CRICKET
On site net facility day looking for green shoots!”
Vic remembers his first job on his first day at the club. “I called in a supplier to take soil samples and, from the results, we prepared a fertilisation programme. I’m old school and believe reps are honest in what they tell me - until they cross a line, then I never use them again.” After trialling various seed mixes, Vic found Johnsons J Premier Wicket a good fit. “It establishes quickly and germinates well in, what is, our colder climate. The east coast is fairly dry and can be windy - mainly south-westerlies in summer. Winds from the north-east can bring mist and drizzle all day, whereas the Pennines protect us from the rain coming from the north-west.” “We’re 5 to 6% colder than the Midlands and a good 10% chillier than the south-east, though thankfully far drier than Manchester and Cardiff.” Vic’s wealth of weather data leads on to a critical finding. “The Riverside has lost less Test Match play due to rain than any other UK venue,” he states proudly.
Nursery ground
Behind the Riverside lies the Nursery Ground, the base for women’s academy cricket. Sports contractor CLS Sports installed a 160ft grass training net facility in May 2018, which comes online next year to add to the six-strip square and the three synthetic pitches Total Turf laid. “CLS had laid the ground and seeded, then we had no rain for four months but the grass still germinated,” Vic recalls. “Women’s cricket is growing a lot stronger,” says Vic, “and the club is keen to develop it further here to foster the next generation of international players. Junior sides up to U15s play at the nursery ground, which hosts the Ladies Super 4, six-a-side round robin event. “Women cause far less damage to the
92 PC October/November 2019
pitches than men,” he continues. “They are not so heavy footed. Boundaries are a little shorter.”
The club also enjoys strong ties with Durham University to the south. “The club works closely with them. Players can access their gym and we use their Racecourse ground when needed, whilst aspiring student cricketers have access to the Riverside where the club assist them with training. The collaboration is a north-east tradition stretching back in time.” One of the top six varsity grounds in the
country, the university’s Racecourse venue stages the season curtain-raiser with Durham Cricket. “The three-day opener is usually a close game and a chance to talent spot youngsters,” Vic notes.
Self-effacing to the end, Vic cannot avoid the truth that he is an industry winner - lifting The Alex R Millar/Ransomes/DLF Johnsons Groundsman of the Year 2017; the first such award to a cricket grounds professional. “I believe I won the accolade for my work in training local groundsmen, not because I was the best in the business or cut the straightest grass. Being open and helpful for colleagues matters to me. I’d hoped we’d win the cricket grounds team of the year award as we had come runners-up the previous year. After all, it’s a team game, in more ways than one.” Vic’s diary, which he’s written religiously over the last fifteen years, should make riveting reading if it ever materialises as his memoirs.
What’s in the shed? Tractors
John Deere 3320 tractor John Deere 670 tractor Iseki tractor Mowers
John Deere 2653B triple mower Allett Regal 36” cylinder mower Ransomes Matador 24” cylinder mower Dennis FT510 20” cylinder mower Dennis G760 30” cylinder mowers x 2 Lloyds Paladin 20” cylinder mower
Ransomes Auto Certes 20” cylinder mower Viking 18” rotary mower Etesia 18” rotary mower Scarifier Sisis Rotorake 600 Sisis Auto Rotorake Aerators
Wiedenmann Terra Spike XP Groundsman 345HD Sisis Dimple Seeder Rollers Auto-Roller 4ft Bomag road roller Poweroll County Blotters
CMS Super Blotter Others Stihl FS 91 R brushcutter
Tractor mounted sprayer (make unknown!)
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