhinos (Leeds Rugby) Liberty Stadium, Swansea Lisvane Cricket Club, Cardiff Macron Stadium (formerly Reebok), Lancashire Manchester City FC Manchester United FC Nottingham Racecourse Nottingham Tennis Centre NPL Sports Club, Teddington One Leisure, Cambridgeshire Potters Bar Bowls Club Premier Pitches, Sheffield Radley College, Oxfordshire Ricoh Arena (Wasps) Ripon Racecourse Rugby Town Junior FC Shiplake College, Henley-on-Thames St Albans School, Hertfordshire St George’s Park St Ives Bowls Club, Cambridgeshire Stanley Park, Chippenham Sunderland City Council Sussex County CC Swansea University Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Greater Manchester The Harefield Academy, Middlesex The Hurlingham Club, London The Queen’s Club, London Tottenham Hotspur FC Twickenham Stadium University of Nottingham University of Surrey Wembley Stadium Westminster City Council Whitgift School, Croydon Wigan Warriors Worcestershire County CC Worcester Warriors York Racecourse Yorkshire Carnegie (Leeds Rugby)
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 17
IOG INDUSTRY AWARD SPONSOR
GAME, SET AND MATCH FOR CUB CADET Mowing can have either positive or negative consequences for plant health depending on mower performance, which can be affected by sharpness of cut, attitude angle and behind-centre distance of the bed knife, as well as frequency of clip and weight distribution
D By John Coleman UK managing director, MTD Specialty Turf Products
18 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
ull or poorly sharpened mowers tear and shred grass blades rather than cut them cleanly, increasing the plant’s vulnerability to disease. A dull cut can be caused by a mower that does not maintain cut quality for an acceptable length of time. This may be due to a poorly designed bed knife-reel adjustment mechanism, an imbalanced reel causing premature wear, or a poorly designed cutting unit that oscillates during rotation. Attitude angle and behind-centre distance (BCD) are interlinked and an improper set-up of these features will not only impact after-cut appearance, but can also negatively affect plant health. The greater the BCD, the more aggressive the cut because the grass blade will be ‘dragged’ prior to it being trapped between the bed knife and reel. An aggressive cut also means a shorter cut as the leaf blade is lifted ‘up and back’ prior to shearing. For a less aggressive cut, the bed knife is positioned much closer to the reel. Frequency of clip (FOC) is the distance between mower shear points, determined by the number of reel blades, rotational speed and the mower’s forward speed. FOC is important
in ensuring the correct quality is achieved for the specific height of cut. One should also consider the leaf’s moisture content – a high clip rate on a less rigid leaf can cause mulching. The ability to alter FOC is thus advantageous.
QUALITY COUNTS
The Cub Cadet Infinicut has one of the shortest footprints of any pedestrian mower on the market, allowing ultra-low heights of cut, while ergonomic controls make adjustments easy. The unit’s rigidity and weight minimises oscillation when the reel is rotating, thus reducing premature component wear. Consistent working height during operation is enhanced by the collection bucket being mounted on the traction unit frame, limiting the weight transfer to the cassette. In 2017, MTD completed the order of 18 Infinicut mowers to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and head groundsman Grant Cantin commented: “The mowers leave us a quality cut that is paramount to our operation here at Wimbledon.”
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For more information about Cub Cadet, visit www.cubcadetturf.com
ELITE TENNIS
BEST PRACTICE
SCARIFICATION IS THE KEY
By Colin Hoskins Features editor
The success of the annual renovation programme is vital to ensure that Nottingham Tennis Centre’s 13 international grass courts perform to the superior standards required, says grounds manager Ryan Middleton. He reveals that the maintenance of these courts, as well as 19 outdoor and eight indoor playing surfaces, is just one aspect of the year-round workload for him and his team
20 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
BEST PRACTICE
”Scarification is key, and the longer we can give the courts to seed and root then the better they will look and play the following season” thatch and organic matter removed, we invariably make five or six passes in different directions, to perhaps 6mm deep, using a Graden – though Campey Turf Care came in last year and fraise mowed the Centre Court. We apply ethofumesate herbicide to discourage meadow grass. We can then see how much root depth we’ve got before using ICL’s Sportsmaster as a pre-seed fertiliser, followed by a Surrey loam topsoil and overseed with Limagrain’s MM50 rye mix, which has consistently given us good results.” He adds: “I’ve always found that thorough scarification is the key, and the longer we can give the courts to seed and root then the better they will look and play the following season.”
GOOD FOUNDATIONS
A carefully managed maintenance programme is run to ensure the courts look their best when the TV cameras are on site
T
he anxiety over whether the Nottingham Tennis Centre annual renovations will be a success or a failure present Ryan Middleton with “about the same level of stress as ensuring that the courts look and play well for the pre-Wimbledon WTA International and ATP Challenger events held here”. But during his four-year tenure as grounds manager, Ryan and his team – groundsmen Wayne Thomas and Tatenda Mukome plus recent recruit, apprentice Ryan Skerritt – have consistently got it right, despite the vagaries of the weather. “What we do on every grass court at the end of each season – late August or early September – is critical to its success the following year,” says Ryan. “First, after hopefully seeing a good amount of
Laying the foundations in this way for a successful ‘grow-in’, Ryan explains that the surfaces can then be managed through the winter “and it's not the end of the world if a court is not completely ‘dressed’ because we can turn it around in the spring”. He continues: “But the best-laid plans can always be scuppered, even by a machinery breakdown. We don’t have the luxury of an in-house mechanical engineer so any repairs are outsourced. That can mean that if a mower is out of action, then the grass gets longer so we have to stage the height of cuts – which all adds time to the process of establishing the new playing surface.” Thereafter, he says, it’s an ongoing process of bringing the courts up to, and maintaining, standards, using STRI soil analyses in May (including the measurement of moisture and consolidation levels), before the courts open in June, followed by ATP tests (for playability, speed and surface reaction) to ensure playing surface consistency. “We walk the courts every day, and if need be we apply treatments to suit.” Commenting that the continual withdrawal of chemicals has caused concern, Ryan says: “We never treat any court on a
ELITE TENNIS
RYAN MIDDLETON Ryan’s role as grounds manager runs alongside his overall management duties at the centre, which include maintaining standards across all facilities and liaising with various contractors. Working closely with chief operations manager Mike Wisner, Ryan says the centre has forged strong relationships with the Lawn Tennis Association and the British Tennis Foundation, and its focus on increased participation is borne out by a rising membership and the centre’s year-round use. Ryan joined 20 years ago, aged 18. In 2000, head groundsman Dale Gleed encouraged him to help with the grounds. “I loved it,” reflects Ryan, who then went on to assist his predecessor, Dave Lawrence, until four years ago when Dave moved on and Ryan stepped up. His dual role obviously presents a number of challenges, not least the need to sometimes be in two places at once and, in terms of the courts, continually juggling events. “I always have a plan but very often circumstances dictate that the plan is not always instigated as I wanted! “From March to early October my main attention is on the courts and, like many of my peers, the team often has 5am starts and 11pm finishes during tournaments – and usually no summer holidays. I wouldn’t be able to do the job without the support of my wife and family.”
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 21
ELITE TENNIS
The track must perform well all season
ABOUT THE CENTRE Nottingham Tennis Centre’s programme of events consists of three key elements: day-today development; the High Performance Centre (MyTennis Nottingham Academy); and private bookings, including events and charity days. Daytime programmes include social sessions, 50plus sessions, Nottingham University practice and match play, High Performance Centre court allocation as well as pay and play. The evening programme includes adult and junior coaching, and invitational squads are run as well as improver sessions to ensure all tennis activities are as inclusive as possible. There is often a schedule of one-off events such as National Schools Championships and the Davis Cup Trophy Tour. Each presents the grounds team with different challenges and demands on courts. The outdoor season from April sees full use of the 19 Plexicushion courts for tournaments such as the ITF, Junior Open, County Cup and British Tours as well as being the home of the British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships, when all 19 courts are in use. The 13 grass courts are used by the Aegon WTA and ATP Tour Challenger events, as well as for Seniors Tennis GB tournaments. This year, too, the centre will host the Road to Wimbledon events, just four days after the WTA/ ATP tournament is completed. www.activenottingham.com
22 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
The grounds team looks after 27 outdoor and indoor playing surfaces as well as 13 grass courts
“With 13 international -standard grass courts, plus eight indoor courts and 19 outdoor Plexicushion courts, the team is certainly kept busy” preventative basis – it is always as a course of action when there is a problem. For example, we discourage worms by reducing pH levels; if there’s been a flurry of bird activity on the courts we can usually expect chafer grubs. “One symptom of using covers is that they create conditions ideal for leaf spot and fusarium. However, the use of inflatable covers on the match courts means they are not normally affected.”
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
It is important, especially when the TV cameras are on site, that the courts look the part and a carefully managed fertiliser programme is in place. Ryan also ensures that the playing surface is safe. “Late applications of fertilisers can increase the slip factor,” he says. Use of the correct line marking paint is also essential for the cameras and, explains Ryan, “the chalkbased paint we use (Fleet’s Pitchmarker B Plus) highlights when the ball hits the line, which tends to prevent player challenges and is undoubtedly popular with the officials.” With 13 international-standard grass courts covering more than a hectare, plus eight indoor courts and 19 outdoor Plexicushion courts, the team – boosted by 35 temporary grounds staff during the grass court season – is certainly kept busy. Grass and Plexicushion courts aside (the main work
on the latter involves regular blowing and vacuuming and, before Easter in readiness for tournaments, they are pressure washed), the team is also responsible for the soft landscaped areas as well as changing areas and outside toilets, which all have to be maintained to the standards of Nottingham City Council and the Lawn Tennis Association. The team also facilitates site dressing, including bannering plus floral, arboreal and horticultural displays during tournaments, and they work with local and national media to promote the facility and tournament awareness. In addition, they undertake pruning, drainage clearing, court refurbishment, hedge maintenance and other general site improvements. They are, of course, adequately skilled to undertake such tasks. “Importantly,” says Ryan, “in addition to our in-house corporate training programmes, as a team we undergo a range of external training as part of our continued professional development, to gain further insight and improve our industry skills and knowledge. This in turn helps to improve the standard of the surfaces we prepare. These have included All England Lawn Tennis Club seminars as well as IOG courses for fertiliser application and turf grass nutrition.” All grounds staff hold PA1, PA2 and PA6 spraying certificates. Four grass courts were added last year to enhance the provision for international tournaments, and the team’s work on these equated to 30 weeks of extra work. Three of the outdoor courts are covered by an air dome, and it is also the team’s responsibility to maintain these surfaces and regularly check the integrity of the dome. With such an extensive remit – and an enviable record of producing superlative playing surfaces – it’s no wonder Ryan and his team won the 2017 IOG Industry Award as the Cub Cadet INFINICUT Professional Tennis Grounds Team of the Year.
JOB CLINIC
CAREERS ADVICE
There's a live job clinic at this year’s SALTEX. Find out more on p12
FEELING FED UP? MAYBE IT’S TIME TO MANAGE UP ‘Managing the boss’ has been a popular session in Frank Newberry’s seminars for more than 30 years. Here he shares his five quick tips to help you manage upwards
By Frank Newberry Conference speaker and careers counsellor
Tip 1: Make time to manage up Set aside time to think about how you can help your boss. Book a private meeting to try and work out how you can help more, ie by having higher-level work delegated to you. If your boss is reluctant, suggest you help out for a trial period and then you can review it after the trial. If you’re delegated work, give it a high priority and do a good job. Only schedule a review when you know you have executed it to the best of your ability. Tip 2: Build a rapport with your boss You can define rapport as ‘a communication or relationship that has harmony and usefulness’. Get closer to your boss by giving compliments. Not big ones that may sound insincere. Little compliments can work wonders, and be specific in your praise to sound sincere. Be understanding when mistakes are made, but never put your boss in the wrong – even if your boss is at fault. Let your boss decide who is in the wrong. Tip 3: Be part of your boss’s world of work If you sincerely want to manage upwards, you must focus your thoughts on one world of
24 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
work – your boss’s world of work. Be clear how your work and your way of thinking helps your boss to be successful at work. Tip 4: Succession plan If all goes well, you might ask to be put on your boss’s succession plan. This means that if the boss gets promoted or leaves the organisation, you would be named as successor. You would perform all the higher-level duties until a permanent successor is found. This would require the boss to train you, from here on in, so that you are ready to take over the boss’s position at a moment’s notice. Tip 5: Help your boss with the answers One great way to manage upwards is to bring solutions to your boss, rather than problems. If you have a problem that needs addressing, be careful to explain it calmly and concisely and indicate in a confident manner that you have three solution options your boss can pick from. To find out more about Frank Newberry and the services he offers, visit www.franknewberry.com
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ELITE FOOTBALL With 12 stadia in Russia to prepare and maintain, the 2018 World Cup is a showcase for turf care professionals
26 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
BEST PRACTICE
ELITE FOOTBALL
By Colin Hoskins Features editor
BEST PRACTICE
WORLD CUP WINNERS! The expertise of two UK companies in particular will be showcased when the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 14 June. Here’s a brief insight into some of products and suppliers involved – with more to come next issue
T
he use of video-assistant referee technology is not the only new introduction at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. For the first time, this final will be played on a pitch that is not all-natural grass. SIS Pitches has installed its SISGrass – a hybrid surface made of 95 per cent natural grass and 5 per cent synthetic pitch – at the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. In fact, the SISGrass reinforced natural turf has been installed at six of the 12 tournament venues. Another UK company, Dennis Mowers, is no newcomer to World Cup fame – the company was the official mower at the two most recent tournaments in Brazil and South Africa – and this year its G860 cylinder mower has again been
selected as the model of choice. The company has an impressive 88 mowers in action in Russia, preparing training venues as well as seven stadium pitches where, in some cases, Dennis Premier mowers will also be used for match-day preparation. The results of the work put into the pitches by both these companies will not only be seen by the 32 teams contesting the tournament, but also by millions of spectators throughout the world: it is estimated that a global audience of 3.2 billion watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and there is no reason to believe that figure will not be surpassed this time round. SISGrass and SISAir installation at Rostov Arena involved intricate aeration and drainage networks
“It is estimated that a global audience of 3.2 billion watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil” www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 27
ELITE FOOTBALL
NEW CHALLENGES
Pitch preparation and management in Russia is somewhat different to that in Brazil though, as our recent report on the FIFA Confederations Cup (The Groundsman April 2018) revealed. It’s an issue that is agreed with by Steven Rienks, managing director of Queens Grass, the official Dennis Mowers dealer in Russia. Queens Grass is a company that has been working with groundsmen at the stadia there since 2001. “The task of preparing the pitches in Russia is made slightly more difficult by unfavourable weather,” he says. “For instance, in one area we only have around 60 days of sunlight during a year. But the mower’s
interchangeable cassette system really helps with maintenance procedures in such a difficult climate.” With a cutting width of 860mm, the G860’s cassette gives users the option of fitting 11 different types of heads, including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers and slitters, as well as six- or eight-bladed cutting cylinders, all require just a simple one-minute changeover time. The mower also features a large-diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper designed for a precise control of cut height. Combined, these features enable the mower to produce extremely accurate and wellpresented cut surfaces.
SIX OF THE BEST
There will be 88 Dennis Mowers in action during the World Cup
28 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
SISGrass surfaces have been installed at six of the 12 World Cup stadia, including the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, which will host a total of seven games including the final. They have also been installed at: Rostov Arena (45,000 capacity) Spartak Stadium (45,360 capacity) Mordovia Arena (44,442 capacity) Kaliningrad Stadium (35,212 capacity) Samara Arena (44,807 capacity).
In three cases (Luzhniki Stadium, Rostov Arena and Spartak Stadium), the SISAir aeration system has also been installed. This system forces air through the soil profile beneath via blower fan, which is connected to a series of variable control dampers, and on to an air and drainage pipe network. This creates either a vacuum or pressure in the soil. An automatic air non-return valve is incorporated into a water separator to close off the piped drainage network from the gravity drains. The system enables air to flow up or down in pressure or vacuum mode, through the soil profile. The pressure blower fan, associated mechanical equipment and the system control panel system are connected by an underground air pipe to the water separator and a network of pipes beneath the pitch. For each of its installations, SIS Pitches has worked closely with STRI to certify that the new surfaces meet the quality standards demanded by FIFA.
UNDER THE SURFACE
All the remaining six tournament venues, located across Russia, do also boast state-of-the-art turf technology. The
BEST PRACTICE
ELITE FOOTBALL
GRASSMASTER, DLF AND REDEXIM CHARTERHOUSE ALL INVOLVED, TOO
The grounds team (this picture) at Luzhniki Stadium (left, far left and above). SISAir installation at Rostov (above left)
“It is fantastic to be a part of the World Cup, but it is also quite a responsibility. After all, the quality of play depends on the quality of the pitch” Fisht Olympic Stadium (47,659 capacity) has a suspended water table design with undersoil heating, and a vacuum and ventilation system; while the Kazan Arena (45,379 capacity) has a stitched reinforced pitch with carpet-reinforced turf around its perimeter. The 68,134-capacity Saint Petersburg Stadium (formerly the Krestovsky Stadium) boasts a hybridreinforced pitch. SIS Pitches took just eight days to install the new hybrid pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium – visit the SIS YouTube channel to view the fascinating build programme. The pitch will continue to be maintained by SIS Pitches’ Russia-based team throughout the tournament. The Rostov Arena pitch will, however, continue to be looked after by the stadium grounds team after the installation is complete. SIS Pitches’ CEO and founder, George Mullan, comments: “Rostov now has the most technologically advanced playing surface in the world. The SISGrass system delivers a pitch that is durable and will perform well. It is now over to the grounds team to maintain that quality.” The grounds teams at the other SISGrass
stadiums – Spartak, Samara, Kaliningrad and Saransk – will also maintain their own pitches. In 2014, at the home of Spartak Moscow, the Spartak Stadium (renamed from the Otkritie Arena especially for the World Cup), SIS Pitches had designed and constructed a natural pitch, based on a suspended water table profile with fibre reinforcement, undersoil heating and a vacuum and ventilation system. This has since been transformed into a SISGrass surface incorporating the SISAir system.
ALL EYES ON THEM
We give the final word here to Queens Grass’ Steven Rienks: “It is fantastic to be a part of the World Cup, but it is also quite a responsibility. After all, the quality of play depends on the quality of the pitch.” As usual, I’m sure I won’t be alone this summer in studying the pitches as much as the play at this year’s World Cup! For more on SIS Pitches and Dennis Mowers, visit www.sispitches.com or www.dennisuk.com
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New GrassMaster hybrid pitches have been installed at three stadia for the World Cup – the Volgograd Arena, Kazan Arena and the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium – while the same surface is also being used at two training pitches. GrassMaster is a natural grass pitch reinforced by 20 million high-performance polypropylene fibres injected 18cm deep (and 2cm above the surface) in a grid of +/- 2 x 2cm. The natural grass roots entwine with the fibres and grow deeper and wider, building a stronger and healthier rootzone, while the fibres above the surface ensure a consistently even and stable surface. • Many of the World Cup stadia and two-thirds of the training pitches were overseeded this spring with DLF perennial ryegrass – mostly mixtures containing traditional diploid perennials and new 4turf tetraploid seed. The latter is ideally suited to the Russian climate – they germinate faster than traditional varieties, and exhibit fast and strong establishment at soil temperatures as low at 3°C. • Rink Topdressers (available in the UK from Redexim Charterhouse) are being used to help keep the Russian pitches in perfect condition with, for example, Kaliningrad Stadium using the ultra-light and accurate Rink 1010. This offers a spreading width of up to 1.5m at a thickness of up to 10mm, and it is being used in combination with a Redexim Verti-Drain 7215 aerator. www.grassmastersolutions. com; www.dlf.co.uk; www.redexim.com
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 29
CRICKET
T E C H N I C A L U P D AT E
WET WICKETS
After deluges of rain earlier this year, which saw cricket grounds disappear under water, how do you make up for lost time on squares that may be weeks behind where they should be? These cut-out-and-keep guidelines will help…
W By Alex Vickers Independent consultant
eeks lost through wet weather cannot be made up for in a few hot, sunny days. The outfields still need to dry and be cut properly. The square needs to be cut, rolled and sprayed, and all the moss that grew in the wet, cold period needs to be removed. The risk is that we try to do all these things at once, attempting to make up for lost time in a frenzy of activity. Please don’t do this – at best you will be wasting fuel and time; at worst you may damage the square. So, how can we catch up and are there any shortcuts? There are a few things that can be done to save time and bring on a square without doing damage. While pitches may be ‘slow and low’
for the first few games, the good news is that they do quickly improve. Start with rolling. Despite the publication of the Cranfield rolling research*, I remain convinced that many grounds staff continue to roll their squares too much. Here’s where you can save some time. Consider the following: If the square has been mowed with a decent cylinder mower, the rolling process will
“You can save time by just rolling in the direction of play”
*P Shipton and I James (2009). Guidelines for Rolling in Cricket. ECB and Cranfield University. www.cag.org.uk/docs/guidelines_for_rolling_in_cricket.pdf
30 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
T E C H N I C A L U P D AT E
CRICKET
Four passes of the roller is more than adequate on any given day
“Don’t be tempted to spend a whole day rolling to make up for lost time – it will not help and you may cause structural damage” then use that – 18-22 per cent is going to be in the right ball park.
have been started. Most square mowers weigh quite a lot and that weight is spread over a small contact area, so the pressure applied can be high. Don’t worry about starting rolling with a light roller – my advice is to go straight on with your normal roller (unballasted if possible). Check to see whether the roller is leaving a large crease between the rolled pitch and the unrolled adjacent pitch – anything more than 3mm could cause a problem. If it is, either stop and wait a day or so for the square to dry, or use the mower to roll, lifting the mowing cylinder and front roller off the ground and putting all the weight onto the back roller. Let the soil dry and try the heavy roller again. If in doubt, take a small amount of soil from the square’s surface and see if you can roll it into a sausage. If you can do so easily, and you can join both ends of the sausage into a circle without the soil breaking, it is still too wet. Ideally, the soil should be easy to crumble and break under pressure. If you have a ThetaProbe,
The Cranfield research showed that most of the compactive effect of rolling occurs in the first pass of the roller, with decreasing impact thereafter. All the compaction possible, with the water content on a certain day, is achieved between two and four passes. On any given day there is no need for more than four passes of a roller (that is, up, down, up and down again), then move over and do the adjacent section, remembering to make sure you overlap slightly. With many rollers this means around 10 minutes’ rolling per pitch, so for a square with eight pitches, it will take no more than 80 minutes to do the complete square. If time is short, reduce it to two passes – you will still have achieved most of the compaction possible and halved the time it takes to roll the square. Let it dry and roll again. You do not have to roll your square in three directions! You can save time by just rolling in the direction of play, thus not worrying about having to do three full sessions to get the Union Jack pattern. Many grounds staff need to prepare pitches at the same time as rolling the square, so if you are pressed for time,
concentrate on pitch preparation as a priority. Many club grounds need only 10 passes per pitch in the seven to 10 days of pitch preparation time spread over three rolling events. The key is to let the pitch dry before rolling again. Start with two passes. Let the pitch dry for a couple of days (cover as little as necessary, assuming you have covers), then roll for four passes. Let the pitch dry again for two to four days, and roll again with four passes. If you get the chance to do a few extra pitches after the pitch preparation then go for it, but remember where you got up to so you can carry on from that point next time. Don’t be tempted to spend a whole day rolling to make up for lost time. You may cause structural damage to the square, which will reduce pitch quality for years to come, and you may set back the grass quality. Let the pitch dry between rolling, and if you need more time, don’t be afraid to cancel a game (especially pre-season friendlies) as damage done could cause bigger problems through the season. For more advice, or to discuss cricket pitch preparation issues, contact your ECB county pitch advisor or your local Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme regional pitch advisor through www.iog.org
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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 31
Product showcase
READ MORE
IOG NEWS UPDATES Go to the IOG website www.iog.org
LINE MARKING INNOVATIONS AND ALL THE BEST IN SURFACE MAINTENANCE
ULTIMA SOLUTION
ROBUST MARKER THAT WON’T RUST MAQA reduces marking times
MAXIMUM RESULTS
MAQA makes light work of marking PAIRING TECHNOLOGY AND practicality to deliver savings in both labour and time, Fleet’s MAQA linemarking system uses GNSS technology to reduce the time it takes to initial mark by up to 75 per cent. The system allows multiple users to be created and creates an individual marking profile for each user. It’s easy
to manage your site lists and the MAQA maps new sites using satellite imagery. You can download data in CSV files for further analysis in Excel and also download up-to-date templates. The system comes with a lithium battery, docking station, control panel tablet and 80 PSI diaphragm pump. www.fleetlinemarkers.com
CREATED WITH THE latest polyethylene technology, The Ultima Transfer Line Marker is a fully recyclable, high quality, robust and durable marker that is designed not to rust. Manufactured in the UK, with all spare parts readily available, The Ultima has a 20-litre deep tank to eliminate splashes and a paint sump to maximise paint pick up and usage. The marker comes with 50, 75 or 100mm marking wheels and an adjustable mud scraper. Pneumatic tyres are standard and an extra-wide and long wheel base allows for increased stability and greater marking accuracy. The machine can also be stored upright, saving storage space. www.grassline.net The Ultima Transfer Line Marker has a deep tank to prevent splashes
PAINT JOB
RELIABLE SOLUTION FOR SYNTHETIC SURFACES DURALINE SYNTHETIC IS a readyto-use paint formulation designed for use on synthetic playing surfaces. Acrylic-based and available in a range of colours, it offers benefits including rich, deep colours, improved flow KEEP IN TOUCH
www.iog.org
properties, better surface adhesion, stronger water repellency and longer storage stability. Duraline Synthetic is available in 10-litre containers and can be applied straight from the pack through Rigby Taylor’s iGO or Glider spray markers. It complements a comprehensive range of Rigby Taylor line marking paints. www.rigbytaylor.com
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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 33
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
S U R FAC E M A I N T E N A N C E
ALL FOUR ONE
COMBINATION GROOMER GIVES TOP RESULTS WHEN IT COMES to multi-tasking in the field of pitch maintenance, the SCH Supplies’ 4GCS Combination Turf Groomer leads the way. It’s a three-point linkage groomer with a leading star-shaped slitter that pierces the surface to increase drainage. The brush and rake bars glance over the surface, improving and enhancing the quality and appearance of turf; the rear roller then firms up the surface, giving those all-important professionallooking stripes. All four tools can be adjusted individually by screw jacks to achieve different depths and pressures. The unit comes with a fixed tray
G E T P I TC H P E R F EC T There’s more advice on page 15
to which weight can be added if required, and the tray then doubles up as a useful carrier. All SCH Supplies’ sports surface maintenance machines have been
developed to appeal to smaller clubs and organisations that need well-made, robust products without the excessive price tags. www.schsupplies.co.uk
BRUSHING UP
SISIS Flexicomb extends pitch life at university
THE UNIVERSITY OF Kent has more than 5,000 students, a reputation for academic excellence and outstanding sports facilities, including two grass football pitches, two grass rugby pitches and synthetic sports surfaces. Senior groundsman Lee Ballard oversees the maintenance of the pitches and admits that one of the synthetic surfaces requires extra attention due to its age and heavy usage. He has invested in a SISIS Flexicomb to help extend the pitch’s life. “We’ve had the pitch for nearly 12 years and it’s used for full-size football games, four five-a-side pitches and lacrosse games. It gets a large amount of use, from 5pm until 10pm seven days a week.” Designed primarily for synthetic surfaces, the Flexicomb ensures even distribution of infill materials and lifts pile. The adjustable setting gives the effect of a rake, but with the softness of a brush, reducing risk of fibre damage. It can be used with SISIS Singleplay, Twinplay or Quadraplay 34 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
mounting frames, which can all be connected to any tractor with threepoint linkage, and utility trucks with suitable frames. “We tend to use the Flexicomb three times a week, depending on the maintenance schedule, and we make
The Flexicomb has handy adjustable settings
Slit, rake, brush and roll as you go
sure we give the surface a good brush after every 10 hours of usage,” said Lee. “The pitch is our front window so we try to look after it as much as possible. The more you put into it the more rewards you reap,” he added. www.sisis.com
The INFINICUT® line of all electric precision mowers was designed to be user-adjustable to match the conditions of any given day. From the dynamic return floating head mechanism to the variable clip speed, height of cut adjustment and moveable bedknife the INFINICUT® provides more functionality than any other pitch mower. Combine that with today’s highly technical approach to pitch construction and unpredictable microclimates, the INFINICUT® ensures a healthy turf while providing an unrivaled quality of cut.
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www.replaymaintenance.co.uk
01636 640506
info@replaymaintenance.co.uk
Synthetic sports surface and athletic track maintenance that really hits the mark!
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REVOLUTIONISING MAINTENANCE
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
S U R FAC E M A I N T E N A N C E
NEW L AUNCH
BOURNE SPORT’S TRACK WASHER
THERE ARE MANY reasons to keep an artificial surface, like a running track, clean and free from natural and man-made debris. It will look nicer, but it also extends the usable life of the surface. Given the high cost of installing new artificial sports surfaces, a regular maintenance programme easily pays for itself. Another important aspect is that a degraded surface increases the accident risk and could give rise to a negligence claim against the facility’s management. Having a maintenance plan in place shows the right commitment to improving safety for users of the track or pitch. “We had these thoughts in mind when we decided to design and build a track washer to our own specification,” says Bourne Sport’s director, Peter Bourne. The machine is a key component of the maintenance service, but each surface is assessed on its own merits during a free-of-charge initial inspection. The company will employ the track washer together with other specialist equipment to enhance its effect, and each renovation is customised for the particular situation of that surface. "Artificial playing surfaces will display different wear symptoms, based on the frequency and intensity of use together with local environmental issues, and our aim is to ensure that these local issues are addressed as part of the maintenance programme,” explains Peter. www.bournesport.co.uk
The Müthing MUCollect Vario in action
SMOOTH OPERATOR
Cut, mulch and go MULCHING CAN KICK up all blockages caused by material backup sorts of challenges in low-quality or full containers. The mulch material machinery, which is why Müthing has can be ejected or drawn in either developed the new MU-Collect Vario centrally or to one side, depending on for professional grass cutting and the vehicle being used, allowing the mulching on any vehicle. machine to be mounted just as It’s available in 1.4m easily on large mowers as on and 1.6m widths for compact tractors. SEE MORE mechanical driving The MU-Collect Vario PRODUCTS powers of 20-40hp, and is able to achieve the Find out about the is hydraulically driven best possible mulch latest launches with 30 to 70 l/min. quality and shredding page 11 For ultimate performance, while convenience, MU-Collect increasing the load capacity Vario allows the user to quickly for the carrier vehicle, thanks to change between the collecting and an optimised intake and housing form the mulching functions. A feeder and the ability to smoothly adjust the auger brings the mulch material shredding rates at the cutting bar. together to ensure reliable operation, The MU-Collect Vario mulcher even under high throughput levels. is equipped as standard with a fullThe special delivery chute prevents length wear insert, durable Hardox wear runners and the tried-andtested carbide M-shackle flails. “The MU-Collect Vario Scarifying blades are also available allows the user to for the implement. These cut up and aerate the matted layer in the quickly change between root crown area to improve the collecting and mulching soil structure in the long term. An functions. A feeder optionally available operating hours auger brings the mulch counter and screw-in wear parts material together to round off the product. www.slopemower.co.uk ensure reliable operation” www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 37
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
S U R FAC E M A I N T E N A N C E
SYNTHETIC SPECIALISTS
KEEP ON KICKING WHEN A PITCH sees a huge 25-30 hours of use per week, you need a specialist to keep the surface looking and playing its very best. That’s why the Football Development Centre (FDC) at Flegg High Ormiston Academy in Norfolk enlists Replay Maintenance to help with the upkeep of the 3G area. Term-time the pitch is used in school hours by pupils, then at evenings, weekends and school holidays Norfolk FA takes over. Replay has been involved with the maintenance of the Norfolk FDC since the original facility opened in Norwich eight years ago. Replay conducts six Revive visits a year to remove contaminates and decompact and rotate the infill, which is then regraded and dressed back into the surface.
Six Replay visits a year keep this pitch playing tip top
Development officer Elliott Pride said: “Communication with Replay is great. On visit days, the operators are normally here by the time I arrive at 8am, and are normally away by midday. We then get a report detailing the work conducted, infill levels etc. We also receive weekly emails to submit our hours of play, which then generates an ‘actual hours’ figure. From this we can work out how many hours of in-house maintenance we need to conduct. “Although the surface is relatively new, it’s important to consider
that it only has a limited lifespan so working hard now to keep the pitch in good condition should help to keep it safe and playable for years to come.” www.replaymaintenance.co.uk
“Replay conducts six visits to remove contaminates and decompact and rotate the infill, which is then regraded and dressed back into the surface”
TRILO S3 - the compact and agile vacuum sweeper Rapid removal of waste, mowed grass and leaves, as well as verticutting, all at the same time!
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE
S U R FAC E M A I N T E N A N C E
PAIRING UP
Wiedenmanns get Bath race ready TIME IS OF THE essence when it comes to preparing turf for big events, stresses Iestyn John, director of South Wales contractor Peter Villars Sportsgrounds Maintenance (PVSGM). PVSGM has just doubled its fleet, investing in a new Wiedenmann Terra Spike XD6 to run alongside its Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD. “We need to cover lots of ground fast. Clients want you in and out so they can get on with their business. Even at speed, the Wiedenmann can be relied on to do a neat and tidy job,” said Iestyn. Ahead of the Easter meeting at Bath racecourse, PVSGM spiked the whole course in a normal working day. “The Bath track is about seven hectares,” explained Iestyn. “We started in the home straight with the tractors facing separate directions. Tine holders on the legs of XD are slightly further apart than the GXi8 so
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hole patterns weren’t strictly identical, but they matched closely. Both were set to 150mm deep with heave at 10° as the roots are quite shallow and there’s a base of Cotswold stone beneath. We kept to a steady 3kph.
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“Last year the same job took us two days. Now with the extra Terra Spike when we see a weather window, clients will get the benefit. We can get the job done faster.” www.pvsgm.co.uk
IN ACTION
Campey machines are keeping Moss Bank JFC in the game
MOSS BANK JUNIOR FC INVESTS IN FUTURE Club chooses Campey Turf Care Systems to improve pitch quality
Moss Bank Junior Football Club has taken control of its own pitch maintenance and opted for Campey Turf Care Systems’ machines. The Bolton-based junior football club was founded by current club secretary, Marcus Howarth, in April 2006 with just 25 players. Twelve years later it’s grown into a community hub with 350 children. “Around two years ago we signed a lease on the land. This process was a first for Bolton Council because they handed the pitches and maintenance to us,” Marcus explained. A survey conducted four years ago highlighted the compacted surface – with grass roots growing down to 3in and then growing horizontally.
Improving the pitch condition was paramount to the club’s further growth so it sought funding for equipment to rectify the problem. Ian Campbell, Campey’s UK & Ireland sales manager, recommended a New Holland Boomer 40, Trimax Striker 190, SISIS Quadraplay and SISIS Multislit to solve the turf issues. “Drainage is fine, so the work to be done is reducing the compaction. The experts have told us that by getting air into the ground the roots should start to grow down to 10in rather than the 3in they are at just now.”
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For more information, visit www.campeyturfcare.com
CLEAN SWEEP OVER TO J PREMIER PITCH AT READING FC Successful trial persuades grounds manager to switch to new seed mix
The Reading FC grounds team
40 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
Making the switch to a new grass seed after using the same mixture for 10 years is a big step, but one that grounds manager Adam Grantham made at both the Madejski Stadium and Reading FC’s training ground, Hogwood Park. Now into the second season, the switch to Johnsons Sports Seed J Premier Pitch is paying off, with the mixture delivering all of the qualities Adam looks for in top-rate surfaces. “When I first took over the management of the stadium and training facilities four years ago Johnsons was the seed of choice,”
explained Adam who has been with Reading Football Club for 14 years. “Although I could see what the Johnsons mixture was capable of, I stuck with the mixtures I was familiar with.” However, after hearing lots about the J Premier Pitch mixture, Adam decided to trial it on one of the nine pitches at the training ground. “The response we got, compared to what we were using, was far superior in terms of the colour, wear and disease resistance,” he said.
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For more information visit www.dlf.co.uk
IN ACTION
The Toro mower’s wings can be lded u t �t nt tr iler
WAVENEY NORSE OPTS FOR MOBILITY WITH TORO Firm invests in ride-on mower to meet growing demand
Waveney Norse has invested in Toro for the first time as part of a new grounds strategy. Operating as part of Norse Commercial Services, a national supplier of facilities management services to the public and private sector, Waveney Norse previously used a tractor-drawn gang mower to maintain sports fields and open spaces across the Waveney District in the east of England. The firm already covers a wide area and a growing private customer base forced it to rethink its grounds strategy. Central to this was changing from mowing with a tractor to a dedicated ride-on Toro T4240 cylinder mower.
Grounds operations manager, Richard Hackney, said: “We have been lucky enough to win new work over a wide geographic area and driving a tractor long distances is inefficient in both manpower and fuel. The Toro mower solves this problem because we can simply fold up its wings and put it on a trailer. The cutting units can be lifted and it has a smaller turning circle than the tractor. Downsizing to a ride-on mower also gives us flexibility for who can operate it. We have a 48-strong team and any of them could be easily trained to use it.”
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For more information, visit www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk
FIRM IS FEELING CHIPPER WITH NEW MACHINE New Arborist 150p ticks all the boxes for Wiltshire Countryside Services Wiltshire Countryside Services provides a variety of arboricultural and forestry services to domestic and commercial customers. The firm, founded in 1914, was having problems with its previous chipper and ended up spending more than it was worth, so owner Adam Lonsdale decided it was time to invest in a new machine. “We’d already had a demonstration of both the diesel and the petrol Arborist 130 machines, but after seeing the Arborist 150p at the ARB Show I knew that that was the one I wanted,” said Adam.
In addition to the cost saving over the diesel equivalent, Adam was particularly impressed with the output performance achieved while keeping the unit under 750kg. “The sub-750kg weight means we can tow it without a special licence. Also, because most of our work is domestic tree surgery, it can be towed by a Land Rover, quad bike or alternative, right to the spot where it’s required, leaving a minimal footprint on lawns and gardens.”
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For more, visit www.wiltshire countrysideservices.co.uk
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 43
Tools & guidance MAINTENANCE CALENDAR AND WEATHER UPDATE
W E AT H E R U P D AT E
Find out what's in store this month page 47
JULY OPERATIONS BOWLING GREENS
To assist in irrigation management, consider doing a soil moisture deficit chart, combined with your observations of the sward and dryness of the soil profile. This will act as a useful guide and can help towards reducing the costs of water used. Ensure that rink usage is spread sideways on a regular basis and the rinks are also turned 90° daily. Failure to do so will result in ‘runs’ developing, with bowls following the line of the run. Continue to mow regularly and be prepared to raise the height of cut to 6mm, especially in dry weather with strong winds on coastal areas. A good, dry sward of fescue/bent grasses will produce a faster surface when mown at this height, than an annual meadow grass, thatchy sward when mown at 4.5mm. Be careful when scarifying and verticutting at this time of year, as you do not want to stress the plant, reducing its ability to withstand wear.
CRICKET SQUARE
Besides the continuing preparation of wickets to meet user demands, the square is typically mown twice a week and the outfield once a week. Wickets that had been used and renovated earlier in the season might be able to be re-used again
if they have recovered adequately. If not carried out at the end of June, then July is a good time for a light nitrogen-only fertiliser application to the whole square, as this will help maintain sward strength without encouraging unwanted excessive growth.
CRICKET OUTFIELD
If herbicide was applied to control broad/narrow leaved weeds, this should have cleared up the problem. Continue to mow outfield with a cylinder mower at approximately 12mm in height.
FOOTBALL
The football pitch is mostly establishing itself following the end of season renovation. However, there are a number of tasks that will need attending to. Any thin areas will probably require a light topdressing, of about 1-2kg/m2. Continue mowing regularly. A light nitrogen, usually liquid, fertiliser application may be considered to encourage growth. This fertiliser application would only be given if soil moisture was adequate and there was a suitable means of artificial irrigation.
GOLF COURSES
A very light, fine topdressing to the greens may be considered to maintain even putting surfaces. Disease might be a problem,
especially red thread. Consider a light nitrogen application or a fungicide application. Bunker raking will most likely be on a daily basis. The mowing of fairways may be reduced during the dry summer months as growth slows.
HORSE RACECOURSES
the spring fertiliser application. This may have resulted in nitrogen having been fully utilised by the sward, or even leached away.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Routine maintenance work over the summer months will include: - artificial irrigation will be more frequent to produce a suitable firmness of ground for the day of a race meeting, - a liquid nitrogen fertiliser may be considered for the home straight, show paddock and ornamental lawns around the grandstand area. Alternatively, the whole of the racecourse might be treated to a light nitrogen application, - continue to divot and repair after each meeting, - weed control may be required. Continue to mow regularly, with this operation forming a significant part of total work. Do not neglect mowing on courses rested over the summer.
RUGBY UNION
The pitch establishment should be coming along nicely. Besides artificial irrigation, if required, and light topping of the sward, some additional works may be required, for example: - If any areas did not establish as well as expected then a further overseeding may be required, - A light nitrogen fertiliser application, possibly as a liquid feed, may also be considered. This may be especially prevalent if the weather has been wet since
Constant cutting is advised to thicken up the sward and create effect, also generally cut no lower than 20-25mm as to create cover for play. Irrigate if possible. A fertiliser may be required. For growth and greening up effect, then a 12-0-9 should be used. A longer-lasting but more expensive option is to use a slow release such as 18-5-18+2MgO. Scarify in numerous directions to help remove the poa annua. Overseeding may be required. Try not to cut corners with cost as this will affect the percentage of germination. Make sure markings are bright and consistent. Spray for weeds if required. On the amateur side if a renovation was completed, a light overseed or fertilisation may be needed.
TENNIS
Artificial irrigation will probably be the norm for now, so ensure application is carried out evenly. Check for any blocked or damaged sprinkler heads. Rolling will probably cease, or if rainfall has been fairly regular then it will continue to aid in firming the surface. Continue to use a spiked roller. Consider the use of a water injected aeration machine during the summer.
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 45
TOOLS & GUIDANCE
W E AT H E R
TOP TIPS • Watch out for weather stress periods – compounded by physical pressures • Monitor sunlight effects on turf health • Continue Qualibra wetting-agent programmes to optimise water use • Watch for local weather and disease risk warnings on the free GreenCast turf management website
PROTECT TURF FROM EXCESS LIGHT
W
hile June can produce ideal growing conditions, recent history of weather records show it also has the potential to pose extreme stress on turf plant health: from high heat, drought conditions and extreme sunlight, to some of the heaviest rainstorms and flash flooding. After the exceptionally slow spring this season, there has now been a surge of vigorous turf growth. Statistically, we can
look forward to the brightest month of the summer.
JUNE 2017 HIGHS AND LOWS
• Rainfall was typically 60% above average • Scotland and the north of England were, statistically, especially wet • Significant rainfall fell in Scotland on more than 50% of days • Sunshine levels in the south of England topped 210 hours – 10% above average.
JUNE 2017 AVERAGE TEMP, SUNLIGHT AND RAINFALL Average temp (°C)
Sun (hours)
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
13.6
14.2
12.7
13.9
14.5
187
178
190
138
162
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
35
54
57
102
114
8
9
9
14
13
Rain (mm)
Days with more than 1mm rain
Temperatures were again well above average in June last year, along with being wetter but with fewer, heavier rain events.
More recently, temperatures in June have been on the rise. The long-term UK average is now 13°C, but over the past two decades this has been exceeded more than 16 times. With an average of over 180 hours of sunshine in June, one of the issues for turf is getting too much light – particularly UV light – that can overwhelm plants and result in photoinhibition, or even physical damage to cells. Plants get sunburn, just like people. It is a weather stress that turf managers will increasingly have to address, perhaps using new pigment technology to protect against sun damage and keep turf looking an attractive green. Historic disease risk and weather records for June on the GreenCast website (www.greencast.co.uk) highlighted that Dollar Spot risk was less than half during a cool month, such as 2015, compared to the hotter conditions of 2014. As temperatures and stresses rise, so too does the incidence of anthracnose – the disease is now the second most prevalent affecting turf. To counter weather stresses, combinations of Primo Maxx and Heritage Maxx ahead of periods of high temperature can increase chlorophyll concentration in the leaf by up to 60 per cent, and raise levels of bioactive cytokinins that helps leaves stay green and healthy for longer. Developing a stronger root mass also creates plants better able to withstand the effects of drought.
www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 47
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GROW WITH THE IOG
NEXT MONTH US intern Amy Wiber at AELTC
NEW LEARNING
TEACHING TURF Fulfilling needs within the Pitch Grading Framework initiative, the IOG has completed the updated version of an IOG Professional Development Qualification in Turf Surface Management
he u d ted u li�c ti n hel s m int in hi h tur st nd rds
T By Chris Gray IOG Learning Programme Architect
his u d ted di l m h s een s lit int t e r c urse e r ne is the e el r essi n l erti ic te in ur ur ce n ement nd e r t is the e el r essi n l i l m in ur ur ce n ement The importance of maintaining high standards, meeting current needs of turf management, as well as ensuring continuity with the history of the IOG, has been fundamental and challenging in creating these new professional development qualifications. To further reinforce this approach, all entrants to the Level 5 diploma must have achieved the IOG Level 4 certificate as a prerequisite.
BUILDING ON INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE
Practitioners within the turf care industry can now not only benchmark themselves against the premium IOG professional turf management qualification, as in the past, but also demonstrate to others their knowledge and understanding of this diverse and changing field. e itch r din r me rk in det il
All learning is online, with the Level 5 requiring 180 hours of study and a high level of critical reflection of course material, being supported by expert tutors. The final module, Turf Futures: Developments and Innovations, builds on other modules within the course, as well as the Level 4 course, and encourages exploration of contemporary issues and visions. This module is categorised into five broad themes: Economic Environmental Regulatory Social Technological. The aim of these themes is to act as a catalyst for learners to investigate further after having achieved the qualification, and so contribute to and build-up the industry knowledge base.
SETTING HIGH STANDARDS
The IOG now has a full progressive suite of professional development qualifications from Levels 2 (craft operative level) up to Level 6 (consultant/ senior manager level) and this supports the Pitch Grading Framework, which Geoff Webb, CEO of the IOG, says “will bring much-needed clarity to what constitutes good management and standard of provision”. For further details about this new qualification, and other qualifications offered by the IOG, visit www.iog.org/learning/qualifications
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50 THE GROUNDSMAN June 2018
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