Total-Play Cricket Pitch Covers The Ideal Choice for Raskelf CC

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Rain Defender mobile cricket pitch covers the ideal choice for Raskelf CC – As the winner of the Niddedale League’s ground award for their division for the past seven seasons, it’s fairly safe to say that Raskelf Cricket Club takes its grounds management pretty seriously.

Rain Defender mobile cricket pitch covers the ideal choice for Raskelf CC

When looking to replace its ageing self-built ground covers recently, the club spent a significant amount of time researching the market. With funding raised through a combination of Section 106 contributions to the council from new housing developers, an ECB Small Development Grant and the club’s own fundraising activities – including takings from the bar and BBQ when the club hosted the annual T20 cup finals day in 2015 – just shy of £4,000 was available to invest in a new solution.

Quality and value were key factors in the selection process, and it was total-play Ltd’s Rain Defender Dome mobile cricket pitch covers that stood out from the crowd. Pete Sigsworth, Chair of Raskelf CC explains:

“These new covers are much lighter than our old ones such that one person can easily push them on and off, and they are also wider so reduce the chance of water running underneath. The Geka connections are water tight and make it easy to detach the pipes leaving them in situ for temporary cover removal and replacement in variable weather conditions.

 “The service has also been impressive – the installation team turned up promptly and it took just 2 hrs to construct the covers. They were proactive in giving us guidance on how to use them – even down to how to take the tarpaulins off and on correctly so that they don’t get damaged and offered useful tips on storage and maintenance. The covers were christened within a few days by heavy rain and there were no leaks, even where the covers join – they are a great piece of kit.”

 The Rain Defender range of Mobile Pitch Covers (MPC) has been designed to offer quality, a­ffordability and value for money. The range of solutions have been designed to suit a variety of needs and budgets and includes PVC and steel-topped options with both dome and apex styles on offer. All of the covers are manufactured by total-play Ltd in-house using the highest quality materials with maximised longevity and practicality in mind.

Volunteer groundsman praises ICL iTurf programme

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Volunteer groundsman praises ICL iTurf programme – Adrian Cutliffe, Head Groundsman at Maginn Park in Buncrana, Ireland, has reported that a tailor-made ICL iTurf programme has provided him with fantastic results and excellent value for money.

Volunteer groundsman praises ICL iTurf programme

Adrian, who works for Pitch Dimensions – specialists in pitch construction and maintenance, has been voluntarily maintaining the surface at Maginn Park for the past 15 years. It is the official headquarters of the Inishowen Football League (IOFL) – an amateur league for football clubs in the Inishowen peninsula of Ireland, and is widely regarded as one of the most important pitches in the league.

As well as hosting cup finals and other tournaments, Maginn Park is also the current residence for Ireland Premier Division side Derry City FC while their pitch is undergoing renovation. With approximately 72 games per season and just a three week renovation period each year, Adrian has his work cut out to keep the pitch in good shape, whilst managing on a very limited budget.

At the start of every season Adrian and Colman Warde, Ireland Country Manager for ICL, will sit down to design a tailor made iTurf programme specifically for Maginn Park. By taking the iTurf approach, Colman and Adrian plan season-long effective programmes and solutions for establishing and maintaining healthy, resilient turf.

The programme sees Adrian start the year in early March with an application of ProTurf 20.0.7 to get the grass plant up and running.. This is followed in late April by the first of a monthly foliar application which Adrian applies from March to September. The foliar application combines ICL’s Ultimate Package 1 (consisting of Greenmaster Liquid Spring & Summer and Primo Maxx) which is mixed with Sportsmaster WSF SeaMax and Sportsmaster Liquid Fe. This combination is applied to promote denser growth, better rooting and also to build-up a tolerance to heavy wear, which is much needed for a pitch with such heavy usage.

In early May, SierrablenPlus Spring Starter is applied as a base feed, which gives Adrian long lasting results for three months.

During Adrian’s short renovation period he uses ProSelect Premium Pitch and Sportsmaster Spring & Summer to promote seed strike. Three weeks later, in early August, he will apply SierrablenPlus Active 19.5.18 + 2MgO as a base feed which will see him through until the end of the growing season. An application of ProTurf 12.5.20 is also made to help aid recovery through the autumn and winter period. This is supplemented with a tank-mix of Sportsmaster Liquid Iron Fe, Sportsmaster WSF SeaMax and Sportsmaster WSF Hi K.

As a volunteer with a limited budget, it is essential that every product works for Adrian and he believes that the ICL iTurf programme provides him with the perfect solution.

“As a premium brand, most would expect the ICL iTurf programme to be out of reach for a volunteer with a very limited budget. I would strongly argue otherwise because it has been an very cost-effective solution for me. When you sit down and do the maths, you work out that the ICL products are actually cheaper than others over a long-term period because they work so well and last significantly longer than most other products.

“The results have been outstanding and the pitch at Maginn Park has been in its best ever condition. The other thing to consider is that, as a volunteer I can’t always be here every day, so with the iTurf programme in place I know exactly where I am with everything at all times.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.