Howardson Group Showcases Cutting-Edge Turfcare Solutions in the East of England Cricket Day

The East of England Grounds Day, hosted at Essex County Cricket Club, brought together grounds professionals from across the region for a day of education, collaboration and innovation in cricket turf management.

With 119 attendees in total, the event saw strong representation from cricket grounds teams across Essex, as well as visitors from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, London and Hertfordshire. The day highlighted the continued commitment within the industry to share knowledge, raise standards and keep pace with evolving technologies and practices.

Howardson Group was proud to exhibit a selection of machinery from our Dennis and SISIS ranges, giving attendees the opportunity to get up close with equipment designed specifically for the demands of cricket surface preparation and maintenance.

On display was the Dennis ES-22U, offering battery-powered precision mowing with ultra-low noise and zero emissions—an increasingly important factor for clubs operating in urban or noise-sensitive environments. Alongside this, the Dennis FT510 demonstrated its versatility as a cassette-based system, allowing grounds staff to adapt maintenance practices quickly and efficiently throughout the season.

Complementing the Dennis range, the SISIS Rotorake MK5 attracted plenty of attention, showcasing its effectiveness in scarification and thatch management—key processes in maintaining a consistent, high-quality playing surface.

Throughout the day, our team was on hand to discuss how these machines can be integrated into regular maintenance programmes, helping clubs improve performance while working more efficiently. Both Robert Jack (UK Sales Manager) and Scott Reynolds (UK Account Manager) were present to offer their advice to grounds people.

A key strength of the event was the quality of its speakers, who delivered valuable insights across both the main seminar room and breakout sessions.

In the main room:
Iain James from the England and Wales Cricket Board shared perspectives on cricket pitch standards and ongoing support for clubs.
Alex Vickers from the Grounds Management Association provided guidance on best practice and professional development within the sector.

Breakout sessions allowed for more focused and interactive discussions, led by:
Kelly Clack of Origin Amenity Solutions
Matt Gresty of DLF
Olly Makin of SIS Pitches

These smaller group settings encouraged open discussion, enabling attendees to ask questions, share experiences and explore practical solutions to the challenges they face on a daily basis.

Beyond the presentations and machinery displays, the event offered a valuable opportunity for networking. Bringing together professionals from multiple counties helped foster stronger connections across the cricket grounds community, encouraging the exchange of ideas and experiences between clubs of all levels.

The East of England Grounds Day once again demonstrated the importance of events like this in supporting the ongoing development of cricket grounds management. By combining expert knowledge, practical demonstrations, and peer-to-peer learning, the day delivered real value to those responsible for maintaining the quality of the game’s playing surfaces.

“There’s nothing better than getting out and speaking to the people who use our equipment day in, day out. The East of England Grounds Day gave us a brilliant platform to connect with grounds teams and share how Dennis and SISIS continue to evolve with the needs of the industry'', Robert Jack UK Sales Manager.

Howardson Group would like to thank all attendees and organisers for making the event such a success. We look forward to continuing to support grounds teams across the region with innovative solutions and expert advice.