Tools of the trade Double Ring Infiltrometer
Root mass in mm (2008) Root mass in mm (2009)
Dean suggests where teams are able to warm up, keeping them off the shaded areas during the winter months. Good communication with both the home and away team managers usually ensures the pitch is protected from unnecessary wear and tear.
Dean has a good working
relationship with his line managers, particularly Paul Sergeant, the club’s Chief Executive who respects and understands the role of the groundsman at the club. Dean was recently asked to deliver a Powerpoint presentation to the players on the work required to maintain a modern stadium pitch. His presentation lasted thirty minutes and was well received. He says that, now they have a better understanding of his role at the club and the issues he faces, he hopes it will help him when it comes to how the pitch is used for training, warm-up etc. It is a
South side root mass in mm Rest of pitch root mass in mm
proactive approach that is to be commended.
End of season renovations, Dean hopes, will include koroing off the pitch and overseeding, however, if this is not possible, he will invest in a tractor mounted scarifier and ensure he gets as much debris out of the pitch to enable some new seed material to be sown. Dean and Sion are aware the pitch is still settling down and will continue to ask questions of their ability to manage it. That, Dean says, is what makes this job so fascinating and challenging, as you never know what it will throw at you next. And then there’s the latest technologies to keep abreast of, one being lighting rigs, the benefits of which he fully understands. However, until the recession is over, and gate receipts improve, he does not see the club being able to provide these.
Everyone at Scarlets is settling in to their new home, and the pitch looks to be in very good hands.
This is a simple, inexpensive method for determining permeability of soils. The infiltration rate is controlled by the least permeable zone in the
subsurface soils. With the Double Ring Infiltrometer, it is easy to test several areas of a large tract to find the infiltration rate. It also provides comparative information that is useful for determining erosion rates, leaching and drainage efficiencies, irrigation patterns and rainfall runoff. The instrument consists of two concentric rings. The outer ring is 24” diameter; the inner ring 12” diameter. The two rings are driven into the ground and partially filled with water. The double ring design helps prevent divergent flow in layered soils. The outer ring acts as a barrier to encourage only vertical flow from the inner ring. The water level is maintained for a specific period of time, depending on the type of soil and permeability level. The volume of water needed to maintain a specified level and the time factors are recorded. This information is converted into a specific infiltration rate.
TWENTYQuestions
Dean Gilasbey - beige is not his favourite colour, but Megan Fox and South Africa seem to be an attraction!
fact that everything has to be PC nowadays. This country is getting ruined by them.
What would you change about yourself? Too many to mention!! Does my bank account count?
Who wouldn’t you like to be? Robert Mugabe.
Who are you? Deano to my mates and Dean Gilasbey, Head Groundsman at Scarlets, to others
Family status? Two children, Theunis and Xhosa, both very similar to me but in different ways! Oh, and I’m married, to my lovely wife Rebecca (if she reads that I may have a chance of some lurve making tonight!!).
Who’s your hero and why? Nelson Mandela, the guy is a genius.
What is your dream holiday? With my kids, anywhere in the sun. On my own, I would go to South Africa.
What annoys you the most? Beigest people, those who invent stupid rules. The
Favourite record, and why? I love all kinds of music. However, as you’ve asked for one, this one stands out. Soweto String Quartet, soft music that you can just lose yourself listening to. Also, for everything big that happened in my life, I played that music - my boys were born with those songs playing.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? I guess I am supposed to say my wife, but seeing as how we are allowed to dream sometimes, I’m gonna say Megan Fox. mmmmm.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Kids family holiday, then a lads p**s-up in South Africa.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? A guitar, because it is sometimes loud, sometime soft, sometimes way out there and sometimes contemporary.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? In the words from the King of Construction, John Hewitt ... It is what it is!!!
What’s your favourite smell? The smell as you first get off a plane in another country.
What do you do in your spare time? Mess about with kids until I, or we, get told off by the wife!
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? Is it real grass? Duh!
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Got to be the SISIS Javelin, watch this space.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Well, Dan Duffy always calls me ‘an f-ing idiot’ so that could count! I’m sometimes a boffin, sometimes a wind- up merchant!!!
What talent would you like to have? To turn my pitch into the best pitch ever!
What makes you angry? Rip off Britain.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? To stop Britain charging us twice as much for products than we can get for from other countries.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132