Cricket groundsmen’s association gets off the mark

Cricket groundsmen's association gets off the mark

The first meeting and social event of the Hertfordshire Association of Cricket Groundsmen took place recently at Letchworth Cricket Club.

It was formed in October 2004 in line with the ECB's facility development strategy, which encourages the establishment of such groups across all the County Boards.

Thirty groundsmen gathered to hear guest speaker Stuart Kerrison, Head Groundsman at Essex County Cricket Club's HQ at Chelmsford, who gave an amusing and entertaining rendition of life as a county groundsman. He was followed by Clive Nottingham, MD of Lloyds of Letchworth extolling the virtues of the Paladin pitch mower very much on home ground.

Philip Furner of Binder Loams then took the floor to introduce Roger Beard, his new assistant and talk about its Ongar Loam production process.

The event was rounded off with refreshments and a question and answer session with a panel formed from the guest speakers assisted by the ECB's Pitches Consultant Chris Wood, the Association's President, Rob Kendle of AT Bone Sports Solutions and Claire Kilmurray of Vitax who provided expert back up on chemical and fertiliser-related issues.