Equestrian
“
The Vredo overseeder, for example, is an excellent disc drill, but could get damaged on farmland, so we retain it for the polo clubs
An all-weather exercise track runs around the irrigation lagoon at the new Noel Farm complex
challenge on the second Billingbear pitch. Future worm cast control is causing some
head scratching. With Carbendazim withdrawn from the market, turf managers with smaller areas to treat are looking to use drag mats or brushes to remove worm casts that can interfere with both play and maintenance, but it could be a slow process on a twenty-two acre polo field! Polo presents the unique challenge of
Preparing the Gadbridge Farm pitch for the arrival of the Srivaddhanaprabha family at the start of the high goal season
“ 108 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017
maintaining fine turf on a large scale, needing powerful implements, but demanding a light tread to avoid damage. “It’s specialist kit that we don’t use in the agricultural side of the business,” comments James. “The Vredo overseeder, for example, is an excellent disc drill, but could get damaged on farmland, so we retain it for the polo clubs, plus some football pitch work for Fleet Council.” The two main tractors are examples of the
latest generation of lightweight utility power units - a John Deere 5080 and New Holland
T5 on grass tyres, combining muscle with a light tread. “We’ve worked for a number of polo clubs
over the years, and fashions and opinions change depending on the polo manager and the players,” he says. “The benefit of working for a high goal team such as King Power is that they have very high standards.” Luc and his team of six groundsmen need a serious mowing armoury for all that grass - starting off the season with a Major Swift roller mower. “It looks old fashioned, but does a great job, and they are built to last,” comments Luc. Gang mowers come in as the season approaches to get down to the playing cut height of 20mm, with an old Hayter at Gadbridge and a Lloyds, complete with rebuilt cylinders for this season, at Billingbear. “The drivers like to use ride-on cylinder
mowers for their quality finish - a Toro at Gadbridge and a John Deere at Billingbear
We’re still learning about the Shockwave - we’ve had ponies on the pitch immediately after and it was fine to ride on as it didn’t break the ground up
A stick and ball pitch at Billingbear, with adjacent pony paddocks
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 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156
