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Dennis makes Tigers more self-sufficient

March 9, 2017/in Press Release/by Admin

After having to rely on outside assistance for the past few years, Castleford Tigers RLFC are now able to keep all of their turf maintenance tasks in-house after purchasing a brand new Dennis G860 cylinder mower. Stuart Vause has been involved with the club for 13 years part time and 3 years as head groundsman […]

Groundsman Excited To Help Out At Cricket Test

March 9, 2017/in Press Release/by Admin

You can forgive Aorangi Oval part time groundsman Jacques Marais for feeling plenty of excitement ahead of the first test between New Zealand and South Africa starting on Wednesday. Marais has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime to help out at the game. The accountant has been invited by former Aorangi Oval groundsman Mike […]

Dennis makes Tigers more self-sufficient

March 9, 2017/in Press Release/by Admin

Groundsman Excited To Help Out At Cricket Test

March 9, 2017/in Press Release/by Admin

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Dennis makes Tigers more self-sufficient

March 9, 2017/in Press Release/by Admin

Stuart Vause has been involved with the club for 13 years part time and 3 years as head groundsman after 30 years in the trade working for a local authority. In that time it is fair to say that he has had his work cut-out, which has not been helped by an ageing pitch and an overload of fixtures.

“The season runs from February until the back-end of September and the first-team has approximately 17 home games. In addition, the Under 19’s and Under 16’s play their home games here and the first team also train on it four times a week during the season. Sometimes the pitch can be used up to six times a week and that is quite a lot for an ageing pitch which has no drainage or irrigation system.”

Without having the equipment to hand, Stuart would have to rely on favours here and there from fellow local groundsmen and would also have to call in outside contractors With limited resources Stuart continued to do a remarkable job but when his ride-on mower appeared to have had its day, he knew the time had come to seek investment and look for a new machine.

“Our previous machine wasn’t really the ideal tool and we were having a lot of break-downs,” says Stuart. “My main aim was to become more self-sufficient and I wanted one machine that I would be able to complete a range of tasks with.”

“I looked at a whole range of mowers. I spoke to other groundsmen and got their advice; I did my own research looking online and comparing various mowers and looked at what other users had said about them. The Dennis G860 kept coming up and from my previous position of working for a local authority I was already familiar with the brand. We used to have Dennis mowers for a number of bowling greens and cricket wickets so I knew that they were robust, performed excellently and any replacement parts were easy to get hold of.”

As Stuart says, his research led him to the Dennis G860, which is the ideal machine for someone looking to complete a number of tasks with just one power unit. Featuring an interchangeable cassette system, users have the option of fitting different types of heads including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers, and slitters – something which Stuart is particularly impressed with.

“In my opinion, the G860’s best feature is the interchangeable cassette system – it’s unbelievable. It means that you’ve got one machine for so many jobs and it’s just so easy – one-out-one in – and if you have a good day at it, you can scarify, brush, and cut all in one day.”

“I’ve got the 8-bladed cutting cylinder, the verti-cutting cassette, the tungsten tipped verti-cutter and the soft brush – which has made my life a lot easier in clearing debris from the pitch after a game. Before I would have to use a hand-held blower and walk round the pitch blowing the debris into piles and then gather it all up. So instead of it taking me approximately three hours after a game, I can now get it done in no time at all and can collect it at the same time as well.”

“The G860 got delivered in June this year and since then, our supporters, players and even away players and coaches have commented on how the pitch has never been this good before. It’s made a massive difference.”

“I’ve always wanted to be more self-sufficient, and I now feel as though I finally am and the grass is the healthiest it has ever been. The improvements that I’ve had in just six months have been amazing so I’m looking forward to seeing how much more of a difference it will make after having the G860 for a whole year.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

Groundsman Excited To Help Out At Cricket Test

March 9, 2017/in Press Release/by Admin

You can forgive Aorangi Oval part time groundsman Jacques Marais for feeling plenty of excitement ahead of the first test between New Zealand and South Africa starting on Wednesday.

Marais has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime to help out at the game.

The accountant has been invited by former Aorangi Oval groundsman Mike Davies to come and help him for five days in Dunedin, preparing the ground at beginning and end of each day,and doing touch ups after each session.

Davies, who is the head groundsman at University Oval, spent six seasons working at Aorangi Oval before shifting to Invercargill for a season.

Marais said he was excited at the opportunity to learn off someone like Davies.

“It’ll be a great experience. I hope there’s plenty of cricket played and not much rain.”

He said the chance to ask Davies and his colleagues anything would be highly beneficial.

“I’m going to ask tonnes of questions just to make sure I’m picking up whatever I can.”

After taking charge of Aorangi in August, Marais has transformed the ground from one that was in a poor state last season to a fantastic condition, capable of hosting domestic matches again.

Marais said Davies had been incredibly helpful since he had started in his role.

“He’s always ringing me or sending me a message to see how things are going with the ground and passes on whatever tips he possibly can.

“It’ll be awesome learning face to face I think I’ll pick up so much more rather than over the phone.”

The excursion south, which will be for the duration of the test, would help Marais learn the finer details of what a groundsman’s role involves.

“It’s the nitty gritty stuff that will be very useful, like what I do if there’s been a disease and there’s no grass growing.

“How I begin to prepare a pitch a month out from a big game and any other little tips and pointers like maintaining and looking after the outfield would also be useful.”

Marais, who was born in South Africa, said it was an awesome game to be asked to help out at.

“While it’s cool my country of birth are taking on my adopted home, I would have been excited at any international match at the ground as that opportunity doesn’t come round often.”

He’s hoping he can bring what he’s learned back to his work and pass it round the clubs in Timaru.

“If I can get information to pass on to the different clubs in the region then that would be great. It’d help with some of the pitches in the area.”

To read the original article, click here

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Dennis makes Tigers more self-sufficient

Groundsman Excited To Help Out At Cricket Test

Dennis makes Tigers more self-sufficient

Groundsman Excited To Help Out At Cricket Test

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Dennis makes Tigers more self-sufficient

Groundsman Excited To Help Out At Cricket Test

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