ALLETT CREATIVE STRIPES COMPETITION 2024- PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION RESULTS

September 19, 2024

This is the first year we have split our Allett Creative Stripes Competition into two categories; Homeowner and Professional. Professionals were those that cut the lawn or sports pitch as their job or simply cut a sports pitch. The homeowner category was for home lawns only.

This years judge was last years Winner Tim Sanken- he had the hard task of choosing his top three entries in order- here they are....

3rd Place: Gary Barker(Clitheroe)

Judges comments: The difficulty of pulling off the consistency in a pattern as detailed and large as this is difficult to overstate. The turns, corners, and curves are easy to get off line or over/under cut and easily throw off the pattern.

Allett comments- this design is simply incredible. To get the symmetry so well lined up when you're mowing at ground level is amazing! Gary really has a talent and the club is lucky to have him!

Gary's comments:

I’m Gary Barker, I’m 30 years old, I’ve been playing cricket for 20 of those years.

I got into this role mainly to help Whalley cricket club out, I’m a volunteer and was fortunate enough to have 3 months off in between starting a new job role. I asked the ground staff and club if there was anything I could help with and they showed me how to use the mower and off I went.

The inspiration for the pattern was just me wanting to test myself to see what I could do and wanting to do something different. I marked the middle of the square length and width ways and placed a cricket stump either side, then placed 4 more stumps directly opposite on the edge of the outfield, that gave me the 4 quarters. I then went round the outside and worked my way in, leaving the pattern you see on the picture.

I was amazed when a friend of mine showed me what it looked like from a drone. I had a feeling it would look ok but couldn’t be any happier with how it turned out.

I am using a Toro Reelmaster 2000D and the height of the cut is set to 11mm or just less than 1/2 an inch.

Congratulations to the winner of the competition and all those that entered. It’s good to see hard work being off and seeing it being rewarded.

See you all in the 2025 completion, I’m already thinking of my design.

2nd Place: Joe Davies (Hereford)

Judges comments:

''I don’t know if there could have been a closer decision between 1 and 2. What a beautiful pitch and clear dedication from Joe to his craft. Well done!''

Allett comments: Joe is an incredible groundsman. His pitch is in immaculate condition and we love following his account on social media. To be so creative when you are so busy is no mean feat! His pitches would match most premier league sides and it won't be long until he's working his magic at the top levels.

Joe's comments:

I’m 26 from Hereford, UK. Most of the patterns and work I do on the pitch is done voluntarily on weekends and after work. We have a little one 16 month old who comes to the games to watch daddy on the pitch and is slowly learning!

I got into being a groundsman by having a love for working outdoors and being offered to help out at my local golf course a few days a week when I was 18. Now 8 years later here I am looking after my own pitch! It's been a bit of a journey learning everything along the way from various people and also self teaching.

The inspiration behind the design is a football landing in a pond and the water rippling. First I did the circles going all around the pitch then the chequers and then last of all the football in the middle. Height of cut for this design was 27mm. It was cut using a John deere triple and a very old Allett Buffalo. A homemade drag mat was also used.

2024 Allett Creative Stripes Champion- Cole Flick (USA)

Judges comments: Precision, attention to details, the subtle secondary pattern perfectly complimenting the primary, and the quality of this turf…. This is a professional’s professional. Absolutely stunning. I can only imagine what this looks like in person.

Allett comments: Cole has entered a few years in a row now and each design has been incredible. His grass quality is insane and really makes the design stand out. To get the lines so straight and the pattern so uniform from ground level with the sun to content with is not easy!! Well done Cole- your hard work and perseverance has paid off!

Cole's comments:

I have been the volunteer groundskeeper of Saints Field in Dassel Minnesota USA for nearly 30 years. Dassel is a very small town of only 1500 residents. Saints Field is the home field of the Dassel-Cokato Saints Baseball Club. I became the groundskeeper due to my time available to work. By trade, I am a school teacher with the summer months offs. It fits naturally in my schedule to be available to take care of the field. Once I started, I fell in love with the work.

My duties include basic field maintenance, game preparation, and care for the grass.

I wanted to give a twist to the common checkerboard pattern seen on many baseball fields. I love intersecting mowing line and the sharp contrast it makes. I decided to mow 2 single lines in opposite directions followed by 3 lines in the same direction, then repeat this in the reverse. Once I completed the field, I started on the opposite side of the field and replicated the pattern. Once I had completed that, I thought why not start in the centre of the field and cut the pattern a third direction.

I’m pleased with this pattern. The lines are straight, and crisp. The contrast in colour and shading stands out.

I look forward to Allett’s stripes competition each year. I’ve entered many times and have been recognised before, but never first place. I think the contest is such a fantastic and fun way for groundskeepers and home owners to show off their talents. If you’re cutting stripes in your grass, you are a champion in my mind!