Hello . The British are renowned for their fascination with the weather. But when it comes to being top of the league for being obsessive about the subject, Groundsmen and Greenkeepers take some beating. It dictates everything we do.

It’s been a fantastic year for sun lovers and sportsmen and women, but not so for sports grass growers. It hasn’t been a complete disaster providing you have had a good supply of water, but the long hot, dry days have put the grass plant under a lot of stress and it will take some cooler autumn weather to get the playing surfaces back to their best.

Now is the time to start planning for what the winter is likely to bring. Frost and rain covers, drainage work and weather services need to be arranged sooner rather than later.

As I mentioned previously, it is also a good time to put pressure on your club Treasurer and/or chairman regarding budgets for next year. Get their support for an irrigation system before the difficulties of this year’s dry summer are all but forgotten.

Regards
Dave Saltman
Managing Director, Pitchcare.com Ltd

Head and shoulders above the rest
The UK's tallest man, Chris Greener, was a guest of Pitchcare at this year's Saltex. Chris, who is 7'6", spent a hot but very enjoyable afternoon visiting all the exhibitors who had kindly agreed to display and distribute our Saltex special newspaper. Chris was a great hit with everyone he met, but especially Clive Nottingham from Lloyds. Clive is 6'8"; and it was a novel experience for him to have to look up to somebody else!

Pitchcare would like to express our sincere thanks to Chris for the impressive way he took time with the exhibitors, and the interest he showed in their products. It was a pleasure to meet him.

Our newspaper was well received with 26 exhibitors displaying them on their stands. In total, around 3,600 were distributed at the show.

Synthetics are here - you have been warned!
You may not have noticed, but the testing of a UEFA approved synthetic surface under match conditions has commenced in the UK. Competitive matches on the surface have also been taking place in Russia, Austria and Sweden. Performance reports and information from players will be collated over the next two years when UEFA will decide if it will be introduced as standard for European matches.

Should this happen then it will only be a matter of time before synthetics are required as standard in domestic leagues. It could be the beginning of the end for grass football pitches.

Technical Merit Award in association with Tillers Turf
August's winner of the ever popular Technical Merit Award is Charles Johnson from Woking. Charles has chosen to take a day relaxing at a spa.

The September stage of the Technical Merit Award 2003 in association with Tillers Turf is now underway. You have until the 30th September at midnight to answer 8 multiple choice questions and, optionally the topical issue question. You will receive one free entry into the monthly draw for each multiple choice question that you answer correctly, and the prize is to be chosen from this list. If you choose to complete the topical issue question, your answer will be read by our panel of judges, and you stand a chance of winning the Technical Merit Award 2003 and a luxury all-inclusive £2000 holiday.

Weather - Speak directly to the duty forecaster
Forecasting what the weather is going to do is critical to a Groundsman or Greenkeepers work, which is why we only deal with the best. The Pitchcare weather is provided in conjunction with British Weather Services and John Kettley.

The services available range from our free postcode forecast, direct telephone access to a BWS forecaster, and faxed or emailed forecasts. We guarantee to have a service that meets your needs.

To check out the full range of Pitchcare weather services, please click here.

Interview Room
Belated, but as promised, we have re-arranged a date for our live forum with SISIS. This will take place on Thursday 9th October, and on the keyboard answering your questions will be Keith Vertigan, the UK Sales Manager. Topics of discussion will include aeration techniques and benefits of scarifying. The forum usually lasts for a couple of hours, so if you would like answers to some of those burning questions please join us.

Hot Items
In the Spring, Blackburn Rover's Steve Patrick, invested in a Koro machine so that he could undertake his summer renovations in-house. Read how the work went and how the Ewood Park pitch is now responding - on the site soon.

Chemical control of diseases in managed amenity turf may become more limited over the next few years as a result of the European review of all plant protection products used. Dr Ruth Mann of the STRI advises on how to develop a good Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy which makes the best use of those fungicides we have and ensures that we keep the active ingredients working as efficiently as possible without encouraging field resistance in our pathogen populations. Read it here.

Work on the website continues unabated. Not only is it now, more visually appealing but also easier to navigate with the key areas prominently identified. Many thanks to all the members who have offered suggestions and advice. Improvements and new areas will be added as we go along.

Recently Toro and Lely (UK) held the first Turf Professionals Club conference in Barcelona. They assembled 17 top professional Groundsmen to meet and discuss a range of topical issues to help take the industry forward in the future. For the full story, click here.

Cricket Groundsman of the Year
The closing date is drawing near. You need to get your entries in by Tuesday 30th September. The Competition is designed to raise the interest and awareness of Groundsmanship and to encourage and promote Groundsmen in Cricket at all levels.

The categories for the Cricket Groundsmen of the Year Award are to be judged in the following:

1. Club
2. School
3. Local Authority

The Competition Board will select 9 Winners from the nominated entries who will be invited to attend the Presentation, at Lord's, in December 2003. (Regions - North East, North West, East/West Midlands, South West, South East, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.)

The award may be nominated for the outstanding Quality of the playing surface, General Upkeep of the Ground, Longevity of Service or an 'against all odds' type of Achievement Award.

Click here and fill in the on-line form or send your nomination to Pitchcare at our address below.

Sales
Second hand machinery in the Barter Room include a Ransomes G-Plex, a SISIS Hi Lift Litamisa, a Stothert and Pitt roller, a greens Aerator, a Hayter Triple mower, plus many more. Over 50 machines in total. Click here to view.

Shop specials include the Bowdry at £475, Harrod UK multi size goal for £75, BMS Dewbrush for £52.25 and a SISIS Soil reliever at £8975. For more specials click here.

Autumn/Winter fertiliser required? Check out our prices for group or bulk purchases. Tel +44 (0)1902 824392.

It's not just the players who drive Ferraris!
Andrew Fuller and Nigel Osborne set up Lamberhurst Engineering Limited some six years ago. They're the sole UK distributor of Ferrari tractors and can supply all models in the range from 26hp through to 83hp. All models are available with either articulated steering or front wheel steering, are four-wheel drive and equipped with roll hoops as standard. Cabins are available and priced according to the required specification.

Like the cars bearing the same name, a low centre of gravity means that they're suited to undertaking all types of work both quickly and safely.

For sales and product information in the UK please contact Andrew Fuller on 01892 890 364. Email Lamberhurst Engineering. Pictured above is Andrew with the UK's tallest man, Chris Greener, at Saltex.

Contact Us

Advertise
Your company and products with the industry's leading online publication

View Marketing Opportunities - or call us now on +44 (0)1902 824392 to get yourself online

Forward
Please forward this newsletter to a colleague to spread the word. Fill in their name and email address and click 'Forward.'