Professional Groundscare November 2018

New £3m fund to help boost sports in local communities

Olympic and Paralympic sports outside the World Class Programme will be able to bid for additional investment to help more talented athletes compete at Tokyo 2020, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has announced.

The £3 million Aspiration Fund will allow sports who do not currently receive full UK Sport funding to develop plans to help teams and athletes qualify.

Sports eligible to apply for the fund include all the unfunded summer Olympic and Paralympic sports, the new sports for the Tokyo Games and those currently in receipt of individual athlete medal support plan funding from UK Sport.

Alongside their qualification plan, sports seeking funding will be asked to submit details of how they will capitalise on the impact of competing at the Games and engage and inspire communities

The plans will also need to align with the outcomes set out in the Government’s Sporting Future strategy to redefine what success

looks like in sport: physical well-being, mental well-being, individual development, social and community development and economic development.

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, said: “The Aspiration Fund will give more sports the chance to inspire the nation and shine at Tokyo 2020 and beyond. This £3 million bridges a gap between

grassroots and elite funding, and will help sports grow and develop future champions.”

UK Sport investment has transformed Britain into an Olympic and Paralympic powerhouse. But there are sports, not on UK Sport’s world class programme, that do a huge amount of good in communities that we can help on their path to the podium.”

GTC announce the first greenkeeping apprentice in the land-based sector achieves top grade

The GTC has revealed that Thomas Sherreard from The London Club and Hadlow College has become the first Golf Greenkeeping Apprentice to achieve the new City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Golf Greenkeeping associated with

the new apprenticeship standard. And he did it in style, receiving an overall mark of Distinction in reward for all his hard work.

Not only is Tom the first golf greenkeeper to achieve his apprenticeship, he is the first land-based apprentice to undertake the new style Endpoint Assessment.

After considerable work carried out by the Greenkeepers Training Committee and the dedicated support and direction from their Employer Group and Technical Working Group, the new-style apprenticeship was launched in September 2016.

The new Apprenticeship hones in on the knowledge, skills and behaviours of every apprentice and is quite different to the former work-based diploma. The Training Providers focus more on the learner journey – teaching the apprentice the skills and knowledge required to be a fully-qualified golf greenkeeper with the support of the apprentice’s employer.

The biggest change is that the learner, although continually taught and assessed throughout their programme of education, is now faced with a series of graded End-point Assessments.

Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport said: “This new Aspiration Fund is a fantastic opportunity for some sports to get on track for the Tokyo Games.

“Many of the sports we are currently unable to support, while further away from reaching the podium, have great potential not only to inspire through their performances on the field of play but also to

have a genuine social impact in communities across the UK.

“We’d like to thank the Government for their continued support for UK Sport’s mission to inspire the nation through Olympic and Paralympic success.”

The grants will run to the end of the Tokyo 2020 cycle.

Sport England

UN environmental award for Forest Green Rovers FC

Forest Green Rovers has received a “Momentum for Change” climate action award from the United Nations in a ceremony in New York.

Forest Green received the award in the Climate Neutral Now category, after becoming the first football club in the world to work with the UN to go carbon neutral at the start of the season.

The 15 winners were presented with their awards by Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of UN Climate Change, at Climate Week NYC – one of the key sustainability summits in the international calendar.

FGR chairman, Dale Vince, was one of five speakers at the event, where he discussed the club’s unique approach to tackling climate change – which includes the introduction of a fully vegan menu, an organic pitch, electric car chargers, the installation of solar panels and a solar powered robot lawnmower.

As a part of the award, Forest Green Rovers will travel to the next UN climate change conference - COP24 – which takes place in Katowice, Poland in December this year.

Baptism of snow launches perfect start for club’s Terra Spike GXi 6

During his 26 years at Ashley Wood GC in Blandford Forum, head greenkeeper, Mark Sherwood, can count the snow days there on the fingers of both hands.

With high elevation and fast draining chalk soil, extreme

but it put a stop to the handover run,” recalls Mark Sherwood. “However, that was the Monday, by the Wednesday we got on so well we were even hollow coring. It was an instant success.”

Ashley Wood’s GXi 6 was specifically chosen to deliver a

sanded the greens our golfers were straight back on without any issues.

“Afterwards we got an endorsement I wasn’t expecting. For the first time ever, several members came up

August we went back for few single passes with hollow coring tines. We’ve lots of undulation, with several of the greens particularly full of humps and bumps.

The Wiedenmann follows

Dennis combination gets results at St Albans

Ian Smith, turf consultant for St Albans School, Woollam Trust Playing Fields, has reported excellent results from using the combination of a Dennis G860 cassette system and a Dennis Razor fine turf mower on the cricket pitches.

The Woollham Trust Playing Fields are the largest development of their kind ever undertaken in a single phase in Europe. The school’s outstanding facilities include a huge pavilion, 22 winter pitches for rugby and football, an allweather hockey pitch and 8 cricket squares. Not only is the magnificent 73 acre site shared with the Old Albanians Club but it is also the training base for Saracens Rugby Club.

In preparing the cricket pitches, Ian first of all uses the Dennis

G860 which is the ideal machine for someone looking to complete a number of tasks with just one power unit. Featuring an interchangeable cassette system, users have the option of fitting different types of cassettes including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers, and slitters. Superbly balanced and ideal for cricket pitches and other fine turf surfaces, the Razor features a 560mm (22in), 11 blade cutting cylinder for a perfect finish. An ultra-short wheelbase ensures easy manoeuvrability and excellent performance, even on undulating surfaces.

Education scientists for the future

As the importance of educating children in scientific subjects and encouraging practical learning rises up the agenda, Bayer is working to help pupils learn about some of the basic scientific principles that underpin many turf management practices.

From 1 to 5 October, over 100 local primary school children and teachers visited the Bayer Environmental Science headquarters in Cambridge, for practical science lessons from using a microscope and testing honey, to the role of bees and their life cycles, delivered by the ‘Baylab’.

Steve Bishop, Bayer group product manager, explains that the ‘Baylab’ provides an enhanced learning facility, that is normally based in Reading. “The roadshow has been a huge success, with students and teachers alike. The wider context for the turf management industry is an increasing pressure from the regulatory authorities. Not only have we lost key management products, but greenkeepers are

being challenged to maintain quality playing surfaces.

“Therefore, the industry needs a steady stream of new professionals to continue and build on the research and development that’s required to support turf management for years to come,” he says.

“This is why we’re so passionate about awakening an interest in science among young people from all backgrounds at an early age, to boost their confidence, provide inspiration and aid in development. It’s all about capturing the imagination of children today, to make them the scientists of tomorrow.”

Steve explains that he hopes the children and teachers went away with a positive attitude, not only towards science, but to the work that goes into maintaining the environments in which they work, rest and play.

Bayer

School opens new artificial grass running track for pupils

Pupils at Archbishop Wake CE Primary School in Dorset are getting fit by taking part in the Daily Mile initiative, thanks to the opening of a new running track made of artificial grass.

Installed over the summer holidays by professional UK grounds maintenance contractor, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, the school wanted an all-weather artificial surface that could be used throughout the year, offered good shock

absorption and would stand the test of time with excessive use.

The track was created in just two weeks with a team of four Countrywide contractors spending over 400-man hours. A quarter of a mile of artificial grass was laid over 120 tonnes of aggregate for the sub-base and then covered with 20 tonnes of sand to level it. A turquoise coloured grass was chosen to enable the pupils to easily see the track.

Pupils at the school are now able to use the new running track to complete their Daily Mile, a national initiative to help pupils get fit by jogging each day. The track, which can be used by pupils, parents and staff, is also used in PE lessons and sporting events held at the school.

Contractor doubles the drainage with a Campey TopDrain 1000

Specialist sports contractors, CLS Sports, a division of Cleveland Land Services, has added an Imants (KORO) TopDrain 1000 from Campey Turf Care Systems to their fleet to meet increased customer demand.

For 15 years CLS Sports has been at the forefront of sports turf contracting using their expertise and knowledge, in conjunction with the most innovative machines available, to service the sports turf industry.

During that time drainage has, and will continue to be, one of the most vital aspects of sports turf maintenance. Keeping surfaces playable throughout the more challenging times of the season is paramount for team or club.

Introducing a secondary drainage system that compliments existing primary drainage is an effective way to prevent fixtures being postponed. Water can drain

Ariens and a winning dealer meeting

Ariens Company gathered all their dealers for Countax, Westwood, Ariens and ECHO a Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire on the 12th September for their annual dealer meeting.

The theme of the meeting was ‘Shifting Gears’ and the day was led by Darren Spencer, Vice President for EMEA and Asia, beginning with talks on the new products available early in 2019.

These included the Ariens Zenith, the largest zero turn in the portfolio, aimed at the commercial market. The new Countax C40 and Westwood T40 garden tractors were also launched along with an interchangeable cassette system attachment which allows

customers to scarify and sweep their garden and grounds.

The new range of ECHO Lithium Ion 58V outdoor power tools was also on display for dealers to try including chainsaws, brushcutters, hedgetrimmers and

an innovative walk behind 21” lawn mower. The new product introductions are in keeping with Ariens Company’s policy of ‘continuous improvement’ Ariens

quicker into the primary lateral drains, making surfaces more suitable for the demands of modern sport and increasingly wetter weather.

The TopDrain 1000 provides a complete one-pass surface drainage system. It is a unique multifunctional machine that trenches, removes spoil, injects sand and re-compacts all in one operation. Designed for sports fields and golf course fairways, the TopDrain 1000 benefits include; material and labour savings, faster processing times and less surface contamination than conventional methods.

For Cleveland Land Services Contracts Director, Stephen Miller, this is the second TopDrain in the fleet so they are already familiar with the advantages it brings, but the benefits of adding a second smaller machine has strengthened the service they offer.

“Top draining is an option that’s been popular for some time and is continuing to grow,” Stephen said. “It’s been specified on a number of schemes this year and it’s something that when we design projects internally we’d recommend because it offers a high-level secondary drainage system.

“So, the combined growth in demand and proven results is the reason why we have purchased a second machine. We have plenty of TopDrain work for our current model to do, but also a requirement for the new smaller 1000 model for other projects which were as important but didn’t need

the tractor capacity. “The 1000 model trenches out at 250mm deep and 40mm wide and at one-meter centres, whereas our existing machine works at the same depth and width but at half meter centres.

“Our current TopDrain needs a 135hp tractor whereas the TopDrain 1000 only requires 105hp thereby increasing its versatility on site as the same tractors we use to install the primary drainage systems can be used to install the secondary system.”

Guide to application of biosecurity in arboriculture launched

The Arboricultural Association has launched new guidance to help professionals in all roles within the tree care industry to apply biosecurity practices during their day to day work.

The guidance supports the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ ‘Tree Health Resilience Strategy’ released in May 2018.

The document provides detailed best practice guidance for Arborists working in any role in arboriculture and environmental sectors, with a helpful document key indicating which sections

are directly relevant to each job role.

The Arboricultural Association launched a ‘Biosecurity in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry’ position statement in late 2016 outlining basic biosecurity principles which should be adopted to reduce the unwanted introduction of tree pests and diseases.

Since then the professional body for the tree care industry has developed free templates for Company Biosecurity policies and biosecurity risk assessments, while working closely with partner organisations and

initiatives such as The Forestry Commission ‘Keep it Clean’ campaign.

Arb Association

Sandy Lodge feel the relief with two new Foley Grinders

Sandy Lodge Golf Club has experienced the benefits on and off the course with the Foley United Accu-Master 653

and Accu-Pro 673 grinders. The Hertfordshire club is one of England’s finest golfing establishments and has regularly

hosted the Regional Open Qualifying Rounds from 2015 and will do so until 2019, as well as being a recent venue for the English Women’s Senior Open.

Head greenkeeper, Richard Elderfield, along with mechanic, Peter Cook, knew their previous grinders were coming to the end of their useable life and both had a strong desire to bring relief grinding to the club because of the overall benefits it has for the plant and the machines. But, Peter quickly realised the Foley models had other features that would streamline his operation and make for a better work environment.

“Although relief grinding was our first priority it wasn’t the only aspect that attracted us to the Accu-Master 653,”

head greenkeeper, Richard Elderfield explained.

“We also like the enclosed cabinet on the cylinder grinder with the noise and dust protection it offered and we found the set-up of both grinders to be quick and easy, especially with the 653’s built in training programmes. I can now grind far quicker than before. If I’m doing a 5 head fairway machine once you set the 653 for the first unit it will then be set for the remainder.”

ProSport UK focus strongly on aftercare with an emphasis on supporting their customers and training them how to operate grinders they may not be familiar with. All geared to getting the best out of their new machine as quickly as possible.

Pro Sport

Open 2020 prep starts with Toro irrigation at Royal St George’s

With The Open Championship returning to Royal St George’s Golf Club in 2020, the south coast club has chosen Toro irrigation to ensure the famous old course is looking its best when the world’s top golfers arrive in under two years’ time.

The simple rationale which pushed course manager, Paul Larson, into lobbying for a Toro irrigation system, when the club made the decision to replace the existing 20-year-old one, was accuracy he says: “I want to irrigate in millimetres and not in minutes.”

Now in place and guaranteeing the kind of accuracy Paul was after is Toro’s Lynx GDC system from Reesink Turfcare, an official Toro UK distributor. He says: “In fairness, the alternative system we looked at did offer the type of accuracy I was looking for, but while I could achieve three millimetres of water on a specific part of the course with one click of a button on the Toro system, the other system required some calculations and seemingly two or three clicks.”

Complete with pump and weather station integration and installed with a course map and Toro’s round-the-clock support in their handheld and NSN apps, the club’s adoption of the Toro system might not have been the case had Paul not given Rob Jackson, irrigation field sales manager at Reesink, the chance of a trial on a small patch of the golf course.

“I told Rob that I’d more than likely stay with the original system provider but that I was happy to learn of anything new as I like to be open-minded. And I’m glad I did. What I found was that Toro was easier, better and more suited to our course. I’ve had full confidence in the company and the system ever since. Everything has been first class,” revealed Paul.

“We have Infinity sprinklers on the greens, surrounds, approaches and fairways, which give us 360 degree spread, and we can control every head on every sprinkler individually. This morning I have had someone out taking moisture levels everywhere on the course and, for example, if we find a reading of 24 percent at the back of a green and a reading of 18 percent at the front we can set the sprinklers to level it out. My goal is round 20 percent,” said Paul who added that the tees have the FLEX B series, with main nozzle multi-trajectory adaptors. “Everything is just so easy to adjust; we are currently tweaking everything so that it will do exactly what we want.”

Paul continues: “The user friendliness means that I am able to sit with my tablet and control the system remotely, safe in the knowledge that we are irrigating the areas that require it and not wasting water by irrigating the rough or tee banks which was happening with the previous system.”

One area of the course which is benefiting greatly from the new system is the pathways, which now have over 1000 Toro 590G sprinklers with Precision Rotating Nozzles (PRN’s).

“Our paths were in poor shape,” says Paul. “We kept turfing them but it just didn’t last, so now we seed with a fairway fescue, something we can do because with the dedicated sprinklers we can keep them irrigated. It’s too dry down here for the paths to survive without it.”

Installation expert, Ocmis, was able to use most of the original pipework, just replacing all the joints and heads, with only a small amount of new pipework so disruption was minimised.

“The work was carried out over the winter and finished by early spring and by closing a hole at a time there wasn’t much disruption to the golf,” said Paul, who is looking forward to preparing the course for what is always a spectacular Open at Royal St George’s.

Club secretary, Tim Checketts, was part of the panel which had put in place a rigorous tendering process designed to ensure the club would identify the best new irrigation system for them.

“At the end of the process Royal St George’s Golf Club was quite clear that Toro’s irrigation system offered us the significant uplift in capability we had been looking for. We felt that Toro gave us the ability to use less water and target it precisely where we wanted it to go and in doing so the new system would support our strategy to encourage the growth of the finer fescue grasses while reducing the percentage of broadleaf grasses on the course.

“Ocmis was chosen as our preferred contractor recognising its track record in delivering major projects to cost and on time and its reputation for tidy and professional work. The company deserves great credit for completing this project despite the considerable challenges posed by the 2017/18 winter,” said Tim.

“As a result of this successful project the Club now enjoys the use of a highly capable irrigation system and we are well placed to ensure the delivery of the course in Championship condition for 2020.”

Soil scientists appointed to Thamesmead Framework

Peabody, the organisation driving the regeneration of London’s new town, Thamesmead, has appointed soil and landscape consultancy Tim O’Hare Associates (TOHA) based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, to its Thamesmead Framework to provide Soil Science Services.

Principal Consultant at TOHA, Tim O’Hare, worked on the soils strategy for the delivery of the Olympic Park and its subsequent transformation into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park post the 2012 London Olympics.

The Thamesmead project will, once again, see him working with Phil Askew, who was

project sponsor at the Olympic Delivery Authority for the 2012 Olympic Park and who worked on its move into legacy during his time with the London Legacy Development Corporation.

Commenting on TOHA’s Thamesmead Framework appointment, Tim said: “Thamesmead’s potential is enormous and we are looking forward to beginning our work on site and ensuring the green and blue landscape delivers for generations of its residents and the businesses that will undoubtedly want to come to this exciting part of London.”

Limagrain UK host independent school event at AELTC

Limagrain UK recently hosted an event at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, in which a number of independent school groundsmen were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of the most famous sporting venues in the world.

The access-all-areas tour was conducted by Neil Stubley (head of courts & horticulture) and Grant Cantin (head groundsman), in which the attendees were taken to the exclusive playersonly area, the media centre and the legendary centre court.

Delegates also got to see firsthand some of the exciting developments which are currently underway.

The club is now in its final year of the Court 1 retractable roof project and is set to be completed

in time for 2019 Championships. Other works include a new office building for staff, a complete refurbishment of the player dressing rooms and a brand new members’ brasserie – which will no doubt provide yet another world-class dining establishment.

Commenting on the developments, Grant said: “This is the norm here to be honest because we are always trying to be better and provide a better venue - not just for the players but for the public and everyone who comes here.”

The tour offered a fabulous insight into the meticulous planning that is required to successfully host the greatest tennis championships in the world. Grant revealed that while they face many sleepless nights during the Championships, there

is still no let off when the games come to a close.

“In terms of grounds staff, there are eighteen of us here full-time and that includes two full-time mechanics and two irrigation engineers. Every year from March until October we bring in another twelve or thirteen people just to get the numbers for the busy times. The Championships are obviously busy but after that it is actually our busiest time with the renovations. Every grass court is renovated and most of them are stripped off back to soil and then re-grown. All this work needs to be completed before the weather starts turning in October or November, so it is a very busy time for us.”

For the renovations, the grounds staff choose to use Limagrain grass seed for the grass courts

- as Grant explains: “We have been using Limagrain seed for quite a long time now and we are very happy with the product. The mixture is very similar to MM50 with two of the three cultivars being the same. The STRI actually do all of the research for us and they, along with Limagrain, recommend which cultivars to use.

“Every year we are confident that the seed is the very best it can be and the results are great,” he said.

Seminars help create first class sport or play facilities

A series of seminars will highlight an exciting funding scheme which enables the installation of state-of-the-art community sports facilities – in the face of continuing economic challenges and government cutbacks.

Fast Track Funding – an initiative from leading synthetic surfacing supplier Notts Sport – has funded 32 new sports facilities worth in excess of £12 million over the past five years.

Fast Track Funding is the only non-traditional funding route for artificial turf facilities – such as 3G football and rugby, or multiuse hockey pitches – proven to be compliant with Education Funding Agency requirements and local authority or academy auditors.

Shaun Patrick, Chairman of Notts Sport, says: “Whether it’s a brand new project or the refurbishment of an existing pitch, the new facility can be installed straight away – and we can provide valuable advice for

customers to help them maximise the use of the new space after completion so it can immediately start to pay for itself.”

Fast Track Funding Seminars are being held in the following locations:

• Newcastle: 6th November, DoubleTree Newcastle Int Airport , 8am-10am

• Bury: 7th November, Village Hotel Club, 8am10am

• Sheffield: 8th November, Copthorne Hotel Sheffield, 8am-10am

• Bristol: 13th November, Holiday Inn Bristol Filton, 8am-10am

• Birmingham:14th November, Genting Hotel, 8am-10am

• Cambridgeshire: 15th November, BW Quy Mill Hotel, 8am-10am

• London: 22nd November, RICS Parliament Square, 2pm-4pm

Collect more by stopping less. Perfect for large jobs on tight deadlines.

With

Times have changed. So have tools. And our new commercial range is all the proof you need. Take the EGO Power+ blower. It’s powered by the most technologically advanced, petrol-matching, Lithium-ion battery system out there. It’s built tough to withstand all-day use in any weather. Its impressive airflow beats every other handheld blower on the market, and while it packs all the power of petrol, it’s significantly quieter, vibrates less and gives off zero fumes. So don’t stick to what you know. Switch to the power of EGO.

The purrfect roller mower?

From time to time there is a breakthrough, an innovation that makes a real impact on the way we do things.

Such is the new Wessex CRX320 golf course and sports turf roller mower.

Wessex describe it as the machine you’ve been asking for, manufactured in the company’s own factory in the UK the CRX320 is an exceptional mowing experience.

Full width rollers front and rear and 3.2m wide, it’s nothing short of a precision cut and outstanding stripe. Keeping the rollers as close as possible maximises ground contour following, with excellent floating capabilities to closely hug the undulations.

The renowned CRX swing tip Gold Cut blades give you the superb cut and make for easy maintenance,

while the wide-angle PTO gives you tight-turn capabilities for increased manoeuvrability.

All you need is a 35hp tractor and only one spool valve, which makes it economical to operate with the simplest machinery. Simple too is the belt tension for quick and easy maintenance and the cutting height adjustment, between 10mm and 100mm, is equally straightforward. Minimal and easy access grease points and shrouded PTO’s equate to long service intervals.

The CRX-320 is also made roadgoing with an optional highway kit for road-legal towing, so you can easily move from place to place. And with a 3-year warranty, what more could you ask for? If you think of something Wessex are always listening.

Lloyd takes on Reform and Muthing ranges

Commenting on the agreement Simon Richard said: ‘’The Lloyd name is an excellent addition to our nationwide dealer network.’’

DK tractor range from Kioti evolves

Since 2003 the Kioti DK tractor range has continued to evolve. It has a reputation for simplicity and ease of use.

Today the DK tractor range has been completed with the introduction of the new 58 HP version with air-conditioned factory cabin.

This new tractor the DK6010 represents the very best of quality with many features designed for maximum operator comfort, ergonomic styling and ease of use.

It is a class leading model compared to equivalent tractors of its horse power range.

The comfort of the cabin combined with the new

ASSEENATSALTEX2018

twin pedal mechanical HST transmission makes this a tractor that is a real pleasure to use for experienced or new tractor drivers alike.

Available in 3 horse powers (45/49/58) the new series of DK models with their compact size and weight delicately adapts to all types of ground conditions.

You can choose between a narrow version with a mid ROPS, a standard model with a rear mounted ROPS and a Premium model with air-conditioned cabin (DK6010 only).

New in this range is the introduction of HST available with the 58HP model. This answers the demands from customers who need a tractor

that is able to work hard, has power, is flexible, precise and easy to use. The wide choice of different turf wheels that are available from Kioti Uk for

this tractor ensure that it is fit for any purpose.”

The new AS 1040 YAK 4WD is a major innovation of ride-on mowers, setting new standards for slope mowing. The flail mowing unit provides a wider cutting width with maximum stability. Rotary mowers with similar working widths hit their limits in extreme terrain. In the event of unseen foreign objects, the flail mower unit is at significantly less risk of damage and ensures greater operator safety. For visually perfect mowing results across the complete working width. Rather than placing the grass in swaths, like rotary mowers, the flail mowing unit returns tiny particles of grass back to the soil as natural fertiliser.

The AS 1040 YAK 4WD’s newly developed 100 cm wide flail mowing unit is a superior alternative to the conventional rotary mowing unit.

AS 1040 YAK 4WD THE PROFESSIONAL RIDE-ON FLAIL-MOWER. STRONG, ROBUST, PERFORMS ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. www.as-motor.uk

PSD Groundscare Ltd Tel: 01282 856819 Email: sales@psdgroundscare.com Web: www.psdgroundscare.com

63cm wide

Folding handlebars Made in the UK

Find out more by visiting www.tracmaster.co.uk or call 01444 247689

High quality maintenance packages offer an attractive solution

Fleet deals and comprehensive package contracts have become increasingly popular in the last five to 10 years as buyers looks to maximise on the value for money they get from manufacturers and dealers.

With both the private and public sector seeing budgets squeezed but the demand for better quality services increasing, investment in new machinery has continued but with the customer demanding a lot more for their money.

In response the manufacturers and dealers have launched fleet and package offers that enable customers to invest in the latest machinery but not necessarily be exposed to an initial high outlay.All sorts of finance deals are now available and increasingly manufacturers are providing packages that provide a lot more than a machinery solution.

For example, Real Club de Golf Las Brisas at Marbella in Spain is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, as well as its first full golf course maintenance equipment fleet deal with John Deere and local dealer Agronimer.

Arranged through David Fernandez, the head of Agronimer’s golf division, the new fleet has been acquired in a five-year John Deere Financial agreement worth one million euros, and is supported by full PowerGard maintenance cover.

Machinery includes tees, fairway, greens and rough mowers, both compact and larger utility tractors, Gator utility vehicles, sprayers and bunker rakes. The latest E-Cut hybrid electric models now make up 100 per cent of the club’s ride-on greens and fairway mower fleet.

Others, like Reesink Turfcare, offer greater flexibility like the

automotive industry. Reesink Turfcare’s four Toro finance schemes offering ten ways to pay launched last year and were so successful they’re back again.

The reason for this success is, says Reesink national sales manager Jeff Anguige, because they allow customers to turn one new Toro machine into a fleet for the same year’s budget: “Instead of buying one machine with your annual machinery replacement budget you put it towards a fleet. It’s the cost-effective way to get the latest and best quality machinery you need, now. Plus, you get more of what you need for less.”

All four schemes, which comprises Toro Triple Finance each with three payment options and an interest-free payment with Buy Now Pay Later, have flexibility at their core, to provide a best scenario for everyone.

There is also a move to invest in alternative methods of transport and investment in electric and hybrid power solutions.

Ground Control, the UK’s leading external maintenance and commercial landscaping providers announce partnership with the world’s largest electric vehicle charging network, ChargePoint, to drive alternative energy and help businesses attract and retain staff and customers

Ground Control is heavily invested in caring for the environment, and its recent partnership with ChargePoint is the latest offering promoting

innovative methods to build a more sustainable future.

Ground Control’s new service ‘GC-ChargePoint’; supplying and installing EV charging solutions, supports and encourages the use of electric vehicles as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels, championing the growth of the UK’s EV charging network.

Vehicle manufacturers are expanding and developing an ever-growing range of electric vehicles, with the market growing significantly as diesel cars are rapidly replaced with greener alternatives.

Cut to the business with the FS 131

For tougher jobs and larger areas of tall grass, the FS 131 from STIHL supplied with ADVANCE Universal double shoulder harness, metal grass blade and AutoCut mowing head offers professionals with a high-performance and efficient brushcutter suitable for landscape maintenance.

The STIHL 4-MIX engine, which runs on a fuel-oil mix similarly to a 2-stroke, provides fast acceleration, more power and added torque and reduced emissions.

The increased fuel efficiency and large fuel tank allows professionals to complete jobs quickly and more easily, whilst reducing downtime.

To make getting up and running even simpler, the FS 131 features an internal decompression valve meaning less force on the starter rope is needed. With only two screws to undo to access the timing valves, regular maintenance checks and adjustments are quick and simple.

Designed with a multi-function handle, the engine and speed controls are easily accessible and at the users finger tips, along with a stop switch that automatically reverts back to the start position for a quicker, simple restart.

When used in conjunction with a harness, the bike handle enables a smooth mowing action, meaning the machine can be easily guided

and is ideal for working on large areas, thus reducing fatigue.

The ADVANCE Universal Harness supplied features soft padding for further comfort during longer jobs. Additionally, the anti-vibration

system dampens oscillations from the machine’s engine to reduce vibrations at the handles, rendering the FS 131 suitable to use over extended periods.

STIHL

EGO offer powers and performance to ground care professionals

To meet the needs of ground care professionals in terms of power, performance, convenience and wellbeing, EGO Power+ is launching its first dedicated range of commercial cordless garden tools.

Powered by the patented design of the 56V Arc Lithium battery system, which delivers the power of petrol without the petrol, the range comprises three highspec tools – a hedge trimmer, a commercial line trimmer, and a blower.

Corona Tools launches in the UK

Corona Tools, America’s leading tool innovator, launches its premium gardening tools in the UK at GLEE in September.

The tools combine outstanding performance with the highest quality materials and advanced technical design, to ensure that Corona tools are more than up to the job, however tough it gets.

Corona Tools is launching selected ranges in the UK in 2018 as a result of its relationship to British garden tool manufacturer Burgon & Ball. At the start of

Winter warmers from Cobra

Cobra has an extensive range of chainsaws aimed at domestic users.

For those wanting the rev of a petrol engine to add to the experience, Cobra has four models of increasing cutting widths and power, ranging from a 14” with a 42cc engine to a 20” with a 62cc engine. Alternatively, there are also

electric models. However, for the ultimate in convenience, Cobra has a lithium-ion battery chainsaw which is ready to go at the touch of a button. The CS3540VZ for an impressive 50-minutes on a 90-minute charge.

Cobra

Top of the tree with ECHO

ECHO’s range of new generation chainsaws includes the CS2511TES, the top handle saw arborists and dealers have been waiting for.

Weighing in at just 2.3kg (dry weight w/o bar and chain) it is ECHO’s lightest and most compact saw to date, highly manoeuvrable and easy to use for long periods with little fatigue, thanks to the compact design.

It is the attention to detail in the design that sets this saw apart.

The ECHO engineers have taken the approach that user experience, and the environments they are working in, are crucial to the way the saw is designed.

The engine produces 1.10kW to give the CS-2511TES a superior power-to-weight ratio.

The saw fits easily into the hand with its ergonomic contoured handle and patented palm rest for greater control and comfort.

The controls are positioned logically and are easy to use, while the attention to detail that includes a swing-out lanyard ring enhances balance and makes climbing easier.

the year, the Sheffield-based company joined the Venanpri global family of the finest hand tool brands, already home to Corona Tools.

Corona Tools will be debuting its ranges of cutting tools, saws, axes, digging tools and long-handled tools at GLEE. Visitors to stand 8E50-F51 at the show will be able to meet the Corona tool experts, and take an exclusive first look at these superb high quality tools from the States.

Corona

All offer super tough, low maintenance construction to help grounds care professionals work harder all-day every day, even in the most challenging conditions.

EGO have spent a lot of time talking to professional users to better understand what is

required from them of their tools. The result is a range of tools designed to perform beyond the expectations of even the most challenging user. All three new tools are packed with innovation.

In an industry first, the brush cutter has a carbon fibre shaft which makes it more lightweight for ease of handling, but, even more importantly, it makes it extremely strong.

Where standard aluminium shafts bend or get damaged, this shaft stays strong to meet the day-to-day routine of handling, transporting and storing. Additionally, EGO will also launch a new backpack battery, which once again, takes cordless performance to a whole new level.

With an IP rating of 56 this new battery is suitable for all weather conditions. There’s no need to stop and place a plastic cover over the top of it like some other manufacturers because its 1500 watt hour capacity will just keep on working.

Overcoming the challenges of a long hot summer

Though it seems a while ago now, the dizzy heights of the recent summer saw temperatures well above average. It has gone down in history as the joint-hottest on record for the UK as a whole, and the hottest ever in England.

According to Met Office statistics, Faversham in Kent recorded the highest temperature in England at 35.5oc and Scotland reached a new record in June with 33.2oc.

The heatwave of 2018 offered extremely dry and sunny conditions throughout June and July due to clear skies and lower than normal rainfall. The period was characterised by a strong North Atlantic Oscillation (+NAO) which meant high pressure was largely dominant over north and north-west Europe.

For Turf Managers maintaining the country’s sports turf areas, heat stress and low moisture levels made it a particular challenge to produce consistently good playing surfaces. The negative effect on soils can be clearly seen by comparing moisture deficit data for 2018 versus 2017 – in this case from a location in Oxfordshire.

The soil moisture deficit is the difference between the amount of water the soil can hold and the amount actually in the soil.

A moisture deficit of 10mm over a time period means 10mm of moisture was removed from the soil by evapotranspiration (E.T.) that was not replaced by precipitation during this period. Over the summer of 2018, soil moisture deficits were almost double those of the previous year and consequently meant that the turf areas needed more water, more frequently, to maintain plant growth and turf quality.

To maintain consistent growth, the soil needs to provide a reservoir of available water to facilitate plant processes such as photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, cooling via transpiration and rigidity. But in addition, a certain balance of moisture in the soil is required to provide the correct playing surface characteristics for many sports. Managing the soil moisture appropriately for individual sports can ensure optimum performance and improve consistency, as well as reduce injury in some situations.

Along with moisture meters, wetting agents were an important tool in maintaining and maximising water availability through this period. Penetrant type wetters are low-cost, but by their nature, facilitate water movement downwards in soils – thus not making best use of applied irrigation or rainfall. Wetting agents with some residual activity on the other hand, help to retain water

molecules around soil particles and provide an essential aid to help maintain plant available moisture.

Playing the game Nottingham Forest Football Club have used a wetting agent programme at The Nigel Doughty Academy, the clubs training ground, for the last 5 years. The facility is the training base for the Forest Academy, under 18’s, under 23’s and first team squads.

Head Groundsman Matt Tietjen explained: “We have 5 and a half natural grass pitches, plus an indoor and an outdoor 3G surface to maintain. The training ground is quite an open site and the irrigation system doesn’t provide us with water cover to all areas

of the grass. This means that we suffer with localised dry spots due to lack of moisture.

“It was essential to apply wetting agents and hand water to keep the pitches hydrated during the hot and dry summer months we have just had.”

Many residual wetting agents tend to be expensive to use on large areas, but Matt was attracted by the multi-rate flexibility of TriCure AD from Headland Amenity. “We apply TriCure at 4 litres per hectare in a volume rate of 400 litres of water per hectare. We try to apply once a month from May until September and will increase this to every 2 weeks if the weather is extremely hot - like this summer. This works well

for us, in combination with the TriCure granules if needed. After application we will also irrigate and hand water to help drive the product down into the profile.”

TriCure AD is more active, rate for rate, than many surfactants due to its multi-molecular chemistry. Other products have to be applied at much higher rates to achieve equivalent results, as many contain only one surfactant technology and only work well in one given situation.

Normal summer maintenance applications on fine turf such as golf greens etc. are applied at 10-20 litres per hectare.

However, TriCure AD has been shown to be active and produce good residual results at rates as low as 2.5 litres

per hectare on coarse turf areas such as winter sports pitches, golf fairways and cricket outfields. This multirate flexibility leads to a significant cost reduction compared to products that are effective only at full-rate.

Matt said “Using TriCure AD signifi cantly reduced the amount of hand watering we had to do over, what was, a punishing summer. The temperatures were particularly testing and stressful for the grass. TriCure has been vital to us to help keep the grass hydrated and without it, we would have had to hand water pretty much every day to keep on top of the dry areas.”

Greenmaster Invigorator crucial for Kingsbarns fairways

Innes Knight, Course and Facilities Manager at Kingsbarns Golf Links, says that ICL’s Greenmaster Pro-Lite Invigorator 4-0-8+2MgO+4Fe is crucial to his fairways maintenance programme.

Golf was resurrected on Kingsbarns Links at the dawning of the 21st Century and in 2001 it was named as one of the cohosts of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Innes started in his role at Kingsbarns in the final stages of construction and admitted that it was somewhat of a baptism of fire with the course being selected to host a high-calibre professional tour event so soon after its opening.

Selecting the correct products is essential and Innes says that ICL’s Greenmaster Pro-Lite Invigorator 4-0-8+2MgO+4Fe helps him to create that

essential ‘links feel’ that Kingsbarns demands.

“On the fairways it is all about trying to create the links feel, so you want them firm, fast and able to withstand the wear. However, you do not want them to look too polished otherwise you can get criticised for that - it is all about finding the correct balance. We have two applications a season with Greenmaster Pro-Lite Invigorator - one at the start of the season in the middle of March and one just after Dunhill in October which takes us through the winter period. The product is crucial for our fairways maintenance programme and we’ve seen great results.”

This low nitrogen, high potassium fertilizer contains iron to help harden turf in spring and autumn consists of fine granules for quick dispersal, and Innes believes that good spreading and fortunate weather is the ideal combination to get the best results.

“We are using a local farmer’s spreader now and it is working

very well. The problem on a links course with low fertility is that you put something on and it shows up everything. This isn’t really the case on a parkland course when you are maybe using 300kg of nitrogen a year, but when you are only putting a miniscule amount out you have to get it right.

“If you put fertilizer out you really want it to rain the next day or a couple of days after and not be damp because of the iron content. We got such a good hit this year. It was dry when we applied it, there was no wind and then it rained the very next day.

“We saw a great response after just fi ve days and every fairway was consistent. It gave them that hit they needed to pick them up at the start of the season. Greenmaster ProLite Invigorator is such a good product and if you get a bit of good weather at the same time as you apply it then the results are unbeatable.”

ICL

Headland Amenity puts emphasis on the environment with Crystal Green

A source of slow-release phosphorus, nitrogen and magnesium recovered from nutrient-rich UK waste water, Crystal Green available from Headland Amenity makes for an eco-friendly fertiliser that enhances nutrient efficiency – perfect for easily-leachable, sand-dominated rootzones.

Most phosphorus fertilisers are highly water soluble and rapidly react in the soil becoming unavailable for plant uptake. As turfgrass grows it produces

organic acids, such as citrates, to help roots absorb nutrients.

The nutrients in Crystal Green are citrate-soluble, releasing slowly in response to organic acid production, gradually supplying the soil solution to meet plant demand. This process minimises excess phosphorus in the soil, lowering the risk of leaching and runoff while providing the turf a season-long supply of phosphorus according to the plant’s requirements. Crystal Green granules are uncoated, 99.9% pure, dust-free, and maintain

their slow-release capabilities even if cracked or broken. Whilst the original Crystal Green 5-2810 formulation is suitable to aid establishment and to maintain Phosphorus availability in free draining soils, it is also a perfect slow-release partner in fertiliser blends.

It features in Headland’s Xtend 10-10-10+2MgO slow-release renovation/recovery fertiliser, which also includes a composted organic base, seaweed meal and humic acid.

The finished product works as a pre-seeder and establishment fertiliser with both slow-release N and P, perfect for use on winter sports pitches, cricket outfields and racecourse turf, as well as golf tees, fairways and surrounds.

Marathon is the front runner at Hamilton Park

Stephen Fyles, track manager at Hamilton Park racecourse, has noticed significant improvements since switching to a variety of Marathon Sport extended release fertilisers from Sherriff Amenity.

Along with three other members of staff, Stephen oversees the meticulous operations at the 4.8 hectare site which includes the maintenance of the track and all surrounding lawns and grounds.

“I came into this role three years ago with the mind-set of giving the existing fertiliser programme a chance,” he says. “I gave it two years but unfortunately I was finding holes in the regime – we were losing track pace, recovery times and generally were just not seeing the results I wanted.

“I had seen the Marathon fertilisers in action in a previous role at Epsom and knew what I could expect from them. Therefore I made the switch last year and they have worked incredibly well.”

For a number of years, turf managers have reaped the benefits of Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon fertilisers – the Marathon Sport range of extended release fertilisers provide long-lasting, balanced growth on golf fairways, tees, surrounds, sports fields and ornamental lawns maintained at a height of 10mm and above.

“We went with an all Marathon feed for the track over the

course of the summer with four feeds and the results have been fantastic. It’s been a very positive year – the track has stood up to the heavy use and at the same time it is helping me meet the requirements of our soil analysis tests because at the moment the phosphate levels in the soil are high so it requires us to have a low phosphate fertiliser to stop them from getting locked in.”

Stephen chooses to use Spring 16.4.8; Summer 10.0.15 and Autumn 7.0.21 and applies them anywhere between the recommended rate of 20 - 35g/ m2 dependent on conditions. In conjunction with the Marathon base feeds, Stephen regularly applies long-lasting iron liquid in the form of Sherriff Amenity’s GoGreen Energy and GoGreen Plus.

Containing seaweed, plant sugars, simple carbohydrates and trace elements that have been specially selected to give optimum results when grass is stressed, GoGreen Energy is a concentrated bio-stimulant, formulated to assist plant health and relieve stress symptoms.

For instant greening of turf many turf managers choose GoGreen Plus which is a unique complex iron sulphate that may be used as a stand-alone product or more flexibly, as a tank-mix partner.

Prevention is the key

Major investment made by Origin’s Amenity Business

Origin’s Amenity Business has announced its acquisition of Linemark UK, the country’s leading innovator and supplier of pitch line-marking paints, machines and accessories.

Linemark UK joins Rigby Taylor and Headland in providing technically advanced and innovative solutions to turf management professionals.

Linemark UK has been the exclusive supplier of linemarking products to Rigby Taylor for 10 years, working closely with the company to bring to the industry Impact, the market-leading, ready-touse paint, which has won many awards including the Queens Award for Innovation and the Queens Award for International trade (Export).

This paint is now sold to over 43 countries worldwide and used by international, national stadia, Premiership pitches and sports grounds across a range of sports surfaces. Other paints include the Duraline range for both natural turf, synthetic and hard surfaces together with Preline, the only MAPPapproved paint for initial marking.

Commenting on the acquisition, Chris Clark, Rigby Taylor’s

executive chairman, stated: “Pitch line-marking paint and its application is an important market sector for the company. With Linemark UK joining the Origin family, we consider that Rigby Taylor will consolidate its leading market position and continue the high level of innovation and development for the benefit of our customer’s both now and in the future.”

Tony Holt, managing director of Linemark UK, commented: “This is fantastic news for Linemark UK as it looks to build on its successes and create, alongside Rigby Taylor, an exciting future within the Origin organisation.”

Linemark UK and Rigby Taylor pioneered the introduction of an Integrated Paint Technology System to sports pitch linemarking, matching for the first time innovative paint formulation chemistry, advanced spray nozzle technology and application performance.

The result was the introduction of Impact paints, which brought to the industry the highest level of line-marking performance ever achieved.

Linemark UK

HP Sportsline provides an expert finish

Junckers HP SportsLine is a water-based two-pack paint for marking of court lines and colouring of other areas on wooden floors in gymnasiums and sports halls.

Junckers HP SportsLine is recommended on Junckers HP SPORT coated and Junckers prefinished lacquered floors.

The range can be mixed to obtain other colours. Junckers manufactures high quality

solid wood flooring for all types of sport courts and gyms, including basketball courts, handball courts, volleyball courts, futsal pitches, racquet courts, squash courts and multipurpose arenas.

With experience gained from manufacturing solid hardwood floors since the 1930’s, Junckers has the technical expertise to design and supply the optimal performing high quality solid hardwood flooring. Flooring

Environmentally safe, concentrated marking solutions

solutions suit all indoor sport and activity areas, including, gyms, fitness flooring, athletic facilities, and multipurpose rooms.

Junckers sports floors perform with unique area-elastic characteristics and this gives athletes the ultimate freedom of movement, protects against injury and ensures that they can achieve their best.

Android-based Supaturf SWOZI raises the bar

GPS-guided linemarking has further advanced with the Generation 3 SWOZI from Vitax Supaturf. The Supaturf SWOZI marked a quantum leap in the speed and efficiency of linemarking, with turfcare professionals able to mark out a football pitch in an average time of just 30 minutes.

The technology already allows sports contractors and site-based grounds professionals to mark out far more pitches in a day than when using traditional machines.

ported to Android, introducing variable or constant rate paint outflow to give users more flexible work patterns.

Recognised internationally, Bowgrass concentrated line marking paints for sports pitches have been specifically formulated to offer exceptional levels of coverage and consistency.

Waterborne and environmentally safe, all Bowgrass line marking paint grades remain ‘bright white’ in both concentrated and diluted form.

Due to its optimal performance Bowgrass line marking paints are used by many contractors, schools, councils, national and international sporting institutions as well as at major sporting championships.

Release of the new low volume Atomic line marking paint, continues to prove a huge success both in the UK and internationally.

Whilst universally compatible with all line marking machines, Bowgrass line marking paints have been specifically developed for optimal performance through the Bowcom range of line marking applicators, including the revolutionary GMX electric line marking machine, GM5, GM10, and Trike.

Bowcom

Generation 3 SWOZI features upgraded control system, electronics and communications, using a Windows-based app now

The new terrain compensation module (TCM) boosts line quality and further eases marking out, while strip mowing is now available through the Android app store for loading on to the rugged, waterproof Samsung Galaxy Active 8-inch IP67 display tablet fitted to the latest version. Users can now swap seamlessly between GPS with SWOZI RTK base to RTK app or to laser tracker without changing equipment or hardware.

Vitax

Get your cogs turning with latest innovation from Fleet Line Markers

Fleet Line Markers Ltd will be launching a whole new innovation in line marking at Saltex 2018.

Fleet is extremely excited to showcase the Cog Drum and the Cog Line Markers, a whole new approach in line marking.

It is not only environmentally friendly but eliminates paint wastage. Rather than recycling, the Cog Line Marking System reuses it’s bespoke drums (Cogs), which can be used time after time saving money and …. saving the planet. At the end of their reusable life they are then recycled into new Cogs.

We will also be demonstrating the Kombi Klamp Docking Station and the Flozle Nozzle Cleaning System, which are both fresh from winning the Paris Innovation Awards last month.

The Kombi Klamp Docking Station is an easy to use system to safely and easily transport your Kombi, BeamRider or MAQA Line Marking Machines. The Klamp is supplied with built in extendable ramps to suit most vehicles. Once the machine is parked on the Klamp our unique clamping system holds the machine securely in place and the extendable ramps simply slide underneath for storage.

The Flozle Nozzle System is a spray head that automatically cleans the nozzle after every line marked. This unique patented system can keep the line marking tip clear at all times.

The latest MAQA release will also be on show, this is the only UK manufactured and designed satellite guided line marker available in the UK.

14 years ago Fleet created the laser guided

line marker, BeamRider (which is still the most accurate line marker available anywhere in the world), of which the latest model will be exhibited on the Fleet stand.

In the 90’s Fleet designed and manufactured the first ride-on line marker on a utility vehicle.

Come and see how this has now progressed into an electric ride-on dedicated line marker.

October 4th, 2018 has seen market leaders, Fleet Line Markers Ltd, recognised by the Low Carbon Opportunities Program in Sustainability, and have been awarded a substantial grant in order to continue to achieve Fleet’s goals of significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the line marking industry.

Selectline line marking paints in the UK

During SALTEX visitors were introduced to a new major player in the market of line marking paints - Selectline.

Selectline has been selling line marking paints in North West

Europe successfully for many years and now the UK will be one of their new focus countries.

Selectline is both a developer and a manufacturer of paints, which provides them a great

opportunity to develop innovative products and to ensure a fast delivery time. SL Mix is a line of premium concentrated line marking paints. These products distinguish themselves due to

their whiteness, wear resistance and stability in the can. SL Ready is a ready-to-use line marking paint that stands for quality and convenience. A wear resistant white line straight from the can with ultra low consumption.

The line marking company is present with factories in four countries: The Netherlands, France, Canada and China. Before, the company has sold their products mainly by private labels but is now entering the market under their own name ‘Selectline’.

The range of products consists of high-quality concentrates and ready-to-use paints. In addition, Selectline offers marketing packages to their distributors to launch the products the best way possible.

Selectline

Intelligent line marking from Rigby Taylor

Intelligent One, a GPScontrolled robotic line marking system that can automatically mark out a football pitch in just 30 minutes, is now available to UK sports clubs, schools, contractors and local authorities.

It has been developed by Rigby Taylor, the company at the forefront of supplying innovative products for the successful management and maintenance of turf surfaces.

Already being used in Denmark by professional football clubs, Intelligent One connects to positioning satellites via a sophisticated Leica GPS system and is operated via a tablet by entering pitch dimensions with two fixed points.

The pitch can then be marked - including centre circle, D and corner areas, as well as the

penalty spot - without any further operator involvement.

Designed for use with Rigby Taylor’s award-winning Impact Integrated Paint Technology,

Intelligent One is programmable between pitches on the same site and can mark multiple pitches from one battery charge. Initially designed for marking grass football pitches, Rigby

Taylor is now also investigating its use for other sports and playing surfaces.

Rigby Taylor

Grassline line marking paints offer more for less

Grassline line marking paints are forever mindful of the increasing costs of sports pitch maintenance and line marking.

With this in mind, Grassline have launched a triple initiative which gives all Groundsmen the opportunity to acquire a transfer wheel line marker completely free of charge.

Purchase a Challenger line marker for £329.00 or an Ultima line marker for £309.95 and get two bottles of Grassline Heavy Duty line marking paint FREE OF CHARGE worth £39.50

Purchase a half pallet of Grassline Heavy Duty line marking paint concentrate (25 x 10L bottles) – cost £442.50 and get the Challenger line marker at half price – only £164.50 or Ultima line marker half price –only £154.97

Purchase a full pallet of Grassline Heavy Duty line marking paint (50 x 10L bottles) – cost £810.00 and get either the Challenger or Ultima line marker completely free of charge. All prices exclude VAT but include delivery.

Grassline

Taking the Grassline approach

Grassline Sports Marking Liquids is a specialist manufacturer of many types of line marking paint for every type of sport surface.

The company offers high performance white and coloured grass paint as well as artificial grass and hard surface line marking paint.

The majority of line marking paints come in 10 litre bottles in concentrated form for diluting with water so users can choose the appropriate strength of mixed paint to suit your situation.

Grassline also offers a white Ready to Use (ready mixed) line marking paint and smaller 5 litre bottles of hard surface line marking paint concentrate for small line marking jobs – such as car parks and playgrounds.

Grassline can provide a range of professional line marking machines, including transfer wheel line markers and spray line markers.

Grassline

Preventative fungicide treatments excel in STRI research trials

Recent STRI research trials prove that preventative disease control programmes outperform curative options when analysed for turf quality, colour and presence of Microdochium Patch.

STRI research manager, Mark Ferguson, explains these results and stresses the importance of preventative programmes in light of the recent loss of curative active ingredient iprodione.

“When measuring disease presence, the STRI team looked specifically at the level of Microdochium Patch cover on the plots. As expected, the preventative treatments performed significantly better than the curative ones.

“The trials ran over the course of eight months, comparing nine preventative and three curative programmes, as well as one untreated plot.

“The first three programmes used purely preventative fungicides from Bayer. The rest of the preventative plots used a combination from Rigby Taylor and Headland Amenity teamed with plant health products to reflect a more realistic approach,” says Mark.

In general, preventative programmes five to seven showed the most consistent results across turf colour, quality and Microdochium Patch presence by using an integrated approach with both fungicides and plant health products.

“The fungicides within the curative programmes (11 -13) were applied as and when disease developed to an unacceptable level, mimicking traditional control strategies.

“It’s important to note that none of the trial plots had any cultural controls or biological practices applied prior to or during the trial, other than mowing and switching, which was carried out when necessary,” adds Mark.

Bayer technical manager, Dr Colin Mumford, says the trial results show that even the most ‘bullet-proof’ curative programme was significantly outperformed by the preventative options.

“The disease control landscape has changed and it’s more important than ever before that greenkeepers don’t wait for disease to appear as they may have done in the past,” he says.

Bayer

GKB takes its place at the most beautiful ground

The Wormsley cricket pitch in Buckinghamshire is often referred to as ‘the most beautiful ground in Britain’.

When Mick Jagger introduced Sir Paul Getty to cricket, the millionaire philanthropist formed such an affection for the sport he had a replica of The Oval built on the grounds of his estate.

The pitch was completed in 1992 and the first match played there was attended by Her Majesty The Queen Mother, the then Prime Minister John Major, Sir Michael Caine and cricket legends Denis Compton and Brian Johnston. What is now known as ‘Sir Paul Getty’s Ground’, Wormsley has in recent years played host to England Women’s test matches against Australia and India.

Cricket Manager and former head groundsman for the Wormsley estate, Simon Tremlin heads the team responsible for maintaining the ground. With such a reputation to live up to he’s naturally very selective about the machinery he uses and a requirement for a scarifier and

seeder led him to official GKB dealers RT Machinery near Aylesbury.

“We do a lot of contracting work as well as looking after Wormsley,” says Simon “and it’s important to know the machines we use are sturdy enough to meet our needs. Last year we did forty- two cricket squares as well as rugby and football pitches.”

RT Machinery arranged with GKB Machines’ Tom Shinkins for demonstrations of GKB’s VStrong and Combiseeder at Wormsley. “We wanted a scarifier that collects as well and the VStrong showed us it’s ideal for that, leaving a tidy finish and saving time, especially in damp conditions.” Simon adds.

The VStrong follows in the tradition of GKB’s Combinator and employs generically developed 3mm carbide scarifying blades attached to the rotor using their Quick-Lock system. An operating depth of 5cm is easily attained without missing any areas. The operating speed of up to 12km/h is a real benefit for the professional

contractor, with fast removal of thatch and weed with the ability to collect at the same time.

The GKB Combiseeder can be used for overseeding and initial seeding and features two spiked rollers that open up the soil for the seed to then be spread accurately across the full width, in and around the holes. Creating over 1500 holes per m² the Combiseeder provides accurate seed application at various rates to suit different seed mixes, with

drag brushes to incorporate seed and topdressing for minimal surface disruption.

“We’ve gone with the GKB machines for the way they perform and they are robust enough to withstand the punishment of contracting work,” says Simon, “and we have plenty of that ahead as well as maintaining Sir Paul Getty’s Ground.”

Kubota pitch perfect for Melksham Town FC

Kubota UK’s market leading B Series is proving to be a key player for Melksham Town FC after the Wiltshire club secured promotion to the highest league the team has ever played in - the Evo-Stik Southern League.

The club recently completed its first full season at its new £7.3m Oakfields facility, one of the best sporting facilities in the South West of England, following a grant from the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund.

Helping to keep the 16 pitches in perfect condition all year round is Kubota’s B3150, supplied by local independent Kubota groundcare machinery dealer Lister Wilder.

Melksham Town FC’s Chairman Darren Perrin said: “We need to have quality pitches for our players to train on as this is crucial in preparation for match days. With the Kubota, we get exactly that. The machine is simple to use, comfortable, and most importantly, maintains and keeps our training pitches in great condition.”

With three senior men’s sides, a women’s team and 44 youth teams, Melksham Town has over 500 registered players of all ages. The pitches are therefore put through their paces over the course of a season so it’s a busy job for head groundsman Paul Brinkley and his volunteer grounds maintenance team.

SISIS success at Shrewsbury School

Andy Richards, grounds manager at Shrewsbury School, has reported excellent results from using a range of SISIS equipment to maintain the School’s widely praised sports pitches.

Andy and his team work tirelessly throughout the year to provide sports pitches of the highest quality, and when it comes to his cricket wickets he puts his faith in the SISIS Auto Rotorake MK5

“We use the Auto Rotorake specifically for cricket because it does such a good job,” says Andy.

“The amount of material you can take out of a wicket with the brush reel and the verticutting reel sometimes needs to be seen to be believed. We use it all the way through the cricket season. In summer we do 30 match wickets a week and it will be part of the preparation for every one of those. From the middle of April through to the last cricket match in August we play host to approximately 250 matches and the Auto Rotorake is used on every one of those.”

The SISIS Auto Rotorake MK5 is a powerful self-propelled heavy duty scarifier designed for the removal and control of thatch on fine turf. It features a contra-

rotating reel with specially designed tipped blades for clean, consistent cut and maximum thatch removal. As Andy says, a variety of maintenance tasks can be carried out due to a selection of seven different interchangeable reels.

In further discussing his maintenance procedures, Andy pin-pointed aeration as one of the most vital.

“We have one of the highest pitch usages in the country. On each pitch we average 10-15 hours per week and we’ve got limited drainage. Therefore, one of the most important things we do is aeration and we aerate pitches all of the time. Grass lives and needs air like anyone else,” he says.

Breathing life into Andy’s grass is his newly purchased SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid tractor mounted aerator, and he had no problem in running it past the School’s bursars – as he explains.

“It was the machine I wanted because I had previously trialled it and had good results. For example I Clegg hammered the pitches before and after using the Aer-Aid and had noticed a massive reduction in hardness.

I know that the Aer-Aid had recently undergone extensive Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) trials and it came out with excellent results – which always gives you confidence and makes it easier to explain to the bursars why you want to purchase it.”

The Javelin Aer-Aid recently gained rave reviews from the STRI following a three month period in which extensive trials led by Dr Christian Spring were carried out.

Contractor sees steady business growth with a little help from Redexim Verti-Drains

With customers ranging from Birmingham City FC, Wasps Rugby and Warwick School, no two days are the same for contractors, Lakeside Grounds Maintenance.

To cope with the versatility required to work on multiple sports surfaces and grounds, Director Gareth FowlerSimons has just invested in his second Verti-Drain 7526 from Charterhouse Turf Machinery, taking his total fleet to four.

Established by Gareth’s father over 30 years ago, and now with a team of 10 guys on the road, Lakeside GM conduct grounds and sports turf maintenance in and around the Midlands.

“Aeration is one of those staple maintenance procedures that goes across the board, no matter the surface you’re

working on” explains Gareth. “We took delivery of our very first Verti-Drain, an ex-demo model, roughly 20 years ago. We looked at alternatives at the time and decided that it was the best built unit, as well as being the most cost-effective. When we advertised that we had one, we picked up a lot of work which saw us quickly adding a second unit to cope with the demand.”

In the last five years Gareth and his team have continued to see growth, enough to justify the investment in two further VertiDrains, this time opting for the largest model available. “I spoke to Richard Lucas at SALTEX a couple of years ago and on the back of that, he set up a static unit for me to look at.

“Without even seeing it in action I was happy that if it was going to perform half as well as our

smaller units, we’d go for it. Having the two Verti-Drain 7526’s in our fleet now means we can continue to provide a quality job but in a shorter space of time, minimising disruption for the customers and maximising efficiency for my team.

“During autumn and peak renovation times, our Verti-Drains

are out on a daily basis and have so far delivered exactly what we’re after from a machine, with no dramas. With Charterhouse offering the large 2.6m machines, that are simple to operate and offer fantastic reliability, we’d have been foolish to go for anything else.”

Education City Golf Club partners with John Deere in first major Middle East venture

A major investment in John Deere golf course maintenance equipment has been made by the brand new Education City Golf Club in Doha, Qatar, which is due to open at the end of October 2018.

The machinery will be used on three courses, with a total of 33 holes spread across 120ha.

An initial fleet of 93 John Deere machines including tractors, greens, fairway & rough mowers

and Gator utility vehicles has been delivered by Qatar dealer Progressive, along with other ancillary equipment including sprayers, top dressers and aerators.

The choice of John Deere as preferred supplier to Education City Golf Club was made on Darren Smith’s recommendation, following an intensive examination of the equipment’s technical and environmental features.

In line with the club’s sustainability vision, John Deere was considered a perfect match due to the hybrid electric technology used on over 90 per

cent of the mowing fleet. These mowers feature proven E-Cut Quick Adjust (QA) cutting units driven by electric reel motors that support energy efficiency, reduced fuel consumption and lower sound levels.

In addition, 102 potential hydraulic leak points are removed from the equation due to the use of electric drives in the reel circuits. Precision and quality were also key considerations in the decision making process, as Education City aims to present a premium experience to its members and guests.

JCB Fastrac keeps turf grower’s sowing and mowing on track

Investment in a wide-working mower and a new tractor to pull it has transformed the task of keeping turf pristine and trim for a Worcestershire-based grower.

The JCB Fastrac and V-Mow combination has slashed mowing time by as much as 75%, reducing the time taken to cut a 65 acre field from 6 hours with a 9m rotary roller mower to just one and a half hours.

“It’s really made a big difference,” says Peter Lole of Teal Turf, who produces lawn turf across the whole of his 400 acre farm at Kempsey for lawn

renovations, landscaping and new housing projects.

The grass has to be trimmed regularly in the growing season – typically every other day – to keep it short but healthy and ready to harvest in thin strips. JCB Loadall telescopic handlers then collect pallets stacked with turf and load them on to delivery trucks.

Mowing is therefore a full-time operation in the growing season, and one that has been made a lot quicker with the spectacular 16m wide mower and a new JCB Fastrac tractor to operate it.

Rigby Taylor flying high for The Seagulls

Steve Winterburn’s role at Brighton & Hove Albion FC may have changed over the years, but what has not altered is his incessant desire to produce the best pitches – at the Premier League club’s training ground as well as at its AMEX Community Stadium.

“One example concerns the use of nutritional products as well as controlled and conventional release fertilisers,” he explained. “I always want the best – and at the best price!”

That said, one amenity supplies company in particular has stood the test of time, he affirms, “and that’s Rigby Taylor, from which we source a host of products”.

“We opted for a fibrelastic surface, using grasses that I was used to working with – mainly Rigby Taylor’s R14; a 100 per cent perennial ryegrass containing the cultivars Columbia, Poseidon, Duparc and Berloiz 1,” he continued.

“That pitch has performed very well over the years but this summer [2018] it has been replaced by a hybrid surface –

two similar hybrid pitches are in place at the training ground alongside hybrid surfaces for goalkeeping and training areas - but, again, we are sticking with the R14 as part of the seed mixtures used because it gives me everything I need, including rapid establishment, good colour, a clean cut and good disease and shade tolerance.

Underpinned by regular agronomy advice from STRI, R14 is just one of a host of Rigby Taylor products on Steve’s shopping list. He also uses, for example:

• A variety of fungicides;

• A range of fertilisers such as the Microflow-CXS controlled-release liquid – containing chelated trace elements including copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc;

• Amino Form LX amino acid-based supplement for stress relief;

• Activate XL microbial biostimulant; and

• Breaker Advance wetting agent.

Bailoy Irrigation Controls

Peter Lole says: “We’ve not run a Fastrac before but a chance working demonstration by our local JCB dealer Ross Farm Machinery showed its potential. We originally intended using it just for cultivations and some trailer work but it’s turned out to be excellent for turf.”

The Fastrac’s 50:50 weight distribution and wheels of equal size front and rear are a great asset for this application because with big, supple tyres fitted it treads as lightly as any of the Teal Turf operation’s smaller conventional tractors.

The tractor’s legal 60kph top speed, all-round disc brakes, and suspension on both axles –a unique feature of the Fastrac compared with conventional tractors – also makes it an ideal machine for trailer work, hauling in compost to mix with topsoil and making deliveries of the resulting blend for landscaping projects.

During the summer months, however, the JCB Fastrac is exclusively employed on the V-Mow, which is manufactured in Luxembourg by a fellow turf grower.

Keep low voltage irrigation control connections secure and waterproof

Keeping connections secure and waterproof is essential for any irrigation control system to avoid costly call outs.

For low voltage irrigation connections up to 30 volts, Rain Bird’s DBM10 quick connect wire connector for residential and small commercial applications provides an outstanding waterproof connection with a simple twist-on-wire nut.

The DBM10 has a UL 486C rating for the use of sealed connector systems in damp or wet conditions. The connector

contains up to 75% more silicone than other competitive products with the extra silicone completely filling the connector and thereby preventing any water pooling inside. Waterproofing is further ensured by the snap fit lid.

UV, impact and flame resistant and with an operating temperature up to 105º degrees C, DBM10’s toughness is further highlighted in pull-out tests where the it outperformed competitive connectors.

Rainbird

Busy 12 months for Walker Mowers

Walker Mowers UK returned to SALTEX this month, following their official launch at the NEC Birmingham 12 months ago.

The out front rotary zero turn mower concept of the Walker range, improves productivity on average 20% - 25% and a dedicated sales force will demonstrate the Walker Advantage to professional users on a no obligation basis.

Today an option of mower cutting widths from 36” - 52”, efficient grass and leaf collection with large 247 cu.ft. collectors, industry standard mulching decks for the recycling of cuttings - all these features when combined with power options of efficient Diesel engines, (essential where red diesel fuel is available) and new EFI technology delivering improved fuel consumption and a cleaner more efficient way to produce power, makes the Walker Advantage a viable option for the professional contractor and operator.

successful demonstrations have been undertaken this year to contractors, caravan sites, non-league football grounds, large country homes, national zoos, municipal authorities and private homes where customers have heard of the efficient Walker reputation and wanted to see the machines perform for themselves.

“In our first year, where snow was on the ground in April and the U.K. recorded one of the hottest and driest summers on record, our actual sales are higher than any year in the last five years.” stated Steve.

Out front Whisper Twister is the perfect set up for Coxmoor GC

Coxmoor Golf Club, an accredited England Golf Championship venue, is in its fourth year of a major ten-year redevelopment, working closely with architects, Creative Golf Design.

The progressive Nottinghamshire club has an innovative programme of bunker and tee improvements to future proof the course which are already elevating its stature.

Running alongside is a ten year woodlands plan in partnership with The Sherwood Forest Trust and the Forestry Commission. The goal is to restore the Sutton-in-Ashfield club to its natural heathland habitat with a better understanding of woodland management.

Over 1500 trees have been thinned out making way for the best indigenous species,

the focus on selecting trees across a spectrum of life cycle stages. By necessity, Course Manager, Ben Cumberland and his greenkeeping team of seven, adopt very effective solutions for removing leaf debris.

Central to their operation is a previously under-used John Deere 3730 tractor, which now supports a Wiedenmann Whisper Twister blower on the front and a variety of equipment on the back.

“When I joined Coxmoor, the 3730 tractor was a couple of years old with its three point front linkage kit untouched and no obvious plans to put it to use. With front linkage in place it made sense to attach a blower which could stay on for two to three months at a time,” explained Ben Cumberland.

“James Robson from dealer Henton and Chatell got on the

case and brought the Whisper Twister for demo and we kept it.

“It’s fortunate the John Deere has low ground pressure and Galaxy flotation tyres so it can be over the greens for most of the year, leaving no imprint whatsoever. The Whisper Twister balances on a low pressure wheel so together they are perfect for fine turf.

When it’s dry, the blower goes round the greens that need it in the morning to tidy them. We drive right up to a bunker, point the nozzle, rotate if required and the leaves are taken out easily. Because the driver’s view is to the front, you see everything; no awkward neck twisting trying to look behind

“Only in the depths of winter will we go over the greens and blow leaves by hand. But for other parts of the course when it is damp and the leaves are dormant

and bedded into the grass, we will pair the blower with the Wiedenmann Terra Rake. The scarifying tines on the rake go through the longer grass, teasing the leaves out from the bottom; the leaves are blown out and then we rake them up.

“Having the blower to the front is so versatile; the set up gives scope to do more and more. We will put another machine on the back and tidy as we go, especially with aeration work on the greens, or with the slitter, the sorrel roller, the brush… even

down to blowing tees before we spray them with the sprayer attached. We often do two jobs in one. Kill two birds with the one stone if you like.”

Campey deliver the Koro FTM to cricket demonstration day

Campey Turf Care Systems in association with their Cambridgeshire dealer, Scamblers, held a successful demonstration day at Clare College, Cambridge, to

show what the Koro FIELD TOP-MAKER can do on a cricket square.

The Imants machine was originally used to strip

the organic matter off of football pitches and has gone on to be used in rugby, golf and tennis with cricket becoming the latest adopter of the technology.

Cambridge United use the Clare College site for training and because of this head groundsman, Robbie Nightingale knows the difference removing the organic matter can make to a football pitch and was keen to test it out on his cricket square.

“There is a lot of good quality cricket played in the county and there is an opening for a few Colleges or clubs to pitch in together to get a Koro FTM,” he explained.

“Using the machine in different sports to what it was originally used for is something that’s a growing trend and you read and see a lot about people using it, so we thought we’d have a look and see what it’s about.

“Because it’s a demonstration day and the first time we used the machine we wanted to start at 3mm and go down very gradually

so we could take out whatever we wanted to.

Going to 3mm is ideal for us because we wouldn’t have been able to do that with the machinery that we have so it’s been a fantastic opportunity for us, and others, to see it on our own square.

Thirty turf professionals from 28 different cricket clubs, football clubs and colleges from the Cambridgeshire region attended the event which also included a demonstration of the Air2G2 GT Air Inject.

Campey product specialist, Simon Holland, ran the practical side of the event and has seen an increased number of cricket groundsmen enquire about using the Koro FTM on their squares.

“Koro-ing has become more popular within cricket at all levels

of the game,” he said. “I’m going to Edgbaston Cricket Ground to Koro a wicket there that has SIS Grass reinforcement, so that’ll be an interesting project to work on because it’ll be the first time it’s been done on a cricket pitch that’s reinforced.

“But although today is mainly cricket we do have people from other sports attending because they want to see the Koro→ FTM→ working. I think there’s a growing interest from the cricket side because it isn’t something they’ve adopted fully yet, but they can see the benefits of using it.

“The idea is to level the pitch, particularly the saddles, and pull 90% of the organic matter out so they’ve got a blank canvass to work with.”