EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS
If you start mixing different loams and layers, the pitch can absorb ball bounce differently and can
” One man and his dog
where you can include a cathedral, a castle and a prison in a single photograph,” Paul states. “A favourite spot with photographers.” The cricket festival held here for so many years has given way to Durham Miners’ Gala. “The all-day jamboree attracts 20,000 people. Labour leader [at the time of writing] Jeremy Corbyn spoke at it recently,” Paul reports.
Durham CCC played their first four-day game here (against Leicestershire) after election to the county championship in 1992, and also practised here. “I recall then head groundsman Tom Flintoff flitting from ground to ground while the club was building the Riverside Stadium.”
“They installed our scoreboard and practice wickets, before playing their last game at the Racecourse in 1995, when Ian Botham played for them,” Paul says. Paul applies four or five bags of topdressing a season to the square, repairing wicket ends as needed. “I prefer Surrey medium loam as it’s easy to work, but have left the original heavier Barbary loam in place on one of the strips.”
“If you start mixing different loams and layers, the pitch can absorb ball bounce differently and can develop unevenness. You end up with a Liquorice All-sorts. My message is; always be consistent with your dressing.”
Such an open 20-acre site can create security issues, Paul explains. “We’ve suffered problems here - people coming in, worse for drink, removing things and causing extensive damage. One year, a small roller was found dumped in the river. This is an alcohol-free zone now.” Here is also home to St Cuthbert’s Rowing Club. “In its 170-year history, there have only
Machinery maintenance check
been two years when rowing has been cancelled - five years ago and this year,” says Paul.
Chatting in the period changing rooms transports you straight back fifty years, when a hook and a bench seat was all you’d expect by way of provision, along with a line of chilly-looking open showers. Quintessentially quaint in its own way. “I relax here to eat my lunch,” Paul notes, “usually home-made sandwiches.” “I’ve enjoyed my time working in this beautiful environment, with, frankly, very little interference. You can’t say that about many jobs, can you?” Time to Ieave Paul, mounting the Trimax Striker 190, ready to speed-mow the turf in
develop unevenness. You end up with a Liquorice Allsorts. My message is; always be consistent with your dressing
warm, bright sunshine.
A wave of nostalgia washes over me at what is such a classically English sporting scene, too seldom seen now, swallowed up in the country’s relentless race to intensify provision and boost participation. But as songstress Joni Mitchell wrote: “Something’s lost, but something’s gained, in living every day.”
Images © Speedmediaone
Last job of the day for Paul at the Racecourse Ground PC December/January 2020 103
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