BAR Extreme Is Number One Mix In Northumberland
Paul Jackson is a busy man. Responsible for grounds care at Tynemouth Cricket Club, as well as a number of schools and a football club in North Tyneside he relies on Barenbrug for the high quality products and on-tap technical expertise to support a wide range of environments.
We caught up with Paul to gain some insights into grounds keeping on the cricket square.
Paul has to ensure his sports grounds perform to the highest standards, not only to maintain the excellent reputation of his employer, but as a huge sports fan he understands a team’s game is greatly enhanced with a high quality playing surface – a responsibility he is justly proud of.
Aussie test cricketer Marcus North at Tynemouth on 2020 finals day.
Paul said: “Tynemouth Cricket Club plays 120 games here a year, more than most – and all over 23 weeks. To achieve that, we’re constantly doing everything alien to the turf: rolling it with heavy rollers, cutting it short, starving it of water. We regularly seal the top to help manage moisture levels and protect it from heat and water, so we need a product robust enough to stand up to it all.
“BAR EXTREME delivers on all counts, it presents better than other brands I’ve tried and gives me the rapid establishment and ease of cut I need to do my job well.”
Recently, the Premier League club hosted a T20 competition involving three, three-hour games in one day. Supplied by local Barenbrug distributor, Turfcare Specialists Ltd of Consett: Paul found the wear tolerance of BAR EXTREME so good that only 1% grass coverage was lost. He achieves the best coverage sowing at 35 to 40 grams a square metre, with frequent mowing.
Paul has been using BAR EXTREME for seven seasons years now. It’s rapid establishment comes into its own at the end of the season when there is only a short window to renovate the square – just six to eight weeks.
He says: “Renovation begins mid-September and with BAR EXTREME, by mid-October we’re already enjoying 98% coverage and ready to cut again. This removes a lot of the time pressure on us.”
As if he is not busy enough, Paul is also an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pitch advisor for Northumberland Cricket Board. Dealing with a wide range of turf challenges, he acts as an advisor, showing grounds staff how to maintain and get the best value out of their facilities.
He says: “Many of the groundsmen I mentor are volunteers. With full time jobs of their own, they often don’t have the time to maintain the grounds as a professional might. BAR EXTREME is ideal because it looks great and performs well very easily, without the constant maintenance other brands might require.”
On Paul’s advice, Cowgate, Newcastle City and Monkseaton clubs, have been trialling BAR EXTREME for the past three seasons. They have been impressed with the cultivars in the mix, giving the perfect colour and wear tolerance capabilities needed for cricket.
Paul said: “Times are tight and everybody is looking for ways to make savings. We’re constantly asked to try other products. But with the results we get and the ease of use, why fix something that’s not broken? That’s why we keep recommending Barenbrug. It represents real value.
“Earlier this year, Tynemouth CC in conjunction with Kings Priory Academy School asked me to add a brand new cricket square to their facilities. They were delighted with the result and are looking forward to saving on time and maintenance costs for many years to come.”
“I firmly believe that, maintained correctly, and with the help of Dave Greenshields, Barenbrug’s technical advisor, BAR EXTREME is the number one mix for cricket in the North East of England.”
Paul’s tips for maintaining a top-notch square:
- Avoid trial and error! Run chemical soil test before the season so you can calculate the correct levels of fertiliser
- Because no two squares are the same, always work to a specific programme for your individual square. Even squares in the same town can vary hugely.
- Maintain your grass heights at appropriate levels both in and out of season
- Just because the cricket season ends, don’t forget your square needs maintaining to prevent disease. I.e. drag brushing.
For more information on BAR EXTREME and the BAR Range grass seed mixtures, please call 01359 272000, email [email protected] or visit www.barenbrug.co.uk