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Summer Sports - Cricket


Specialist sports turf contractor, Wayne Duggan, was engaged to spread and dragmat topdressings across the square following end-of-season scarification and overseeding by Tim


committee that understands the importance of maintaining top-class presentation of the square and outfield throughout the playing season”


fortunate to have a


“We are


rarely straying inside the boundary ropes where Tim’s skills and dedication have been given virtually free rein since he took up his post in the autumn of 2009. Recalling the events that led to his appointment, Tim explained that he first heard about the job when attending a groundsman’s training course being given by Len Smith, former head groundsman at Glamorgan County Cricket Club.


“Len mentioned, after class, that Cowbridge was looking for a cricket groundsman to take over from Bernard Cooke who had been doing a sterling job for many years but was wanting to take life a bit easier,” said Tim. “I made contact with the club the following day, was interviewed within a week and was delighted to be given the job, helped by a good reference from Len Smith.” Tim explained that he had entered the turf maintenance profession rather late, being in his mid thirties when he left the building supplies trade to embark on a totally new career. “You could describe me as a mature,


yet keen student of the art of groundsmanship,” he said. “Having spent my early working life stuck in an office, I got the urge to work outdoors. I’ve always been keen on sport and reckoned that you can’t be much further outdoors than working as a groundsman, so I set about training for my new career.”


Starting work at Cowbridge Cricket Club in October 2009, Tim was responsible for preparing the square for the 2010 season, producing all of the wickets used by the club’s teams that year, before embarking on autumn renovations. In 2011, Tim was asked by the committee of Cowbridge Rugby Football Club if he would be willing to repair, set out and line-mark the rugby pitch ahead of matches, becoming, in effect, groundsman for both cricket and rugby clubs based at the ground. “The pitches are adjacent to each


Morning of a match sees the creases being neatly marked out


44 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014


other, with the groundsman’s shed positioned strategically between the two playing surfaces,” pointed out Tim.


“Although there is an overlap between cricket and rugby in April and August, I could see no problem in taking on added responsibility for a winter sport. I was glad also to have the work through the winter.” Tim explained that pitch set-up and white-lining takes him between two and three hours a week, his spray-type marker also being used in the summer around the cricket ground’s boundary. Mowing is currently outside Tim’s


remit as the rugby club does not own a suitable machine, preferring to employ a local contractor to trim the pitch, as and when required.


“I would love to have a ride-on rotary mower for the rugby pitch which could be used out of season on the cricket outfield,” commented Tim. “It would allow me to keep the grass at an optimum length for rugby and not rely on a contractor who is not always available at exactly the time that the grass needs attention.” “However, I do understand that the two clubs have to prioritise their available funds, and a ride-on mower for use primarily on the rugby pitch is not a priority at the moment.” Tim has fared rather better when it comes to keeping the cricket outfield in trim following the club’s purchase, in 2008, of an Allett Regal 42 cylinder mower with trailing seat. “We are fortunate to have a committee that understands the importance of maintaining top-class presentation of the square and outfield throughout the playing season,” commented Tim. “The Allett is ideal for the job, producing a good cut and clear stripes whilst also beneficially rolling the turf. Cutting height is set between 12mm and 15mm during the season and 18mm to 25mm out of season, depending on the weather and weekly grass growth.” For overall mowing of the square, Tim uses a 60cm Ransomes Matador, keeping his Ransomes Super Bowl 51 for preparing individual wickets, cutting no lower than 4mm ahead of a game. “When it comes to first team wicket preparations, I start work around ten


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