CHESHIRE ASSOCIATION OF GROUNDSMEN

www.cag.org.uk

 

Chairman                                                              Secretary                                              Treasurer

Nick James                                                               Brian Jarrard                                            Dave Twiney

8 Buckingham Way                                                  4 Littler Lane                                          31 Clay Lane

Timperley                                                                Winsford                                                  Timperley

Cheshire                                                                   Cheshire                                                  Cheshire

WA15 6BD                                                              CW7 2NF                                                WA15 7AF

nicholas.james5@ntlworld.com                                brian.jarrard@hotmail.co.uk                     davetwiney@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2012

 

Soon be time to think about cricket and pitch preparation. Here are some important events and dates to put in your diaries or electronic gadgets you received for Christmas.

 

Open Meeting

An open meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 14th March at Cheadle Cricket Club, 225 Kingsway Cheadle STOCKPORT Cheshire SK8 1LA, at 7.30pm for 8.00pm.

Nick James has managed to get Alan Lewis to agree to speak on the following topic: SOIL SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS IN SPORTS TURF. As you can imagine this can lead to all sorts of questions and issues so should be a good stimulant.

 

Alan is a Technical Director of TTS and has worked in sports surface development and construction for over twenty five years. During his career, to date, he has achieved numerous qualifications including 'The Institute of Groundsmanship' (IOG) National Diploma, the 'Master Groundsman of the Year Award' in 1991 and has successfully gained his Masters Degree in Sports Surface Technology from Cranfield University. The MSc qualification combines all the major components which are required for a sport surface consultant and is the highest qualification a sports consultant can achieve.

 

Prior to starting TTS, Alan was Head Groundsman at the prestigious Shrewsbury School in Shropshire. With his practical and technical knowledge, Alan also provides a very important role within education. Working in connection with the IOG he has presented training courses for the England & Wales Cricket Board, The Football Association and The Rugby Football Union. In conjunction with Pitchcare Ltd he designs and presents training courses for groundsman on both summer and winter sports surfaces.

Alan Lewis is internationally renowned as the best and most knowledgeable Sports Turf specialist in the business. As a consultant he has overseen the construction of over 100 cricket squares and sports grounds and is an expert in all aspects of Sports Turf management. His schedule is extremely busy and we are most fortunate to have secured his services for this one off event

 

I would urge you all to support the CAG and Alan by attending as you will not often get the opportunity to ask questions of the best in the business.

 

Training Courses

A Foundation A Course has been organised for Wednesday 28th March at Warrington Sports Club this has been arranged through the IOG and the course trainer is Ian Mather Brewster. Places are going quickly so if anyone is interested please contact Nick James or myself. We are in the process of arranging a Foundation B Course at the end of August at Toft Cricket Club.

 

A Level 2 Intermediate/Advanced Course has been organised for Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th October 2012 at Hale Barns Cricket Club. It is recommended that groundsmen who have completed Foundation A and B Courses should continue their education and move on to the next level. Last year the course had to be cancelled for lack of numbers, so please have a think about furthering your knowledge of fine turf management. Once again the course trainer will be Ian Mather Brewster.

 

AGM

After last year’s successful AGM, with the best attendance for several years, we have secured the same venue for this year.

So a date for your diary Monday 12th November 2012 at Hale Barns Cricket Club 7.00pm for 7.30pm.

Visit to Old Trafford

We are still hoping that this event will take place early this year but as yet we have no definite dates.

Brian Jarrard

Secretary