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NEWS ARTICLES

ECB Considers Artificial Pitches For T20

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Keen to ensure the best-possible surfaces (for batsmen, anyway) for a competition seen as vital in attracting a new audience to the game, the ECB recently held a meeting with county groundsmen where the idea was discussed. ESPNcricinfo understands that Chris Wood, the ECB’s Pitch Consultant, has been charged with researching how to introduce such surfaces ahead of the launch of the competition in 2020.

There are significant pros and cons to the use of such pitches. While it would likely result in a certain homogenisation of conditions and provide even less opportunity for bowlers to extract anything from surfaces, it would also enable grounds to provide the centre-wicket pitches required by broadcasters multiple times without concerns about deterioration. Artificial surfaces might also be considered to provide uniformity of conditions for both teams, which a turf surface will not always offer.

Drop-in surfaces have also been considered but are not thought to be cost effective or provide quite the same uniformity of performance.

While long-term lovers of cricket may have reservations about artificial surfaces, the ECB’s mantra over the new competition is that it is not designed to appeal to those already watching the game: it is designed to appeal to the vast potential audience that is currently immune to its charms. The ECB feels that providing such good-paced surfaces will help create the high-scoring, boundary-filled cricket it believes will attract that new audience. It might also minimise delays after poor weather.

To that end, Wood is looking into the best options and cost implications of laying such pitches close to the middle of squares in all first-class grounds.

It is a move that will do nothing to address the increasing imbalance between bat and ball and might rob the game of the sort of low-scoring thrillers that made the 1983 World Cup final, the 2015 World Cup match between New Zealand and Australia and the 2003 World Cup match between Australia and England – among many others – so memorable. But subtlety appears to be one the likely victims of the T20 revolution.

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Another successful MDP delivered at Warwick

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The recent Management Development Programme part 1 course held at Warwick University was a sell out with 28 delegates attending from golf, tennis and city clubs in the UK, Europe and Middle East.

The delegates benefitted from education sessions focused on club operations delivered by top-rated club industry presenters including Darshan Singh on Managing Chance, Steven Brown on Food & Beverage, Rod Findlay on Club Legislation, Steuart Fotheringham on HR and Health & Safety, Bill Sanderson on Marketing in Clubs, Kevin Fish CCM on Club Governance, Duncan Ritchie on Finance and Michael Braidwood CCM on Facilities Maintenance.

The course was held at the Radcliffe Conference Centre located on the Warwick University Campus in Warwickshire and attracted delegates from England, Wales, Scotland, Spain, France and Oman all from a variety of backgrounds from General Managers to Trainee Managers and PGA Professionals.

MDP part 1 is the first of 5 Management Development Programmes that CMAE run, all designed to help Club Industry Supervisors and Managers become more informed, perform better at their jobs and help them progress on their career path in Club Management.

Kenny Monaghan, PGA Professional at Linlithgow Golf Club and a delegate on the course said: “The CMAE MDP 1 course was a wonderful experience for me. The course itself was very engaging and filled with very enthusiastic presenters from a variety of different backgrounds. This was a real eye opener for me in the world of club management and I have already started looking at what I can do next to develop myself as Modern PGA Golf professional. I would strongly recommend the MDP journey to anyone thinking of progressing with the club management industry.”

The next MDP 1 in England will be held in London from 17th – 21st July 2017.

O’Brien Sports win Bridge Street Sports Centre hockey pitch contract

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Leading sports pitch construction specialist, O’Brien Sports, has secured a hockey pitch resurfacing project at Bridge Street Sports Centre in Leominster.

Appointed by Kier Construction, under the Scape National Minor Works Framework, O’Brien’s 8 week contract involves the careful removal of the existing sand filled synthetic grass pitch and enkaflex shockpad, in preparation for the installation.

The new playing surface will feature an International Hockey Federation (FIH) approved, sand dressed Domo Hockey Extreme surface placed upon a Domoflex 5010 prefabricated shockpad.

Prior to the resurfacing works, sub base tests will be conducted to ensure the levels are in accordance with the specification.

Steve Hillman, General Manager, O’Brien Sports, said: “We are pleased to be providing sports pitch services for Kier Construction, having previously worked with them on a number of civil engineering schemes across the Midlands.

Our works are taking place within a live setting, but we understand the importance of preplanning, in-terms of traffic management and health and safety, to ensure a safe environment, along with minimal disruption is provided to local residents and people using the facilities, at all times.”

O’Brien Sports delivers natural sports pitches used for rugby, football and cricket. It also supplies synthetic and multi-use games area pitches, with surfaces suitable for just about every sport and user – from hockey clubs to school rugby and community football teams.

Recent projects, include: a 3G football pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), polymeric sprint track and car park for Broxhill Sports Centre in Romford, a 3G multi-use sports pitch for Warden Park Academy in Cuckfield and a 3G football pitch for Christ’s College Finchley in London.

Entry opens for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards 2017

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The prestigious Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year awards are returning for 2017 and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association is encouraging its members to get involved with this career-defining opportunity.

Last year Jimmy Heritage, of Maylands, joined the list of talented greenkeepers who have secured the highly coveted Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year award, which is now in its 29th year.

“Winning the award was the culmination of three years’ hard work,” said Jimmy, 25. “Greenkeeping has become such a passion for me and it is fantastic that we work in an industry where those who work hard and are dedicated are rewarded for their successes.

“I hope that there are many more highlights to come in my career, but winning Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year was certainly a great way to start, and I would encourage anyone else who is thinking about entering to get involved – you won’t regret it.”

The prize for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner is an incredible six-week scholarship which sees them travel to the University of Massachusetts to study turf management and includes a trip to the Golf Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory.

20-year-old Dan Waring, of Ashbourne, also celebrated after becoming the inaugural winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year award.

Reesink Turfcare is the UK distributor of Toro machinery and Managing Director David Cole said: “Last year we introduced a Young category to the awards and this opened up a window of opportunity to a new audience, while also re-energising the competition format. Plus, we have been able to make the entrant’s tutor and club more involved, so everyone’s a winner.”

The winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year award receives a two-week work placement at the exclusive Vidauban Golf Club in France, plus a trip to Continue to Learn at BTME.

Prizes are also available for the awards runners-up and those who nominate the students.

Being part of the Toro Student Greenkeeper awards allows nominees to meet and compete with the best greenkeeping students in the UK and Ireland.

Those invited to interview will be tested on their knowledge, not only of greenkeeping tasks, skills and health and safety, but it also incorporates understanding of the job role, personal development, and industry awareness.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year award is available to all greenkeeping students studying for eligible qualifications.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year award is specifically for greenkeeping students aged 20 years and under.

Greenkeeping students can nominate themselves for the awards, including by using the online application process, while college tutors, assessors or employers can also endorse applications.

WWF warning for Cumbria cricket

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A leading conservation organisation has warned that Cumbria’s cricket clubs could face future disruption on a scale similar to that caused by Storm Desmond.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says that increased rainfall and flooding are scientifically linked to climate change.

Keswick Cricket Club was one of many in Cumbria to be hit by flooding in 2015, when the River Greta burst its banks. Appleby Eden, in Appleby, has yet to return to its base because of the extent of the damage it suffered.

The England and Wales Cricket Board distributed more than £1m in emergency funding to flood-affected clubs last year. A further £1.6m is earmarked for this year.

“We were affected badly by Storm Desmond and there’s no doubt in my mind that Storm Desmond was a result of climate change,” Keswick Cricket Club chairman Keith Richardson said.

“Anyone with half an eye open will see that climate change isn’t just a problem in the UK but around the world. There’s always something happening somewhere. Extreme weather is definitely on the increase.”

Mr Richardson said that, in his opinion, the Government should be doing more to protect towns like Keswick – and its sports clubs – from further flooding.

Mr Richardson said that at this moment, it is difficult to predict what impact further flooding would have on Keswick Cricket Club. “It’s a hypothetical situation,” he added. “We’ve fought back before and there are people that have fought back on three occasions. But climate change is happening and there’s not enough being done about it.”

Colin Butfield, director of campaigns at WWF-UK, said: “The quintessentially British sound of leather on willow in the summer months is being disrupted by increased rainfall and flooding that is scientifically linked to climate change. It is affecting cricket grounds and many other of the UK’s favourite places, landmarks and landscapes.”

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