The recent sporting success of the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation is largerly down to the high quality and well-maintained sports pitches, which are managed by Grounds Manager Duncan Toon and his team.
And the tools that have helped produce significant improvements to the school grounds and a pitch perfect set of sports surfaces are the SISIS Flexibrush and SISIS TM1000 says Duncan.
The SISIS Flexibrush is a tractor-mounted brush which is equally effective at dispersing top dressing, removing excess material on natural turf and synthetic surfaces, dew dispersal and improving presentation. It has a 5.35 metre working width, its brush sections float to follow ground contours and the outer sections fold for transport and storage.
“For us it has eliminated the previously time-consuming task of dew removal,” explains Duncan. “Everything gets a bit hectic here on a school day but the Flexibrush gives us a big head start because we can start early at 7am and knock all the dew off the grass before the children start classes. It has helped us to reduce disease and I also use it for presentation.”
The SISIS Rotorake TM1000 is a tractor-mounted heavy-duty scarifier and linear aerator and is unrivalled when it comes to removing and controlling thatch. It includes a collector box and floating unit to follow ground contours and its contra-rotating reel throws debris forward ensuring a clean, consistent groove resulting in an excellent finish. The TM1000 also features interchangeable blades and a quick, simple depth setting without tools.
Perfect pitches for sporting succ“We mainly bought the TM1000 for in-house cricket renovations but it is also used for regular maintenance work on the squares,” Duncan says. “It is great for verticutting and we also have the 2mm scarifying removal reel and the brush reel which we use for cleaning up. It is such a simple, yet effective piece of equipment – in fact I would say it is a must-have tool for any groundsman to have in their armoury.”