CRICKET


Malcolm worked here for forty years and is a


groundsman of some repute, winning County Outground of the Year for The Mote many times. He works at Hollingbourne CC ground now, aged 84 and stays active


” Malcolm Bristow


busy we are keeping the grounds in prime condition. Last year, we had 133 pitch hirings, including local corporate cricket and Muslim community fun days." The main square holds twenty-four


wickets, rivalling many test ground tallies - the bottom square nine, and two synthetic practice strips. “The top square takes far more time to maintain,” Howard says. “A bit of a baptism of fire when I first took charge. Last year’s hot period was a real challenge as we only have irrigation taps in the outfield. Greywater recycling is being considered as one way to cut costs of mains supply.”


Partner Elina - in more ways than one My partner Elina started


working with me last year, marking out wickets by hand painting them, putting out boundary ropes, rolling and mowing. This season, she has got her first wickets out from start to finish


” Young William with Bob Taylor at Torry Hill 86 PC June/July 2019


“I aim to do the basics, bringing in contractors for the autumn renovations in early September as this is a huge job for a solo groundsman. They hard scarify, overseed and topdress both squares - it’s a three-day operation for five or six people.” Tasks like machinery grinding Howard also contracts out, but he tackles as much maintenance of the ageing machinery fleet as he can. “Both Tony and his predecessor Malcolm Bristow struggled to win funding for equipment.”


“Malcolm worked here for forty years and is a groundsman of some repute, winning County Outground of the Year for The Mote many times. He works at Hollingbourne CC ground now, aged 84 and stays active, playing off an 11 handicap in golf. Malcolm and Tony are still on hand if I ever need help and advice.” Cricket takes a break later in July when the popular Ramblin’ Man Fair touring rock festival comes to Mote Park, next door to the grounds. “The whole of the bottom square and one of the rugby pitches are occupied with up to 1,000 camping visitors and car parking,” says Howard.


“The Mote provides food and bar services


and extra toilet facilities are shipped in. We water surfaces well before the organisers turn up and all traces of the event have gone just a week afterwards.” “The first year here, bad weather caused major disruption and damage to the pitches, but a change in parking arrangements and better roadways have minimised that. The club receives a cut of bar and food receipts - we serve plenty of breakfast to hungover rockers.”


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