WELCOME TO
Inside
THIS ISSUE “It was a case of if it
Skills v Pay packet
EARLIER this summer I feared for our winter sports pitches with the amount of rainfall that we encountered. Roots on newly renovated surfaces didn’t have to go in search of water and I prayed for a good autumn to improve root systems.
Fortunately, this autumn has been warm and dry, which has allowed roots to develop nicely. The flip side of this weather has meant that for many lower league Groundsmen without access to irrigation, germination and summer establishment has been very good.
One downside is that the weather conditions in recent months have resulted in a significant increase in disease.
Disease and pest management is, of course, the hot topic within the industry at the moment with the European Parliament voting soon on a ban on the use of pesticides.
Fortunately, through the efforts of many people, including Pitchcare members, our British MEP’s have been left with no illusions as to the implications of a wholesale ban in the amenity market.
Britain already enforces strict rules and regulations on the use of
pesticides and these chemicals tend to be used as the last resort after cultural practices. Any
ban, or stricter legislation, must surely be for the benefit of some of our new eastern European members.
In the last few years the British industry has seen the introduction of new chemical formulations (that require far less quantities of the active ingredient being used for control), spraying equipment that uses atomiser technology and a growth in organic control products as well.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the EU aren’t over zealous in their review on pesticide use.
I have just finished judging the Rugby Football League Groundsman of the Year Award and it was immensely pleasing to witness such a high level of professionalism and expertise. In the future, hopefully, all of the thirty four league clubs will nominate their Groundsmen for this award.
Interestingly, on our message boards, there has been a debate about pay scales and what determines a skilled Groundsman or Greenkeeper against an unskilled one.
Salary is an important and contentious issue that certainly seems to require more thought and debate, particularly where pay scales are actually published.
I believe that a fairer set of pay scales needs to evolve. Together with our industry partners and colleagues it is an issue we have been considering and reviewing, and will be looking to address in the near future.
DAVE SALTMAN Managing Director
breaks raise some money and fix it!”
STEPHEN MORRIS, Bishops Castle Cricket Club
News ........................................................................................ 2-6 Bird’s Nest Snoop .................................................................. 8-9 What’s in a name and does it matter? ........................ 22-23 Environmental enhancement made simple ................ 24-25 Robert Jones Diary .......................................................... 36-37 Your turfgrass is weak old man .......................................... 38 Defining quality ................................................................ 40-43 Keeping Polo in mint condition ...................................... 54-57 The Richter Scale .............................................................. 62-63 When did you last check your roots? ............................ 74-75
PLUS • To the Manor born • Ton up for Perth Racecourse • Three easy steps • Fibrelastic • Moving Marston forwards • Time Gentlemen please! • Mr Bowls • PowerPlay Golf
KARL McDERMOTT Clontarf Cricket Club
the PC team DAVE SALTMAN
Managing Director. It’s been holiday time at Pitchcare and our Dave spent a few days in Spain topping up the sun tan and the duty frees! Then on to Germany in the company of John Deere and, to complete the jet set lifestyle, a trip up the motorway to Darlington!
JOHN RICHARDS
Operations Director. As we speak John is ‘down under’ in Melbourne, Oz welcoming Lydia May, his second grandaughter, into the world. He probably proof read the in-fflight magazine on the way, adding commas and semi- colons in his usual precise manner.
LAURENCE (WRITING) GALE
Editor. Holidays aren’t a good idea for Loz. He comes back so ‘chilled’ that his brain works overtime -a
a
worrying thought I’m sure you’ll agree! We are desperately trying to get him to write things down so that he will remember at least one thing he has been told!
PETER BRITTON
Sales & Production. Recently back from Rhodes where his son got married. It was just the tonic he needed -a
and the
gin, and the lager ... Was delighted by the televisual success of the Twenty20 World Cup. At least it took his mind off Tottenham’s worse start to the season in a decade!
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