Last Few Weeks

Here are a few photos of the past few weeks "No Time" for anything more at moment.

Just to say I have started some more seed trials on my square this time I will explain in a later post.

Henry and I heads down at Farsley C C

Its so frustrating when the loam bags are not properly sealed and you end up with the stuff all over the place,  at almost £5-00 per bag I expect better.

A break down snapped a blade so had to take them out and move them all down to avoid a gap in the middle. #downtime.

Team photo at Steeton CC last game of the season.

Poor choice of material from Sisis cast Aluminium the replacements are fabricated steel much better choice only wish Sisis had sent the new dia bushes or at least told me of the change. 

 A wet morning a couple of weeks back at Kirkstall.

 Pick up load of rubbish  at Old Mods a while ago.

Richie with Marks dog Toby.

The aftermath of the seventh break in at Kirkstall C C

Post more later as time permits I have my art Exhibition starting this Thursday with loam still to deliver and squares to complete it is still hectic.

See you soon 

Hodgy

6th Break-in

Our Season ended last Saturday so I have been trying to get as much loam out as possible before I start on Autumn renovation. So I thought I would get my loam from yard to ground which I did about lunch time today. 

This is what I found when I got to the club.

The sixth break-in since April.

 We are trying to get security on the inside of the windows but every time this happens it takes us that much longer to save up and with the season ended now bar takings will be much reduced.

I hope our local MP Rachel Reeves will be able to help out by "lobbying" the new Police Commissioner.

We are a community Cricket Club serving the people of Kirkstall  and crimes like this are a constant drain on time and club resources as well as having an effect moral. 

Another window to board up.

The Bradford League finished the week before us so I was able to get a couple or square completed last week.

Jobs are never without there problems here I had a broken tungsten Scarifier blade so had to move the remaining one down so I didn't have a gap.

The following day I broke another so ordered a new set from Sisis at a cost of £323.95 plus carriage of £15.00 and vat total Invoice for £406.74 

I hope my customers understand that when I come along and work on their grounds I have to charge what I do in order to keep my expensive machinery going and make a small profit cause without a profit I wont be around next year.

This was about a third of what we got out of the square.

I got my two of the square practise pitches scarified and top dressed. The seed is coming through as I make this post.

I have had my colleague Martin down to spray off five pitches in an attempt to get rid of the Poa Annua  Annual Meadow grass that weed grass that all groundsmen hate.

Here you can see two of them.

Last Friday before the final game of the season I got the square cut right down as far as the mower would go. The lines you can see are from the raking I did in order to lift the grass to present it better to the mower and to lift the horizontal growth.

The final 1st team game for Kirkstall was at Steeton and as is usual I went along to watch, while walking down the lane to the club I couldn't help but notice how good the football pitch looked.
I don't know who the groundsman is but I was impressed with his work.
Well done Sir.

I got the feeling of Deja Vu when I saw the square this morning surely we can't have another autumn like 2012
Off to bed now.
Hodgy

No Time!

Since my last post we have had the Club Presidents day, IOG Foundation Course, I have taken delivery of some of my loam, fertiliser and seed and I have started delivering.

The Airedale and Wharfedale have two more weekends but the Bradford League finish this next weekend.

As a result it will be a juggling act delivering and working on grounds especially next week.

I like where ever possible to get all my delivery's done before the end of the season then concentrate on scarifying top dressing etc but this year it will be difficult. 

 Traditional shots before the Presidents day match.

Ex players travel from far and wide to play in this fixture here is Neil Warmsley -Wally- all the way from Dubai. 

Top player all rounder scored a double hundred along with Andy Siddall when they smashed the league record a few years back. Very useful opening bowler as well, oh and I forgot when that didn't work he bowled off spin. 

Stop it! Wal.

Looks like this could be a long day.

No glasses on the square please boys.

Waiting to bat seated Right Sam Lavery, Jimmy Lee, Toby Telfer.

Our own very special chef Mick Savery cooked a sit down meal in the clubhouse for over 30 people.

Top food. 

Top drinking. 

Top day.

 Not sure what time I got home but I believe it was daylight when some left the place.  

we had a big clear up the next day and there were some thick heads for sure.

There had been a suggestion that I should play on Presidents Day but when I went to the garage for my kit this is what I found I think the message was pretty clear the mice had put an end to my career.

Not a bad thing I have had a very good time over lots of years. 

I believe in training for groundsmen so we at Kirkstall facilitate the IOG/ECB foundation courses Spring and Autumn.

The above photos show the latest batch, I think they had a good day by the positive feedback.

As you can see it is a practical hands on course where candidates can try using the various machines under supervision. they also go through the theory so they can understand why certain processes are undertaken.

"Groundsman Bounty"

three and a half pounds picked in 20 minutes. Blackberry and Apple Jam on my toast now. 

Nice!

Just some of the Loam I have to deliver in maximum 2 ton loads

I hope you have all got materials ordered and working parties sorted need to get on as soon as you can, never know how long the weather will hold up for rain forecast for Friday.

Got to go now.

No Time!

Hodgy