GSB Loams celebrate 10th anniversary

GSB Loams celebrates 10th anniversary at BTME Harrogate

By Editor

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Joint Directors George Sharp and John Goodjohn set up the Loams and Top Dressings manufacturer at the site of the former Kettering Loam company in 1994 and have seen the company go from strength to strength as they establish a good reputation for quality materials produced on time and to budget.

Production of Cricket Loam has been made more effective by using covered store in order that the Company can guarantee delivery of material in dry condition.

By producing a consistent product around the 28-30% Clay Content for Cricket, GSB have found a material that is ideal for Club Cricket. As well as producing true surfaces, the material supports good grass growth and can be supplied sterilised or unsterilised according to the requirements of the customer.

The material has been used extensively around the Club circuit with excellent results. Where there is need for a Clay Content

GSB Loams can supply and deliver Cricket Loam 12 months a year in dry condition to your requirements. Even when it's cold and wet outside materials can be screened and sterilised under cover to ensure the Loam arrives on site in peak condition.

GSB Loams also produce a Kettering Loam in the 20-24% Clay Content band which is ideal for Tennis Grass Courts. This material was successfully used in their reconstruction of twelve grass courts at the Northern in Manchester in 1999. Atrocious site conditions that Autumn resulted in the sward being established via hydraseeding but the Challenger Tournament was successfully played at the Club the following July 2000, and the Courts improve each year under the expert care of Head Groundsman Ian Billinghurst.

Construction of a complete new Bowling Green in Darlington in 2002 was achieved to budget and on time for the Borough Council. Quality 70/30 rootzone was topped by a fine bent/ fescue turf to create an excellent playing surface.

Rootzones are also available to bespoke ratios, although the 70/30 Sand/Loam mix remains ever popular, there is always the call for USGA blends, but whatever ratio of sand to loam is required GSB is always able to produce to your own specification with their access to exclusive private premises and production facility. There is also the environmentally friendly option of combining fine screened Green Compost with sands to create rootzone to satisfy the most eco-conscious. Rootzones can also be ameliorated with lignite, charcoal, limestone dust, bark products or many other materials to produce the mix that is right for your particular facility.

Bunker sands, Divot mixes and Decorative pathway aggregates, from Aberdeenshire Red Granite to West Country Limestone are also readily available.

GSB carried out the Design and Construct project at Bristol Rovers FC / Bristol Shoguns Rugby at the Memorial Stadium in Summer 2001 where a complete new drainage system, including sand banding and lytag grooving, was devised. Sand amelioration and returfing with big roll turf enabled the Football Club to be playing friendlies by early July.

All materials associated with Sports Turf Maintenance are available from GSB Loams to provide the complete package from one call. This includes granular fertiliser, grass seed and bark products, all available in bulk (1-30 tonnes at a time) or in bags (1m3 'dumpy' or tonne bags, 25 / 20 kg or with lighter materials in 75/80/100 litres).

For more information on GSB Loams and other products please contact David Goodjohn on 01536 791155 or e-mail info@gsbloams.co.uk