TECHNICAL UPDATE 23
the Groundsman December 2013
Threlkeld CC - before the flood © Michael Webster
Recovering from floods in cricket paradise
Iain James talks us through the post-flood clean-up operation at
Threlkeld Cricket Club and highlights the club supporter's innovative
fund-raising idea
By: Iain James
nce voted runner up in the Wisden
Beautiful Ground competition and
nestled at the foot of Blencathra in
the Lake District National Park, Threlkeld
Cricket Club is a fabulous place to play
cricket. However, in June 2012, heavy
rainfall caused a culvert to overflow,
carrying floodwater and sediment over the
outfield and square. To understand the
scale and ferocity of the flood – just search
'Threlkeld Flooding' on YouTube and you
will see a scene of cricketing devastation.
After the flood waters receded, a
quarter of the ground was left under a
heavy blanket of sediment, leaving the
ground unplayable and the club looking
elsewhere to fulfil its fixtures.
Getting the ground fit to play again
was the priority and the club approached
the England and Wales Cricket Board
(ECB) for help. While any flood clean-up
is a challenge, there was a suspicion that
the sediment could be contaminated
with tailings from the disused lead mine
that lies upstream of the ground.
O
During the flood as the culvert overspilled. © David Jackson
t
After the flood – the sediment left on the square and outfield. © David Jackson
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