As the busy pre-season preparation period approaches, there are three forthcoming training and demo events which will hopefully be of interest to both new and experienced groundskeepers from our Devon-based cricket clubs.
Attend as many as you like, but please let us know if you’re coming!
Hybrid Pitches coming to Heathcoat Cricket Club
The 2024 cricket season will see the first hybrid pitches in use in the Devon Cricket League. Heathcoat CC have committed to install two hybrid pitches at their picturesque Knightshayes Court groung, with installation work scheduled for the week commencing February 26.
Heathcoat CC Chairman, Dean Edwards is looking forward to the installation work commencing. He said:
"Heathcoat Cricket Club are incredibly proud to be the first club in Devon to install two hybrid wickets. We have a busy fixture list at Knightshayes with over 100 matches being played in the 2023 season. We have decided to invest in the hybrids to help with the attrition on the square.
Hybrid wickets should show considerably less wear and enable the club to play more matches on these two strips than traditional wickets. Hybrids offer a consistent bounce and assist drainage encouraging root growth. We are very excited to see the installation commence in February 2024."
The club in conjunction with installers SIS Pitches, have kindly offered a 'drop-in' open day during the pitch installation for any club grounds persons who may be interested in finding out more about this new concept in pitch play.
- When: w/c February 26 (exact date will be confirmed)
- Time: 10am-3pm
- Venue: Heathcoat CC, Knightshayes Court, EX16 7RQ
Some reasons why a club may wish to consider investing in a hybrid pitch on their square:
- Greater wear tolerance, making them ideal for match play and/or practice
- Added durability, allowing for greatly increased pitch usage through a playing season
- Faster recovery, enabling increased usage
- More consistent performance throughout a pitch's lifespan
Further information can be viewed on the SIS Pitches website or consider coming along to the 'drop-in' day to ask the professionals who will be in attendance.
Should you be interested in attending the 'drop-in' event at Heathcoat CC, then please complete the online intention to attend form. This is important as the scheduled installation date is subject to weather and other potential factors and therefore we would like to be able to notify attendees when the date is fixed.
South West Grounds Maintenance Day
The Somerset Cricket Foundation have once again partnered with leading turf care providers in the industry to deliver this exciting event. It is aimed at all grounds persons involved in cricket grounds preparation, from grassroots recreational clubs to educational and commercial providers.
- When: Tuesday, March 12
- Time: 10am-3pm
- Venue: The Cooper Associates County Ground, TA1 1JT
More details will follow in the coming weeks but anyone interested in attending must complete the online booking form before March 4, 2024. You will not be able to attend if this is not completed in advance.
Devon Cricket - Pre-Season Grounds Management Day
Having received several requests to offer this event on a weekend and thanks to the cooperation of Abbottskerswell Cricket Club, we have managed to coordinate a training and demonstration day for Devon cricket club grounds persons on Saturday, March 23, starting at 10am and finishing at 3pm.
A full itinerary will be prepared and circulated in the coming period. It is intended to provide some useful training on pre-season pitch preparation, following GMA guidelines. The training will be targeted to both new and experienced groundskeepers, with a focus on sharing the knowledge via open discussion.
We will also be holding a one-hour overview session on pitch preparation and protection for our women cricketers and women generally interested in grounds management.
Additionally, both DGM and Dennis/Sisis sales specialists will be on hand to provide some interesting demos on new machinery technology including e-mowers (pedestrian and GPS robotic), Sisis QuadraPlay Turf Management and Major Roller mower decks amongst others on display.
Hot and cold refreshments along with hot bacon rolls will be available during the day.
At this stage, we are looking to gauge interest levels from our county cricket clubs, please complete this separate online intention to attend form with some basic contact details. We would like responses back by Friday, March 1. Please don’t delay, let us know you're coming today!
- When: Saturday, March 23
- Time: 10am–3pm
- Female Grounds Education: 10am-11:30am | SIGN UP
- Venue: Abbottskerswell CC, TQ12 6DF
