SISIS -

Although vertical action aeration is probably the best for cricket square treatment, smaller clubs cannot always justify the investment.

A good alternative, at lower cost, is the well-proven, long established SISIS Turfman range. The spring loaded tines, mounted on a drum, enter and are withdrawn vertically giving effective aeration to a depth of 10cms (4ins) without damage to the turf.

At Haverfordwest Cricket Club they have used a SISIS SupaTurfman for 4 years. Fitted with solid or pencil tines it is used at the end of the season and right through to the end of February, in suitable weather conditions. Rob Summers at Haverfordwest praises the SupaTurfman’s excellent performance and its ease of use.

Bronwydd Cricket Club have the smaller AutoTurfman. It is 8 years old and still doing a good job with very little surface disturbance. During the Summer solid tines are used as each strip is taken out of play. Then in the Autumn the square is aerated with either solid or hollow coring tines fitted, prior to top dressing. Arwyn Thomas reckons the AutoTurfman is good value for money.

Over at Cleethorpes Cricket Club their SupaTurfman is around 10 years old and is used throughout the year on the square and practice nets, with solid tines, or the Spiker-Slitter attachment, to assist water absorption. Howard Swaine (who is also Cricket Advisor for Lincolnshire) says he considers it a "good buy" and has never had any problems with "plucking" of the surface.