Journal
News and insights in to what we are up to.
RDS welcome new member to the team - John Wright
John Wright brings a wealth of experience to RDS following previous ground renovation work at Coventry City FC and Southampton FC. He is highly qualified in cricket and football ground renovations.
See video link for more details https://youtu.be/CMKxMzk72j0
RDS are busier than ever after a full pre season prep for club cricket grounds and Kidderminster Harriers FC.
Ground Machinery of every type and size left the RDS workshop following a winter of maintenance work. Cricket clubs are already booking time slots for 2025 autumn renovation work after just two weeks into this season!
The addition of John Wright to the team is most welcome and we look forward to seeing him in action soon.
THE WORD IS OUT THERE
Birmingham & District Premier League Club - Smethwick CC (currently top of Division 1) hosted an International Seniors Cricket match between England Over 60's vs Pakistan Over 60's on Monday 15th July 2024. On display at the ground was the new Richard Ding Sports banner that will be appearing at other grounds throughout this season and beyond. Several Birmingham League and Worcestershire County League cricket clubs are customers of RDS with more clubs making contact to discuss their EOS requirements, as well as booking machinery in for service and repair.
The rain was the winner at the cricket match but as regards RDS - The word is out there!
RDS showcased their Electric Roller at Ground Persons Seminar
Richard Ding attended the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League and County Feeder Leagues Ground Persons Seminar at Sandwell Park, West Bromwich on the evening of Monday 8th July.
Richard was able to showcase the RDS E Roller that is currently in use at RGS (Royal Grammar School) Worcester, attracting great interest from a number of clubs from the West Midlands and Worcestershire region.
All the attendees are Grounds Persons who represent various Birmingham & District Cricket League and Feeder League Clubs, many of whom are RDS clients already discussing their End of Season renovation requirements, not to mention machinery maintenance.
RDS continue to be as busy as ever, committed to serving our customers with a professional and sustainable service.
First overseas customer for the RDS Electric Roller
Richard Ding delivered the E Roller personally on 20-3-24 to Merrion Cricket Club in Dublin, Ireland. We believe It is the first E Roller now in use at a cricket club in Ireland and has attracted the attention of many local clubs in the region as well as several enquiries from clubs in England. The interest from many clubs to change from petrol/diesel mowers and rollers is being encouraged to meet the future Eco challenge. RDS are the first company to successfully convert existing rollers to electric to meet the new challenge and has attracted great interest from many recreational clubs and has been trialled at first class cricket grounds. Last year, it was featured at Edgbaston Cricket Ground during the England vs New Zealand T20 cricket match.
You can hear the wind......you can hear the kids but you can't hear the roller....WHY...because it's Electric! This is the future.
At 6.00 am on Saturday 20th January 2024 Richard Ding received an S O S call from Kidderminster Harriers Football Club. Their football game was in danger of being called off that day due to problems with the goalmouth areas that had frozen due to the previous day’s heavy frost.
An urgent request had already been made to Worcestershire CCC by Tim Packwood Kidderminster Harriers Head Grounds Person to use their pitch lighting equipment the previous evening.
RDS to the Rescue
The lights were transported from Worcestershire CCC to
Kidderminster Harriers ground by Adam Hewitt Limited who also supplied the generator enabling the lights to operate all night but the following morning a fault occurred that disabled the generator. Hence the call to Richard who immediately drove to Kidderminster arriving at the ground by 7.00 am to repair the fault.
It became clear that the fault appeared to be more serious than appeared and became a major challenge to find a solution, so the pressure was on………………
With the minutes ticking away, it was getting nearer to the time when the referees have to make a decision………….playable or not, if not then the game would be called off! It reached a point when the match referee stated a decision would have to be made in the next 20 minutes…………..now the pressure was really on to get the generator working.
Fortunately, the repair was made successful by Richard and Tim Packwood with his groundstaff ensured play was possible.
Well worth the hard work to get the match on as Kidderminster Harriers won the game 4 – 1. A great result all round!
Kidderminster Harriers expressed their thanks to Worcestershire CCC, Adam Hewitt Limited, Tim Packwood and Richard Ding who responded to the S O S call the moment he was informed of the problem.
RDS for Customer Care…………………….
2024 is shaping up to be a busy and productive year for RDS involving machinery repairs/maintenance, cricket and football ground maintenance (renovations and spraying). Plus, RDS is NOW the supplier of top grade seed, fertiliser and loam from its depot in South Worcestershire.
The E Roller continues to gain interest with a busy order book already in progress.
RDS is also proud to be working in partnership with the following sports clubs and looking forward to continuing these business relationships throughout 2024:
Hello 2024
Worcestershire CCC
Kidderminster Harriers FC
Smethwick CC.
Old Hill CC.
West Bromwich Dartmouth CC.
Barnards Green CC.
Wolverhampton CC.
Stourbridge CC
RGS (Royal Grammar School Worcester).
Kings School Hawford Lodge Worcester.
New Farm Grounds Maintenance.
Harvington Golf Club.
Worcester Nomads CC.
West Malvern CC.
Coombs Wood CC.
Feckenham CC.
Romsley & Hunnington CC.
Avoncroft CC.
Inkberrow CC.
Rushwick CC.
Hanley Castle & Upton CC.
Cannock CC.
Springvale CC.
Apperley CC.
Corse & Staunton CC.
Birlingham CC.
Tenbury Wells CC.
Coleshill CC.
RDS showcased their Electric Roller during the T20 International Cricket Match
This was between England and New Zealand on 3rd September at Edgbaston CCC.
The roller is currently owned and in use at RGS (Worcester Grammar School). Richard Ding built this particular machine to the specification supplied by Sean Lloyd the RGS Head Grounds Person.
The E Roller has been in full operation at RGS for the last three seasons proving its sustainability and compatibility with cricket’s eco climate plans.
RDS supplied the first E roller to West Malvern CC in 2018 and interest in its petrol/diesel roller conversions has increased since then.
RDS is nearing completion on its first overseas order to supply an Eco Roller to a cricket club in Ireland…………………further details with video and photographs will be available when the delivery date and handover is known.
RDS gearing up for a busy 2023
The team at RDS have been busy from the start of the year spraying and spiking cricket (and football) grounds despite the adverse weather conditions as the start of a new cricket season draws near. Clubs have contacting the office to have their machinery collected for servicing and repairs so the busy schedule continues! We are pleased to welcome new clients to our growing list and look forward to fulfilling their sports ground/machinery needs.
Interest in our Eco Electric Roller has intensified over the winter and we have sent out details to a number of First Class and Recreational clubs. The model at Worcester RGS has attracted a lot of attention following the realisation that eco-friendly machinery is the way forward.
RDS are now taking bookings for end of season renovation.
The RDS team of Richard Ding, Tim Packwood - Ex WCCC Head Grounds Person and Gary Watkins - Professional Grounds Person, are now taking bookings for End of Season Renovation to cricket squares and outfields.
SCARIFICATION
Removal of thatch and organic matter and provide a key for new loam and grass seed
REPAIR ENDS
Repair and fill all batters and bowlers footmarks
OVERSEEDING
Accurate application of perennial rye grass and multiseeder
TOP DRESS AND DRAG MAT
Replenish surface levels and cover seed encouraging root and shoot growth providing insulation and maximising germination
FERTILISE
Application of fertiliser to the square using pedestrian spreader to secure accuracy
Please don’t leave it too late —book your September slot NOW to avoid disappointment
Introducing the first battery power cricket roller
Sean Lloyd, Head Groundsman at RGS Worcester, comments on the first battery power cricket roller...
"Ladies and gentleman, it's time for me to introduce to you the first ever 4ft battery power cricket roller. It has always been my aim to keep the RGS grounds department at the very forefront of turfcare. With this in mind, and with the ever increasing fuel prices and future restrictions, I employed the skills of local sports machine engineering firm Richard Ding Sports to produce the first ever 4ft sports roller. It runs for 6-8 hours for around 3p. Has no noise, and no body / hand arm vibration. The roller weighs 2.1 ton before ballasting. It's very much the future of groundskeeping, and I'm very honoured to have RDS by my side to help deliver such an important project."
Tim Phillips
Obituary
The sudden and tragic loss of Tim to his family and friends in March of this year was a terrible shock, not only to them but to the wider circle of sports people throughout Worcestershire that held him in such high esteem. Football and cricket were the two sporting passions that made him so well known. Tim developed a reputation as a friend and mentor to many of us involved in cricket and the word ‘Legend’ can truly be attributed to this great man.
Never shy to give an opinion, never shy to correct someone’s faults, never shy to make a joke out of a drama, but ALWAYS ready to help anyone by word or deed and ALWAYS ready to take on a fresh challenge and make a success of any project that required his expertise.
Tim was an important partner in the setting up of RDS, giving practical advice in the planning stages and networking with recreational cricket clubs in South Worcestershire. His 13 year experience as Chairman and then Groundsman of Old Elizabethans CC followed by 6 years as Head Groundsman at Worcester Nomads gave him the senior status and respect we now miss. He will certainly be a hard act to follow and his ‘no nonsense’ approach remains a reminder that the impossible can be done immediately but miracles will take a little longer.
R.I.P. Tim………………..we will continue the good work, you are with us in spirit. Gone but not forgotten!
A busy start to 2022 for RDS.
RDS has been busy during January and February with Richard working on 30 plus items of machinery in his workshop, getting mowers/rollers ready to deliver to cricket clubs as the 2022 draws ever nearer. Several clubs are showing interest in the new RDS Electric Roller, currently in use at Winchcombe and West Malvern cricket clubs with two further orders on the books.
Despite the recent floods, storms and general ground challenges, RDS have managed to complete outfield spraying contracts to a number of cricket and football clubs in Worcestershire. With the weather expected to improve in the coming weeks, clubs in South Worcestershire have already booked RDS for wicket and outfield renovation work.
Spring is almost here (in theory), great to realise the cricket season starts in April so please contact us in good time to ensure your ground and machinery requirements are met before the season begins.
RDS designs & builds Eco Electric Cricket Roller.
The new Eco Electric Cricket Roller now available from RDS Sports. Designed and built by Richard Ding to meet the needs of the Eco Environment.