How Oundle School’s Grounds Team Met Record Demands
How Oundle School’s Grounds Team Met Record Demands: With 257 matches and extreme weather to contend with, the team share how planning, machinery choice and adaptability kept standards high.
It has been a season like no other at Oundle School. The grounds staff not only prepared surfaces for the school’s extensive fixture list, but also supported Northants Cricket Academy, a testament to the quality and reputation of the school’s facilities.
How Oundle School’s Grounds Team Met Record Demands
The workload placed on the team has been immense:
- 257 cricket matches hosted,
- 60 pitches prepared across eight squares,
- plus ongoing upkeep of 11 rugby and football pitches.
These achievements came against the backdrop of one of the most challenging starts to the year for grounds professionals nationwide. The first half of 2025 was marked by prolonged dry spells, minimal rainfall and increased pressure on irrigation resources. Across the sector, grounds teams have reported increased difficulty in maintaining turf quality under these conditions, with fixture demands often compounding the pressure.
To help meet these challenges, the Oundle team reviewed their equipment and invested in a new battery-powered mower to support both performance and sustainability.
For Sam Wyles, who has been part of the grounds team for over a decade, the season highlighted just how important reliable and versatile machinery was in coping with demand.
“I’ve been here for 10 years and we’ve always had a lot to manage, but with 257 matches this summer, it was on another level. We knew early on we needed a mower that could handle long days, give us flexibility and help us reduce the strain on the team. The ES-510 hasn’t disappointed.”
The decision to switch from petrol-powered equipment to a battery-powered mower was not made lightly. The team carried out research, spoke to colleagues at other schools and tested options. After a successful demonstration from Dennis’ sales manager, Jason Briggs, the school chose the ES-510.
“We did some research and found that the ES-510 had a really good battery life. We’ve had friends and colleagues in other schools that have used the machine and it came highly recommended; it hasn’t disappointed. It’s built to last and robust.”
For the team, the benefits quickly became clear: low noise, zero emissions, reduced HAVs and long-lasting battery power.
“We use a lot of petrol-powered machinery and we’re finding that we need to reduce HAVs wherever we can. So, we’ve moved to battery-powered equipment and this has not disappointed. The ES-510 doesn’t need much of a grip to hold onto it, so there’s less strain on your wrists and the reduced handle arm vibration levels have really been noticeable.”
Noise reduction has been another benefit in a busy school environment.
“Noise levels are an issue for us. The quieter machine has made it a lot easier. We can start a bit earlier without affecting anyone else around us.”
With zero emissions and a full day’s battery life, the mower supported the school’s sustainability ambitions as well as its practical needs.
“We’ve been using this mower to prep our cricket wickets. We used to use petrol equipment, but we found that we can get a full day’s running out of this with the batteries.”
Time was at a premium all season and versatility quickly became one of the mower’s standout strengths.
“The versatility of the ES-510 has made a real difference. We can quickly swap between cassettes, brushing wickets one moment, then switching back to a cylinder the next, which means we need fewer machines to do the same range of jobs. The ability to adjust the cylinder or the cutting height without tools is really easy and saves time. Importantly, we can set the walking speed and the clip rate separately and the machine automatically keeps the clip rate consistent even if the speed changes. That gives us a better, more uniform finish while ensuring everyone on the team can work at the same pace.”
Even with the packed schedule, standards were never allowed to slip. The built-in back-lapping feature in the controls allowed the team to keep the mower and grass in peak condition all through the season.
Grounds Manager Gary Peden reflected on the decision to invest:
“The school is deeply committed to becoming more environmentally friendly and sustainable. After chatting with Richard at Oakham School, who uses this particular model, we went for the Dennis ES-510. It has given us the confidence to maintain the highest standards across every cricket pitch and square while using electric power. Its battery performance, low noise and versatility have allowed the team to work more efficiently; it’s been a huge step forward for us.”
Looking back, Peden says the investment has given the team confidence to maintain the highest standards across every pitch, while also moving towards more sustainable working practices. For schools and clubs facing similar fixture pressures, he believes the lessons learned this season will be invaluable.
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