Topic: Preseason groundwork (Read 8997 times)

thecord · « **on:** March 09, 2015, 02:49:43 PM »

Managed to get out on our two squares for the first time this year at the weekend, always interesting to see how they will look after their first cut of the spring!
Has anyone else been out getting their squares in order and if so how is it going?

arsenal123 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2015, 03:41:50 PM »

I'd be interested in someone doing a prep run through of how you sort your pitches.

I play for a big-ish club so its the groundsman's duties, nobody else goes near it or is allowed near it for that matter! Hence it has largely remained a mystery to me.

simonmay5 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2015, 03:48:55 PM »

I got on our square Friday had gave it a cut and marked the pitch centres hope the weather stays good as it be for the drying out off the square

thecord · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2015, 04:02:21 PM »

For anyone that's interested I am reliably informed this site is a good resource http://www.ecb.co.uk/groundsman/

We were hoping to get a roller on ours yesterday but unfortunately it rained most of the day, that coupled with an indoor net session where I managed to miscount numbers and therefore not get a bat made it a pretty disappointing Sunday

Stuey · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2015, 04:10:28 PM »

Our distinctly average local council prepare our pitches, I believe they usually start working on them about mid April!

thecord · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2015, 04:45:53 PM »

Quote from: Stuey on March 09, 2015, 04:10:28 PM

Our distinctly average local council prepare our pitches, I believe they usually start working on them about mid April!

Oh dear, glad we don't have to rely on someone else to do ours!

Stuey · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2015, 04:54:25 PM »

Quote from: thecord on March 09, 2015, 04:45:53 PM

Oh dear, glad we don't have to rely on someone else to do ours!

To be fair the groundsman does his best, but with all the cut backs he prepares a number of local pitches plus bowling greens etc, so his hands are tied. We had our overseas assisting the groundsman with rolling the wicket (for free) a few years ago. He was an Aussie quick and literally prepared the WACA

But good ol' health and safety got involved and the next season our arrangement was ended.

Northern monkey · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2015, 05:41:38 PM »

Hoping to get up and roll the wicket and outfield if time this weekend

jwebber86 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2015, 09:17:58 PM »

was planning on brushing and cutting the square today but then a light shower happened on my way there so ended up the rough at the bottom of the field its off the pitch and gets used by kids and families.

got the roller started up always takes a little while as its a crank handle lister diesel engine. cost me less then �10 of diesel for the season

thecord · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2015, 09:56:49 PM »

I miss our old crank start diesel, used to be a proper test of your manliness trying to get it started!

jwebber86 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2015, 10:28:13 PM »

when we first got it the pipes were half blocked was an absolute nightmare to get it started

spoonbed · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2015, 11:29:22 PM »

We too have an ancient Lister crank start.
Definitely a knack to get it started- liberal spray of "easy-start), followed by a "watch out for broken wrists" crank, hopefully followed by a spew of foul smelling exhaust fumes!

simonmay5 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2015, 12:14:58 AM »

Quote from: spoonbed on March 09, 2015, 11:29:22 PM

We too have an ancient Lister crank start.
Definitely a knack to get it started- liberal spray of "easy-start), followed by a "watch out for broken wrists" crank, hopefully followed by a spew of foul smelling exhaust fumes!

We had one and it had a de compression leaver that you had to hold down when cranking then let go when you built up speed and if the Handel did not come out when it started you was very lucky if it didn't take your knee cap with it happy days

Blank Bats · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2015, 06:32:24 AM »

Quote from: Stuey on March 09, 2015, 04:54:25 PM

But good ol' health and safety got involved and the next season our arrangement was ended.

A good way around this would be to offer to pay overtime to the groundsman and get an extra hours rolling for example, the council would need to invoice you for this.

thecord · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2015, 07:46:21 AM »

Quote from: simonmay5 on March 10, 2015, 12:14:58 AM

We had one and it had a de compression leaver that you had to hold down when cranking then let go when you built up speed and if the Handel did not come out when it started you was very lucky if it didn't take your knee cap with it happy days

Yea ours was exactly the same. It's all far to easy now it's been converted to a new petrol engine

Author Topic: Preseason groundwork (Read 8997 times)

thecord

Preseason groundwork

arsenal123

Re: Preseason groundwork

simonmay5

Re: Preseason groundwork

thecord

Re: Preseason groundwork

Stuey

Re: Preseason groundwork

thecord

Re: Preseason groundwork

Stuey

Re: Preseason groundwork

Northern monkey

Re: Preseason groundwork

jwebber86

Re: Preseason groundwork

thecord

Re: Preseason groundwork

jwebber86

Re: Preseason groundwork

spoonbed

Re: Preseason groundwork

simonmay5

Re: Preseason groundwork

Blank Bats

Re: Preseason groundwork

thecord

Re: Preseason groundwork