Invaded by Cricketers

After working away all winter long and hardly seeing a soul, today for the first day this year I am invaded by cricketers. Some new guys and some established ones and I must say it is always nice to get the odd compliment as they get on to the ground for the first time of the season. Because of the rain yesterday it was decided that they would put up the nets around the two artificial pitches we have -it has to been done some time- and that they would not net on grass tonight. 

I got to ground at 12-00 lunch time as I was getting a few orders out this morning, first job was to cut the outfield, it was about ten days since it was cut, I used my Dennis mini gangs  for speed.

They don't make the very best job but they are OK for second team or a midweek cut and red diesel costs a lot less than petrol -it now costs me £27-00+ to fill up my Jerry can! (with petrol) 

I can still keep the stripes but the line between the light and dark stripes is not quite as defined as with the Mastiff.

I also got the Mastiff out and cut the square.

I think the fertiliser I put on last week is kicking in.

Two jobs done, now time to work on the practise pitch and the one for the weekend -you will have seen on the previous post the start I made on these last Thursday or Friday.

The nets looking a little better now I am hoping to have them ready for Thursday this week just need a little more rolling now.

Then it was out to the middle to do some more on the weekend pitch I have got a new brush from my Sisis Lawnman so I started by mowing the pitch the brushing mowing twice and lowering the height of cut.

New brush fit to my Lawnman it made a fine job I must say.

{Jon Latham I now have your Lawnman brush in stock you will love it}

The first of the two brush mow process.

This is the second brush/mow I think. Suns gone how dull is this picture.

These two are after brush/mow but before rolling, I did roll both pitches for around half an hour each.

Oh look whats arrived a host of cricketers. I have to watch them as there are some new guys who may not know the rules,

Don't walk across the square.

 Some of them don't understand but if every one who turned up to net throughout the season walked across it there would be a track through the middle of it. And do you know what? I am looking after it for them -but they, for some reason think I am looking after it for me- my playing days are done I am afraid. 

After a couple of looks back its off home for my tea. Today I started work at home at about 9-00 am and finished at the ground at about 7-30 pm. 

Long days but I love them.

Keep the Peace.

Hodgy.

Two Pitches Cut Out

I have been busy at the ground today starting pitch preparations.

This is the bit I have been waiting for all winter long.

I have two preseason friendlies next week-end the 14th and 15th, so it was time to make a start. I have chosen pitch number 2 which strangely enough is the second in from the edge of the square. It never got played on last season just because it is so near the boundary, this year I am going to play the under 15 on it after I get a couple or so senior games of sorts out of it. 

Pitch identified- taking the top off- mower set at about 1/2".

First cut completed.

Raked for first time.

Cleaning the rubbish from the rake.

After mowing for the second time -height still same.

Second raking.

In all I raked three times that means I mowed four times.

I then got the Sisis Rotor Rake out with the brush fit and brushed. above you can see the rubbish from the first brushing.

I brushed twice before lowing the height of cut - this is when you will be thinking what height is the machine set at now? Well to tell you the truth I don't know but what I do know through experience is that it is right for now -remember the game is 9 days away yet. I then brushed for a third time and finished off with a cut.

After the final cut for today.

Time to get the roller out. What I should have said is that this is the pitch I rolled for an hour or so yesterday and it has plenty of moisture in it, partly because I have left a good grass cover on it -till now- which helped to slow down evaporation.

I repeated the whole process on number one net.

About this time two Red Kites came flying over the ground the Crows don't like them and try to drive them away. You will need to enlarge to get a better view -I only had my 18-55mm lens with me.

All cut out raked, brushed and ready to roll.

I know I am a little late in starting preparation -hey! that's how it is sometimes at club level- but I hope to have the guys training on this next Tuesday.

Rolled and looking a bit like a pitch now.

Look at the awful graffiti, drives me mad.

Not quite white, plenty of grass still on there.

Its good to see a pitch cut out and progressing. I am still waiting to see my first Swallow/House-martin of the Summer but like the cricket season I am sure its not far away now.

Lets get the stumps in.

I intended on getting the outfield cut today but it started raining and look black and ominous so at about

4-30 I called it a day. Tomorrow we are having our Cricket Force day  I know we are a week late but at the time we set the date we thought that we would have more people this week rather than last but as with most projects that involve players they appear thin on the ground. That life at a small Cricket Club.

Have a good Easter.



What a Difference a Day Makes

From snow covered yesterday to this today. Just up the road at Headingley, Yorkshire started the life in the second division of the Championship -Kent scored 345 for 5, not the start Yorkshire would have been looking for. Must be a decent pitch for early April.

I was at the hospital this morning for a check-up, then I had to take some brush frames to the galvanisers and return some picture racks we used at or art exhibition last week. All of which means I got to the ground rather late in the afternoon. I took advantage of yesterdays moisture and started some pitch preparation rolling. I have two preseason friendlies next weekend the 14th and 15th of April  so I rolled the pitch for that  plus the junior 21 yard pitch -at the edge of the square- and the pitch I will be using for the first first team match which isn't till the 28th of the month but I thought I would get and early start on it.

If you look at the pictures above you will notice that I have not yet cut them down or raked them out this is because today with the time I had I wanted to roll just in case it dried out again.

you will also see the sheen the roller has put on the grass.

That's all for this post I hope to get a pitch cut out tomorrow.  

New Rake Trials

Tuesday morning I was working in my garage making up foams for my Magic Sponge. In the afternoon I met Phil from Brushes North West who came to collect some new brush frames from the fabricators, he also brought me a new design double rake to test and trial.

Here I am after fitting the rake direct to the three point linkage of the tractor. The seat is lifted as it had just started to rain.

Here you can see the first pass.

Look how the rake has lifted the moss, dead grass and general rubbish from the base of the sward it has also raised the healthy grass.

Look at all those bad boys.

The tines are off set giving maximum coverage.

In this view the "A" frame and fastening can be seen, the two rake heads can slide up and down the parallel sides of the "U" frame bringing them closer to each other if required. They are fixed with quick release clamps making adjustment speedy and with ease.

Phil driving the tractor for only the second time in his life, he was very nervous frightened of doing any damage.

Get out the way I coming! Where are the brakes?

The area we had raked is in the back-ground. 

This is a better view.

This double rake absolutely makes a top job -on the outfield- of lifting out debris, moss, dead grass and raises the grass -presenting it better for mowing.

Just a few of the benefits of raking are listed below.

                            1. Removing dead grass/thatch- which would prevent drainage and slow growth.

                            2. Lets air around the grass plant - reducing fungal disease.

                            3. Raises grass -for more efficient mowing.

                            4. Improves presentation -when used in conjunction with mowing.

                            5. lifts moss from surface.

They will be on sale soon either from me or from Brushes North West

  http://www.brushesnorthwest.com/

The price will be £750-00 worth every penny if you want to improve your outfield.

Snow :-Keep off the Grass

 It arrived overnight Snow!

My pickup has not looked as white since I bought it. This is what it looked like at 10-00 this morning when I set off down to the ground.

The cricket ground is not quite as high as where I live so I was not expecting as much snow down there.

Back home to make some more foams up for my Magic Sponge.

Yorkshire are due to start their first County Championship game at Headingley -just down the road- tomorrow against Kent I wonder how many people will be watching that?

Fertilised Square and Net Area

Today after sorting out some emails I went down to ground late morning. I had arranged to mow the outfield at Horsforth Hall Park -they had their Mastiff stolen around two weeks ago. I arrived at ground about 11-45, got all set up and started mowing when a few drops of rain started to fall, so in my rush to get the job done I forgot to take any pictures Doh!

With an unsettled period of weather on its way -maybe even snow- I wanted to get my square fertilised in the hope it will get washed in soon -maybe overnight.

I got my spreader out along with three bags of 11-5-5 Spring and Summer Fertiliser.

Ready with first bag loaded.

Look how yellow the nets are and they had half rate feed around three weeks ago.

You can see the square is also yellowing -rye grass is a hungry grass and to get the best out of it we have to keep it well fed.

I left Kirkstall at about 4-30 went down to yard to get some fertiliser that someone was going to collect this evening but they never rang as promised so that was a wast of time. 

So I did some office work, invoicing as some of the readers of this blog will realise in a few days time.

Tomorrow we have snow forecast over night so I plan to make some foams up for my Magic Sponge as I now have about 10 on order and clubs need them for the start of the season. I also have a meeting with Phil from Brushes North West.

I have no game at Kirkstall till the 14th so I have not yet cut a pitch out however I am not sure when indoor nets end so may have to get to work on a net very soon.

Are you reading this blog? I don't get many comments, however I do know how many visits are made. 

I am surprised how much information Google Analytics gives me -soon they will be passing it all on to GCHQ.

See you next post.

Keep smiling. 

Hodgy