castleford tigers - LJN Blog Posts - Landscape Juice Network2024-03-28T15:28:29Zhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/castleford%2BtigersSherriff’s Marathon Sport is King of the Junglehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/sherriff-s-marathon-sport-is-king-of-the-jungle2017-09-05T08:42:37.000Z2017-09-05T08:42:37.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p align="center" style="text-align: left;">Stuart Vause, head groundsman at Castleford Tigers RLFC, believes that Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon Sport fertilisers have signalled dramatic improvements on the pitch at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle Stadium.</p><p>It is safe to say that Stuart Vause has earned his stripes as the head groundsman for Super League side Castleford Tigers. For thirteen years, he worked for the club at every available opportunity while also juggling a full time position for a local authority. His dedication to the Tigers was rewarded three years ago when he was appointed as the head groundsman, and it is a foregone conclusion that the pitch has significantly improved during his tenure.</p><p>However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Stuart - the pitch at the Jungle is over ninety years old and has no drainage or irrigation system and no undersoil heating. If that were not enough to keep Stuart busy, then there is the heavy usage to consider. The first team play approximately seventeen home games throughout the campaign and train on the pitch four times a week. In addition, the pitch plays host to Castleford Tigers’ Under 19 and Under 16 teams. During peak periods the pitch can be used six times a week which can take its toll.</p><p>As well as his hard work and expertise, Stuart admits that having a good range of turf care products in place has been vital and none more so than Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon Sport fertilisers.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314816237?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="450" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314816237?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="450" class="align-left"/></a>“I’ve tried lots of different approaches and products but three years ago I researched Marathon Sport,” says Stuart. “I trialled it and have been using it ever since because it really seems to suit the field. I’ve had excellent results from it and it holds incredibly well in this structure and soil – I can probably get a good three or four months out of each application, depending on rain.”</p><p>For a number of years, turf managers have reaped the benefits of Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon fertilisers. The Marathon Sport range of extended release fertilisers provide long-lasting, balanced growth on a number of surfaces such as golf greens fairways, tees, surrounds, ornamental lawns and of course sports fields.</p><p>The Marathon range is characterised by a balance of nutrients, the analyses of each product being geared to a specific growth stage or season. With six existing products in the Marathon Sport range - Autumn, Pre-Seed, Spring, Summer, Turf Core Renovator and Lawn Mini Pack– there truly is a solution for every requirement, no matter what the time of year.</p><p>Stuart’s maintenance programme sees him start the season with the Spring and Summer mixtures, which he applies at 35g per square metre on a double pass with his spreader. He’ll apply these mixtures approximately three times during the spring and summer months and when the colder months kick in he turns to Marathon Sport Autumn to ensure good grass coverage over winter.</p><p>“The Marathon Sport fertilisers have dramatically thickened the sward – it’s been unbelievable. When I first came here the field was fragile, it used to rip up and lumps would come out. Now however, we have a really strong root zone - obviously with Rugby League games it is rough and tough but the pitch just seems to hold up to it.</p><p>“I love the colour that it provides too. During the winter months this field used to lose a lot of colour but it is now a lush green all year round. Sometimes, if we are on TV I’ll just give it a light application to really bring the colour out. It also never leaves foot marks and has never scorched for as long as I’ve been using it – this is with minimal water too.</p><p>“Perhaps one of the biggest benefits is that it doesn’t give you excessive growth. With it only being me here, it helps if I’m not chasing my tail having to cut it constantly. With some fertilisers, you apply it and if you leave it for a period of time you’ll be faced with an abundance of grass. The Marathon Sport just kicks on nicely at a steady pace and if I can’t get on to mow it for two or three days it is still manageable.”</p><p>Adding to the overall package from Sherriff Amenity, Stuart also revealed that the products are complimented by the technical advice he receives from his representative Robert Bone.</p><p>“I trust Robert completely - when he gives me advice I always take it on-board. If he thinks that a certain product isn’t working then he’ll let me know and we’ll try something else until we find one that does get results. He does my soil testing and when we come to sit down he’ll present me with charts and graphs detailing what I should be putting on the pitch at certain times of the year. Overall I couldn’t be happier with the service I receive from Sherriff Amenity.”</p><p>For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sherriffamenity.com/">www.sherriffamenity.com</a></p></div>Dennis G860 makes the Tigers more self-sufficienthttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/dennis-g860-makes-the-tigers-more-self-sufficient2017-03-09T11:50:51.000Z2017-03-09T11:50:51.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>After having to rely on outside assistance for the past few years, Castleford Tigers RLFC are now able to keep all of their turf maintenance tasks in-house after purchasing a brand new Dennis G860 cylinder mower.</p><p>Stuart Vause has been involved with the club for 13 years part time and 3 years as head groundsman after 30 years in the trade working for a local authority. In that time it is fair to say that he has had his work cut-out, which has not been helped by an ageing pitch and an overload of fixtures.</p><p>“The season runs from February until the back-end of September and the first-team has approximately 17 home games. In addition, the Under 19’s and Under 16’s play their home games here and the first team also train on it four times a week during the season. Sometimes the pitch can be used up to six times a week and that is quite a lot for an ageing pitch which has no drainage or irrigation system.”</p><p>Without having the equipment to hand, Stuart would have to rely on favours here and there from fellow local groundsmen and would also have to call in outside contractors. With limited resources Stuart continued to do a remarkable job but when his ride-on mower appeared to have had its day, he knew the time had come to seek investment and look for a new machine.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314801030?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="450" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314801030?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="450" class="align-left"/></a>“Our previous machine wasn’t really the ideal tool and we were having a lot of break-downs,” says Stuart. “My main aim was to become more self-sufficient and I wanted one machine that I would be able to complete a range of tasks with.”</p><p>“I looked at a whole range of mowers. I spoke to other groundsmen and got their advice; I did my own research looking online and comparing various mowers and looked at what other users had said about them. The Dennis G860 kept coming up and from my previous position of working for a local authority I was already familiar with the brand. We used to have Dennis mowers for a number of bowling greens and cricket wickets so I knew that they were robust, performed excellently and any replacement parts were easy to get hold of.” </p><p>As Stuart says, his research led him to the Dennis G860, which is the ideal machine for someone looking to complete a number of tasks with just one power unit. Featuring an interchangeable cassette system, users have the option of fitting different types of heads including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers, and slitters - something which Stuart is particularly impressed with.</p><p>“In my opinion, the G860’s best feature is the interchangeable cassette system - it’s unbelievable. It means that you’ve got one machine for so many jobs and it’s just so easy – one-out-one in - and if you have a good day at it, you can scarify, brush, and cut all in one day.”</p><p>“I’ve got the 8-bladed cutting cylinder, the verti-cutting cassette, the tungsten tipped verti-cutter and the soft brush – which has made my life a lot easier in clearing debris from the pitch after a game. Before I would have to use a hand-held blower and walk round the pitch blowing the debris into piles and then gather it all up. So instead of it taking me approximately three hours after a game, I can now get it done in no time at all and can collect it at the same time as well.”</p><p>“The G860 got delivered in June this year and since then, our supporters, players and even away players and coaches have commented on how the pitch has never been this good before. It’s made a massive difference.”</p><p>“I’ve always wanted to be more self-sufficient, and I now feel as though I finally am and the grass is the healthiest it has ever been. The improvements that I’ve had in just six months have been amazing so I’m looking forward to seeing how much more of a difference it will make after having the G860 for a whole year.”</p><p>For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dennisuk.com/">www.dennisuk.com</a></p></div>