levelling, mowing/striping up, aerating and marking out ready for the next game. Mowing (two directions) using the triple takes about two hours; marking out about one hour. Gareth took over from his dad, when he (David) was promoted to Stadium Manager in 2002. David had been the Head Groundsman since 1996. They still share many of the hands on maintenance tasks. David makes a point of still doing the line marking, using a wheel-to-wheel transfer line marker. They did have a demonstration of Fleet’s new laser guided Beamrider and whilst they thought it was fantastic, the cost proved to be outside their current budget. The height of cut remains at 35mm during the playing season and comes down to 25mm for the summer closed down period. This year’s renovation programme will see the pitch verticut and scarified to open up and thin out the sward, followed by some spoon aeration down to a depth of 75mm. The pitch will then be brushed and
cleared of any debris and then top dressed with 40 tonnes of 70/30 dressing and oversown with 16 bags of MM60 grass seed. A pre-seeding NPK 15 5 20 fertiliser will be applied followed by some Headland slow release products which will feed the pitch well into December.
Just prior to the new rugby season, starting in September, Gareth will again aerate the pitch, this time using the Earthquake linear aerator set at 200 mm centres, and topdress with another 40 tonnes of 70/30. The pitch has remained fairly unchanged since it was constructed in 1891. Being soil based it has had its fair share of drainage problems in the past, however a recent programme of localised drainage works has improved matters. The club hires additional facilities at Hartpury college where there are natural and artificial grass pitches to use. David does not have an unlimited budget for the pitch and has to ensure he gets value for money when buying and procuring services. However, with such a long history of Groundmanship in his family, he is not short of a few contacts to help him achieve his aims. The stadium has a crowd capacity of
Gloucester Rugby Club looking a picture for Sky TV and the Wasps. Inset: Cricket outfield at King’s School
12,500. To ensure the club can be viable, and move forward like other Premiership clubs, its future will depend on how it can develop. There are plans to build a new 20,000 seater stadium. If that happens both David and Gareth will relish the opportunity of being able to influence what facilities should be at the new ground. Pop up watering, pitch covers, easy access and storage facilities are some items that can be improved upon.
FATHER and son are clearly very committed to the club, they travel to all the away games, where they have the chance to meet up with many of their fellow Groundsmen. The opportunity to talk shop and share ideas on how to raise standards is too good to miss. Graeme, his father, his brother Dave and nephew Gareth are great ambassadors for our industry. Their total involvement as a family represents well over 65 years, a commitment which should be applauded and recognised. There is no doubt, from my conversations with them, that they have every intention of ensuring the Balmer dynasty in Gloucestershire continues for many more years to come.
Graeme Balmer (centre) with Dave Barley and Richard Bowman
Gareth on the Toro Triple Aeration - Done in a fl ash!Using the high speed Verti-Drains
Celebrating 25 years of the
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* Price excludes VAT. 9
www.pitchcare.com/re 21 ®
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