Professional Groundscare July 2022

GMA announces judges for 2022 Industry Awards

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has announced the names of this year’s panel of judges who will be recognising talent from across the grounds care industry by selecting the winners of the 2022 GMA Industry Awards.

The twelve judges represent a variety of sectors operating in the grounds care industry, and together, will collectively select a winner for each of the nineteen award categories. Listed alphabetically, the judging panel includes:

1. Adrian Kay, Head Groundsman at York Racecourse

Full details of the award categories and how to nominate is listed on the GMA website. Nominations must be submitted before 17.00 on Friday 29 July 2022.

The GMA Industry Awards dinner is taking place at The Vox, NEC Birmingham, on the evening of Wednesday

2. Anthony Facey, Area Sales Manager at Tuckwell Group

3. Cheryl Hill, Groundswoman at Leicester Tigers Rugby Club

4. David Roberts, Director at Training Unlimited 5. Derek Walder, Operations Manager at Saltex

6. Jackie Evans, Head of Grounds at Wellington College

7. John Wright, Head of Grounds at Southampton Football Club

8. Lee Marshallsay, Grounds Manager at Eton College

9. Lee Metcalfe, Senior Grounds Manager at Manchester City Football Club

2 November, the evening of the first day of SALTEX. Tickets to attend the awards will be released on Friday 1 July. To find out more about the purchase of tickets, please email vnewton@thegma.org.uk.

To discuss sponsorship packages, please email scunningham@thegma.org.uk.

10. Nasa Hussain, Head Groundsman and Facilities Manager at Bradford Park Avenue

11. Neil Stubley, Head of Courts and Horticulture at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club

12. Stuart Kerrison, Head Groundsman at Essex County Cricket Club

Grounds Management Association CEO, Geoff Webb says: “The GMA Industry Awards dinner has always recognised all parts of our varied sector by celebrating those who work hard to keep green spaces accessible and make sport possible.

“We are grateful to all of our judges for giving their time to help us recognise the achievements of individuals and teams who are making a real difference in communities, clubs and educational settings across the regions.

“The GMA Awards are uniquely determined by fellow grounds

staff and people who have wide and diverse experience, making the GMA Industry Awards a truly authentic and peer-to-peer-led event. I would also like to thank our sponsors, Origin Amenity Solutions, Kubota UK, Redexim, Infinicut, AMS Robotics and SGL, whose support is what makes events like this possible.

“We’re really looking forward to the GMA Awards making its

post-pandemic return after two challenging years and we’re delighted to see the nomination entries continuing to flow in.

“The evening will provide a great opportunity to socialise and celebrate colleagues and peers and I would encourage all in sports turf and grounds care to save the date.”

The Grounds Management Association Enquiry 41

The Future Turf Managers Initiative returns for 2022

The Future Turf Managers’ Initiative has returned in 2022, with a new hybrid education programme that combines both in-person and online learning opportunities. Twenty BIGGA members will be selected for the FTMI Class of 2022. FTMI was established in 2013 by BIGGA and Jacobsen, a BIGGA Partner.

The intention was to educate up-and-coming greenkeepers

to help them on their journey to becoming coures managers. Since its inception, nine cohorts have progressed through the initiative, with over 180 BIGGA members counting themselves as FTMI graduates.

FTMI is sponsored by Jacobsen, which celebrated its centenary in 2021. This coincided with the challenges of COVID-19 but, keen to host this valuable

opportunity for BIGGA members, the programme transitioned into a series of online events.

Utilising video calling software, the education content during 2021 actually doubled, giving the FTMI Class of 2021 over 40 hours of classes, mentor sessions and peer-to-peer engagement. With a desire to bring the class together, an in-person event was

hosted at Jacobsen’s Ipswich headquarters in October, when restrictions allowed.

The team building day was led by FTMI mentor Craig Haldane, who returns to the role in 2022 and was a great success.

This year’s event will involve: • September 2022: Welcome event with a factory tour and education,

taking place at Ransomes Jacobsen in Ipswich.

• October to December 2022: Online classes and mentor sessions.

• January 2023: Two-day management class and graduation during BIGGA Welcome Celebration, taking place at BTME in Harrogate.

BIGGA Enquiry 42

Dennis G860

All signs point to Agrovista Amenity ISEKI’S fab four are pro at Stowe

As Steve says, the ISEKI TG6490 features an IQ dual clutch transmission which offers the control of a manual with the convenience of an automatic.

There are eight main gears and three ranges. Gears are changed by simply moving the gear lever through the straight shift gate.

Steve purchased his fourth ISEKI machine when he felt the time had come to upgrade the school’s ride-on mower.

The ISEKI SXG323 + is the ultimate in cut and collection mowers and offers power, performance, and unsurpassed productivity. A 48” (1.22M) mower deck provides a superior quality of cut while the large capacity, high torque 1123cc diesel engine is powerful and fuel efficient.

From fertilisers to furniture, advice to analysis – Truro Golf Club claims that Agrovista Amenity is one of its most trusted suppliers.

Located in the Cornish countryside, this 18-hole, par 67 parkland course stretches a total of 5,372 yards. It is a tight course with surprising slopes which presents a challenging test for low handicap players and enjoyable golf for all.

Head Greenkeeper Dominic Gibbard, who oversees the greenkeeping team, is proud of Truro’s thriving membership and claims that two-way relationships with reputable suppliers, such as Agrovista Amenity, are essential.

is one of my most trusted reps because I know he has been there and done it,” he said.

“He’s worked on some very good golf courses around the UK and in Europe, and whenever I have a question or have any ideas, he is usually the first guy I talk to. He always gives me impartial advice and I respect this approach.”

Therefore, when Dominic thought that the time had come to upgrade Truro’s course signs, he enlisted the help of David.

Immediately David got in touch with British Manufacturing Solutions (BMS), which is a family run business specialising in professional golf course products, signage, flags and more.

David arranged for some samples to be sent down to Truro Golf Club and Dominic opted for signs from BMS’ Noroko range.

Grounds Manager Steve Curley has revealed why Stowe School has purchased four different ISEKI machines in just three years.

Steve has been working at Stowe, a leading public school in Buckinghamshire for an incredible twenty-nine years. Overseeing a team of fifteen members of staff, Steve is responsible for three-hundred acres of sports fields and gardens including a nine-hole golf course.

In maintaining such a vast area of land, Steve inevitably has a wide range of equipment, but he claims his ISEKI fleet covers most bases.

It all started with the ISEKI TG6675 compact tractor, as he explains. “We needed something with a bit more horsepower to enable us to do heavier work,” said Steve. “After a few demonstrations of various tractors from our local dealer RT Machinery,

we decided to get the TG6675, with 65-horsepower, and that has allowed us to use some implements and attachments that we were not previously able to. It’s been fantastic for us.”

The ISEKI TG6675 sets the benchmark for compact tractor performance. It is built to exceptional standards of quality, starting from the front lights through to the back three-point linkage.

Based on the success of the TG6675, he then purchased an ISEKI TLE3400 shortly after.

This 38 horse-power tractor has a three-speed hydrostatic transmission and a lift capacity of 1000 kg. It is supplied with agricultural or turf tyres as standard. An optional front loader is also available.

“After purchasing these two machines, we decided to purchase the ISEKI TG6490 IQ compact tractor for top dressing and slitting,” continued Steve.

Furthermore, the SXG323+ performs exceptionally even in the wet conditions, allowing you to work without the weather restricting you.

ISEKI

Enquiry 44

“David

Bevan, (Amenity Specialist for Agrovista Amenity)

“Course furniture is so important, because they offer nice, fi nishing touches around the course,” said Dominic. “Golfers notice things like signs and benches, so we have taken our time to really fi nd the right product.”

Unlike real wood, Noroko from BMS, never needs treatment or painting. Made from recycled plastic it is UV resistant so the authentic alternative woodlike look will remain for many years. Furthermore, Noroko is able to withstand any weather or temperature change.

Agrovista Amenity Enquiry

45

Reduce environmental impact with Aspen Fuel

Operators looking for a cleaner alternative could consider fuelling their petrol-powered tools with Aspen – an alkylate petrol which is ethanol-free and virtually free from Sulphur, Benzene and many other harmful substances.

In contrast to the pollutants emitted by pump-petrol, with Aspen, you can mow for 100 hours before reaching the same level of toxic benzene emissions emitted in one hour of mowing with regular petrol.

Switching to Aspen is easy, and while it cannot reverse damage

caused by regular petrol, it will have a cleaning effect on the internal parts – particularly removing soot build-up in the exhaust port. No modifications are required to covert a machine to run on Aspen, only to avoid diluting the benefits, operators are advised to wait until the fuel tank is as empty as possible before switching. For older equipment, switching after a service where any susceptible parts should be replaced, is ideal. Aspen is available pre-mixed for 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines.

Metrac H75 is number 15 The importance of keeping it genuine

When it comes to maintenance or repair, choosing genuine parts is the only way to guarantee the performance and life of your mower.

At a glance, genuine parts and pirate parts may appear to be similar; but scratch the surface and the issue becomes clear.

“Genuine parts are exactly the same parts used to build the original machines,” explains Robert Todd, European Service Manager for Trimax Mowing Systems.

“Years of research, development and testing have gone into them. They are made from high quality materials and in some instances individual parts perform more than one function.

“Take the blades on a Trimax mower as an example. Primarily meant to cut grass in diverse types of terrain, they also direct airflow ensuring the cutting chamber remains unobstructed and clippings are well distributed.

“Beyond this, Trimax quality control ensures the blades are flawless – they can encounter obstacles like small logs and rocks without shattering and exiting the mower as a deadly piece of shrapnel. Safety and quality are integral parts of the Trimax design, ensuring the whole machine meets or exceeds all regional safety standards.

“It is also worth noting that genuine parts often aren’t as expensive as you might expect. Most manufacturers will price their parts competitively, meaning you can still get a good price: and in some cases, genuine parts can even be cheaper than pirate elements.”

Trimax Enquiry 48

Two new Technical Managers

To support continued growth and development as part of Origin Amenity Solutions, Headland Amenity have announced the appointment of two new Technical Managers in the form of Laurence McCrory and Jack Hawkes.

Both will be responsible for delivering Headland’s sound and scientific advice and guidance on product selection, Laurence to customers in the South of England, and Jack to Sports Turf Managers in the South and Central regions. Laurence has been in the turf care industry for 26 years,

holding various positions at a number of golf courses including his most recent role as Course Manager at Castle Royle Golf Club in Reading.

Also a user of Headland products during his time at Leamington & County Golf Club, Jack Hawkes joins in the role of Regional Technical Manager for Sports Turf –seeing him support customers from football, rugby, cricket, educational facilities and private estates.

Headland Amenity Enquiry 50

Action Lawn sets high ambitions with Etesia

Action Lawn and Leisure has been appointed as a new Etesia dealer in Stirlingshire and surrounding areas.

Action Lawn and Leisure was founded in 1998 by Bob Bruce. It is a family run business which prides itself on offering a personal service with good advice and excellent product knowledge.

Specialists in manufacturing high quality grass cutting machinery for both the professional and

domestic market, Etesia’s extensive range of products have been in consistent high demand for a number of years. It is for this reason that the company’s vast dealer network continues to grow.

Etesia’s complete product range includes ride-on mowers, scarifiers, brush cutters, green technology and pedestrian mowers, and the lates dealer believes the machinery will be the perfect addition.

The Stuart Taylor International dealership has recently supplied an additional compact, hydrostatic drive, Reform Metrac H75 pro to Cheshire based contractor Ray Britland.

For Stuart Taylor International, Tom Taylor said the Reform H75 Pro model was voted tractor of the year at EIMA 2021 and is proving to be a real hit with customers for a wide range of tasks.

Ray Britland explained the company currently has 15 Reform Metracs on its fl eet. “A large percentage of our work is on sloping terrain and the muti functional H75 pro delivers both performance and operator safety,” he added.

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Reform range says the H75 model meets all end user requirements, including

versatillity and environmental friendliness.

Hydrostatic drive with electronic control offers two speed ranges, two terrain gear reductions and foot and hand drive modes.

When four-wheel steering is active, the front and rear wheels run exactly in the same line, ensuring tension-free traction on more difficult terrain.

Front, rear, four wheel and crab steering as well as offset fourwheel steering can easily be switched at the push of a button.

The system is completed by the electro-hydraulic spring brake with an auto hold function which allows smooth and judder-free setting off on slopes.

The new H75 also offers powerful working front and rear hydraulics with 1500kg lifting force and

standard weight compensation and the high efficiency of the electro-hydraulic power shift PTO provides power precisely when needed.

Operator comfort is catered for with a newly designed cab which has been completely decoupled from other vehicle components. This results in a major reduction in noise level and significantly lowered vibrations.

The ergonomic armrest with it’s central controls forms the basis for easy operation of the new Metrac H75.

It is attached to the driver’s seat, allowing fatigue-free working on any terrain, without interference from vibrations or slopes. The multi-function joystick combines all functions for driving and controlling attachments.

Simon Richard Enquiry 49

A fl eet of ten Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers has saved the Swansea City FC groundstaff a huge amount of time and made their working day more manageable according to Head Groundsman, Evan Davies.

Evan now oversees the maintenance of all three club sites – the Swansea. com Stadium, the first team Fairwood Training Ground and the Swans Academy which is situated at Landore.

“It is essential that the cleaning of pitches is completed as quick as possible,” he said. “The only way to achieve this was with a rotary mower with a bigger cutting deck which had the ability to increase the speed.

“I quickly found that it was only the Dennis PRO 34R that would work in this respect. Therefore, one of my fi rst purchases when I started the role was ten Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers.”

Designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface the Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum fl ow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The PRO 34R’s allow us to manage the working day so much better,” said Evan.

“At the training ground, for example, three members of staff can clean three pitches in two hours with the Dennis PRO 34R’s. With our previous rotary mowers that would have been a full 8-hour day carried out by 6 members of staff.

“This has allowed us to focus more on other tasks such as divoting and repairing the pitches, all things which we wouldn’t have had time to do before.

“The presentation it offers is also first-class,” he continued.

“Leading up to a matchday we like to give the pitch a rotary cut on the Friday or the Saturday because it helps to make the pattern stand out. The leaf itself seems a bit happier after being cut with a PRO 34. They are so easy to set with just a little pin drop. With other rotary mowers you just can’t get that precise height of cut.

“For cleaning, you’ve got the brush on it which you can use aggressively or use it lightly on the surface to pick the debris up – it is just a win-win for us. There are not many mowers that give you an outstanding clean, cut and finish.”

With the launch of the EGO ZT4200E-L Z6 Zero-Turn Ride-On (ZTR) Mower, Vince Brauns, Group Product Manager of EGO, shares his top tips for getting the most out of a ride-on mower.

It almost goes without saying, always read the manual before using a new ride-on mower.

And secondly – check everything! Check that the blades are sharp enough for a clean cut especially if you’ve got tall grass, and check for holes, stones, and other objects on the lawn which could damage the mower (or yourself) and remove them.

Caring for the lawn When cutting the lawn, using a high cutting blade speed and low driving speed will typically get the best results. If the grass isn’t too long, you can increase the driving speed without any real negative effect on the cut.

For longer grass, reduce the driving speed to ensure you get more effective cutting. Start with a high cutting height and reduce until the grass is as short as desired.

To achieve a healthy lawn, cut off only one-third or less of the total length of the grass. In cooler months, keep the lawn around 1.5 to 2 inches long (3.8cm to 5cm), during warmer months, increase this to between 2 to 3-1/4 inches (3.8cm to 10cm). New or thick grass requires a narrower cut or a higher cutting height.

Things to consider You should consider whether to mulch, side-discharge or collect grass cuttings. Bagging is usually the preferred method as you can cut in almost any weather, and it removes weed seeds.

However, unlike bagging, mulching returns nutrients so is ideal for unhealthy lawns by allowing the lawn to retain moisture. And in contrast, side discharge allows for a faster cut but can create more mess.

Avoid cutting wet grass as it not only sticks to the underside of the deck and prevents proper bagging or mulching of grass clippings, but you can also lose control of the mower in wet conditions.

Take care on the slopes

Sloping terrain is dangerous so remain alert when mowing them, avoid slopes steeper than 15 degrees, and only mow up and down. It’s advised to avoid stopping on a slope, but if necessary, use the parking brake. And when restarting the mower, use the lowest speed.

Try not to turn on a slope, but if it’s a must, do it carefully and always turn downhill. If the tyres lose traction, disengage the blades and proceed slowly down the slope.

A world’s first

The ZT4200E-L is the world’s first zero-turn ride-on lawnmower that is compatible with EGO’s award-winning battery system. It can be powered by any combination of EGO 56V ARC Lithium Batteries which can be charged by the industry’s fastest 1600W charger that is capable of charging up to six batteries at once. The ZT4200E-L can reach speeds of 8MPH and can cover 3 acres on a single charge with six 10Ah batteries.

Dennis Enquiry 53

Designed for every challenge Championship standards with Jacobsen

The Award-winning design of the new XZ7 L152i from Cub Cadet redefines the zeroturn mowing experience - with enhanced strength, re-imagined comfort and a best-in-class cut.

The latest steering lever lap bar technology combined with the extremely robust construction of heavy-duty components

and high-performance engines makes the machine the ideal professional machines for large lawn maintenance.

The open continuous tubular lightweight steel frame is designed for strength and durability. The hinged/removable floor pan allows quick and easy access to the welded, all round

reinforced AeroForce Max™ mowing deck and engine for ease of maintenance.

A powerful Kohler EFI V-Twin dual cylinder engine gives the machine the power to mow up to 15,000 m²h.

With a large cutting width of 60”/152cm, the machine puts

owner/operator comfort at the forefront of its design with a premium high-back seat with armrests and adjustable suspension for fatigue-free working.

The XZ7 L152i is ideal for mowing rolling hills, with its outstanding stability on slopes, and around obstacles, with its effortless manoeuvrability.

Even on the most difficult lawns the spring-mounted suspension on the front wheels ensure a smooth ride with less vibration.

At Cub Cadet we trust our new XZ7 L152i to perform with maximum durability and robustness and offer a warranty of 3 years or up to 500 working hours (whichever comes fi rst) –for commercial or private use as well as offering a dealership service that delivers true advantages to you and your business.

EP Barrus Enquiry 57

TriSmart technology takes club to another level

The Course Manager at Fairhaven Golf Club claims that the advanced technology behind ICL’s H2Pro TriSmart wetting agent, has worked wonders on the dry, sand dominated course.

For nineteen years Joe Barnes has been progressing through the greenkeeping industry. In 2021, he saw an opportunity to become a Course Manager, but it had to match his ambitions.

Fairhaven Golf Course has all the characteristics of a traditional links course and being a sand dominated course can make moisture management particularly challenging.

Therefore, one such product which Joe reported excellent results from using was H2Pro TriSmart which is a high-quality wetter and water conservation agent. It is formulated with three water management surfactant technologies to provide great water penetration, even water spread through the rootzone and to improve the water holding capacity of sandy rootzones.

Joe and his team apply TriSmart monthly on the greens and tees through the growing season but must work with Mother Nature when it comes to applying it on the fairways.

After two years and 1,093 days of waiting due to the global pandemic, Golf Course and Property Manager Ian McQueen and his team finally got their chance to host the Canada’s major golf championship.

St. George’s Golf & Country Club was built in 1929, with the course designed by famous Canadian architect Stanley Thompson. Its city center location is hidden by trees and the undulations of the property, with fourteen elevated tees and valleys that run through every hole giving the course its natural character.

Achieving the desired firmness and ensuring every undulation of the fairways and rough are followed is down to the Jacobsen fleet of mowers. The Eclipse 2 walkers are joined by SLF530s, HR600s, AR321s, and LF1880s to provide a championship quality cut on all 7,025 yards of the course.

“This is our national championship in Canada. It’s a big event, and without the support of Jacobson and our local distributor, GC Duke, who is supporting us with equipment, we would not be able to accomplish what we need to,” Ian explains.

“Preparing for this championship has taken some time. We started this in 2018 to host it first in 2020, and as everyone is aware, it got postponed twice.

“The build-out of the stands started in the winter, and we finished building out the grandstands on June 1st, with the tournament starting the week of June six, but it’s taken a good two years in prep work to achieve the standards we want to present for the tour.”

Wet or dry grass, long or short, collect or mulch, the PH 1250 and PH 1500 models take it all in their stride.

And it’s that flexibility that sets the Profihopper apart from the crowd.

The sharpened wing blades on the horizontal SmartCut rotor cleanly cut and shred the grass before conveying it via the cross auger on to that unique second vertical auger to be packed into the collection hopper - meaning less time emptying and more time mowing. To add to that versatility, the sward is rolled after cutting and scarifying comes as standard.

The more than adequate power is provided by engines that are already Stage V Exhaust emission compliant and require no AdBlue.

Don’t compromise - choose the machine that comes with more compaction built-in for maximum work rates and less emptying.

Contact the Amazone Team on: 01302 755 725.

ICL Enquiry 58

Jacobsen Enquiry 59

Ventrac on Jack Nicklausdesigned courses

London Golf Club has taken delivery of the new Ventrac 4520 all-terrain compact tractor and selection of attachments to assist in the maintenance of their two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses near Brands Hatch in Kent.

Lee Sayers is the Golf Courses and Estate Manager and heads a team of 27 full-time staff and 15 part-time including two head greenkeepers, a workshop mechanic, irrigation technician and a gardener with 21 members of the team working on the golf course.

“That might seem a very large team to most people, but we have 500 acres of estate including two championship golf courses to manage and large areas of woodland; it’s an intensive job”, he says.

Lee began his career in 1991 at Cottesloe Golf Club in the suburbs of Perth in Western Australia, before returning to the UK in 1994 to take the position of assistant greenkeeper at London Golf Club. Four years later he joined

Hempstead Forest Golf Club near Cranbrook and in 2000 returned to London Golf Club as No. 2 to Peter Todd. In 2003 he joined Mid Kent Golf Club near Gravesend, where he spent 14 years until returning to take up his current role in 2017.

“Our members and guests expect a high level of presentation and we try to maintain a manicured ‘look’ across the entire estate, so the Ventrac was an obvious choice, he added. “I’d seen lots of ‘noise’ about Ventrac in the press and on social media together with good feedback from my peer group across the county, especially Mark Todd at the Wildernesse. We had a really good demo and that just reinforced my opinion, so we purchased the tractor unit and four attachments; the Contour deck, Tough Cut deck, Turbine Blower and Power Brush.

“The Tough Cut deck is great for maintaining the woodland margins. The out-front position of the Tough Cut deck combined with the low profile and agility of the tractor unit, means we can get in and under the

trees. Without doubt, it has lifted the presentation of the course. The Contour deck does a superb job on the Nicklaus-designed bunker surrounds, where we previously used ‘Flymo’ mowers on the steep sides. This has saved numerous hours and has increased efficiency.

“We have significant woodland and spend too many hours using backpack blowers removing leaves and other debris, not just in the autumn, but all-year round. This is so time-intensive, but the Turbine blower is brilliant; we can also use it to remove debris after scarifying and even blow cores from the greens after aeration.

“Changing between the different attachments is quick and easy. There’s no three-point linkage to worry about or adjustments to make, you simply drive out of the current implement and drive into the next one. The mounting system is ingenious; it’s so quick that it encourages you to use it to its full potential.”

Price Turfcare Enquiry 61

New John Deere fleet for St George’s Park

A new fleet of John Deere machines is helping to prepare the surfaces at St George’s Park, a world-class venue used by some of the best footballers on the planet and in demand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

After an extensive demonstration process of the machines available to them, the team at the home of the English National Teams chose John Deere.

Andy Gray, Head of Grounds and Estates, has a key role in

putting a strategic plan in place to meet any potential challenges.

“I’m responsible for making sure my team has all the tools they require to do their job effectively,” Andy says.

All the equipment was supplied by John Deere dealer Farol through Area Sales Managers Jacob Shellis and Tom Spencer.

The fleet is fully connected and all machines are remotely monitored by Farol under

Deere’s PowerGard protection plan. The deal is in place for five years.

This new John Deere fleet comprises three compact tractors in the form of a 2036R and two 4066R models, two TE and three HPX Gators, three 2750 E-Cut triplex mowers, two X950R riding mowers, one 7400A TerrainCut and a 8000A mower, one Progator and a HD200 sprayer.

John Deere Enquiry 62

Progressive is key to consistent cutting over contours

The Progressive range of multideck mowers, available in the UK through Vanmac, have been carefully designed with this in mind, offering unrivalled contour-following ability for an accurate quality of cut. While a multi-deck mower may not be required in every situation, it can offer a broader scope of use with its ability to accommodate both flat and undulating turf equally.

This flexibility delivers a quality cut without the risk of scalping or shredding the plant, helping to retain plant health and

reducing potential entry points for pathogens and turf diseases to take hold. Their versatility sees them suited to operation around the golf course, alongside other applications such as sports fields, turf farms and mowing tasks undertaken by local authorities.

The latest addition to the Progressive range is the TDR-X – featuring three independently floating decks which provide a combined cutting width of 3.2m. It all begins with an adaptive swivel hitch at the front, making

“We have had ISEKI machinery for the last 8 years at Haileybury School and currently run three TG tractors within our fleet of machinery. The tractors are predominately used for vertidraining, mowing, seeding and scarifying with its high lift capacity of 1,600kg and low ground pressure. The SXG mower is used for cutting some of the pitches and lawned areas but also collecting up all the scarifying and fallen leaves as the collection system is so good. I would recommend ISEKI to any of my colleagues and friends within the industry.”

Andy Richards,Grounds Manager,Haileybury School

the TDR-X more agile and ensuring it works with the tractor to follow undulating ground.

Vanmac Enquiry 63

AMS Contracting provide vital secondary drainage

Cricket is a cornerstone of Winchester College’s student experience, and to enhance their already exceptional standards, the school enlisted AMS Contracting to install secondary drainage on their outfield.

Head Groundsman, Kim Larcombe, oversees the 250acre site with the help of four groundsmen and five gardeners. Sixty acres are purely dedicated to sport, with cricket having a long and distinguished history at Winchester.

With a tight 55-day schedule planned for summer 2022, Kim must ensure that matches go ahead as scheduled, with rained off games one of the most

significant risks. Having had the outfield levelled in August 2021, the experienced 39 and a half year Winchester team member wanted to enhance the drainage with AMS.

Kim explains: “I had a preference on what secondary drainage I wanted to use, and I talked it through with AMS, and we looked at other options, but I had my preference.

“It was good to be working with a company who wanted to put options forward and explore them, but at the same time, they weren’t pushy at all. They just presented their opinions and were happy to proceed with what we wanted and work to get the best result.

“It’s filling in nicely, and it was left in good condition, so we were able to play on it a week after the work was completed, and that is a testament to how well everything went.”

The method of drainage requested by Kim was the Blec Vibramaster at 20mm sand slits, 250mm apart and 150mm deep.

This was implemented after the whole outfield had been ShockWaved and was followed with topdressing, drag matting and overseeding using a 2.5m Vredo overseeder in two directions.

AMS Contracting Enquiry 66

MAJOR Swift scores for the top league clubs

Since 1976, H&I Kelly Landscape has a reputation for quality workmanship and demands no less from its equipment.

The family-managed business has high profile customers including professional football and rugby clubs, sports arenas, schools, and commercial facilities across Dorset, Hampshire and parts of Wilshire.

When the time came to look for a new mower to manage their grass maintenance programme they reviewed the mower market to see what existed and kept coming back to MAJOR.

“We were looking for longevity, reliability and quality of finish,” explained Chris Kelly. “We had a demo of the MAJOR Swift 2.4m model and it confirmed our gut feel that the MAJOR brand was as good as it gets.

“It was also well-priced and good value for money. It leaves a

finish that is equal to any cylinder mower - it’s incredible.”

The MAJOR Swifts are made of high-performance Strenx 700MC steel and hot-dipped galvanised for increased lifespan. Four rotors with eight blades that overlap by 60cm delivers accurate cutting across the entire width of the machine.

“We maintain the pitch for Poole Town FC and the Directors have commented on how well the playing surface is since we began using the MAJOR Swift,” continues Chris.

“Chelsea Football Club trained on the pitch before their game with Bournemouth. Some of their team representatives even thought that the grass pitch looks like a 3G surface - that’s an amazing compliment,” concluded Chris.

Equipment Enquiry 67

MAJOR

Experience robotic line marking on the Turf Tank roadshow

Turf Tank is taking robotic line marking on the road with five dates across England, starting at Manchester University on 7th July.

The roadshow will also visit Bournemouth and Leeds universities on 12th and 19th July, Liverpool Football Club’s Melwood Training Ground on the 20th, and finish at Surrey University on the 26th.

Live demonstrations will take place, including the Turf Tank One’s set-up, programming and operation along with the base station. Any questions can be answered during every stage, and lunch and refreshments will be provided during the demonstration, with games and prizes also on offer.

Having already completed two dates in Belfast during May, Turf Tank UK Country Manager, Matt Murray, is looking forward to welcoming people to the roadshows in England.

“Over two days in Belfast, meeting people and showing them what the robot can do was fantastic,” Matt explains “I think the real benefit of people coming to a location similar to their own is they can see how the robot can work for them, how it can handle their conditions and ultimately, how seamless the process is.

“It’s also an excellent opportunity to ask any questions they might already have about robotic line marking, how the GPS side of things works or anything that comes up during the day.

“We like to keep it fairly informal, and everything is based outside on the turf, so it’s a solid four-hour session that people get a lot from.”

Free online registration is now open for every venue, and alex@turftank.co.uk or matt@turftank.co.uk can answer any questions regarding the events.

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Designed by professionals for professionals

Grassline is a family owned and run business with over 25 years of experience in the line marking industry.

Responsive to customers individual needs, it can offer bespoke products to cater for individual requirements.

All the company’s line marking paints are safe, non-hazardous, organic and bio-degradable.

The TITAN spray line marker has been developed in consultation with professional groundsmen.

The result is a hand built, well balanced and robust, high specification spray marker that combines all the needs of the professional groundsman into a single machine and offers exceptional value for money.

Grassline Enquiry 71

Fleet continues to lead the field

Fleet Line Markers is one of the leading line marking product suppliers in the UK, helping businesses to mark lines for sports surfaces for over 50 years.

The company continually introducing the most innovative products to enable line marking to be completed more efficientlyand has been a driving force in improving sustainability, an issue that we are passionate about.

Fleet’s Synthetic Turf Coating (STC) is available in a range of vibrant, bright colours including - white, red, yellow and blue, providing an economical and long-lasting line. STC can be sprayed with Kombi and a wheeled knib is required to ensure excellent line definition.

Turf Tank Enquiry

Remarking of the lines on synthetics is recommended every six months however feedback from a lot of customers is saying that the lines are still acceptable after 12 to 14 months.

Faster, lighter and cost effective

The TinyLineMarker (TLM) Sport is Rigby Taylor’s latest line marking robot introduction for the autonomous, initial marking and over-marking of sports pitches.

Perfect for clubs and organisations that have single site use, or for sites with just a few pitches, it is a smart investment for training grounds, sports clubs, schools and district/borough councils.

Using the latest robotic technology and in-built GPS-RTK receiver and antenna, the TLM Sport’s modern, sleek design moves easily over the grass surfaces providing precision line markings to mm levels of accuracy.

There are 50 sports pitchmarking templates available and the robot is easily controlled by a single operator using the supplied Samsung tablet.

Once the lines have been marked the markings are never lost as once the operation has been completed, the location and markings are simply

stored and can be retrieved and replicated at any time.

The robot can continuously mark for 3-4 hours on a single battery charge (an upgraded battery is available providing longer spraying time) and built in detect and protect ultrasonic sensors are supplied as standard.

The TLM Sport is also superefficient. Once the robot is positioned on the pitch surface to be marked it can be left to get on with its work, freeing up the operator to carry out additional tasks such as mowing, aeration, spraying, spreading, etc.

As an example, using just 3 litres of Impact paint, the complete initial marking (no stringing required!) of a standard sized football pitch can be undertaken in just 20 minutes, including those pitches with fixed posts.

It is also eco-friendly. As CO2 emissions and water conservation become increasingly important, its battery powered, low energy consumption, no fuel or emissions and, with its Impact ready to use paint, no added water, the TLM Sport is the eco-smart choice.

Keeping the grassroots community in the game

Ampere Line Marking Sport Striper is a pitch line marker which is ideal for applying lines to football pitches, rugby pitches and cricket pitches on grass.

When used in conjunction with Ampere Athletic Line Marking Paint aerosols, you can produce perfectly straight lines between 3cm and 10cm wide.

With the added bonus that no maintenance or cleaning is required, this machine will save you both time and money.

Other benefits of the Sport Striper include:

• Easy and strong locking handle to adjust line width

• The aerosol twists and fits automatically via patented design

• 4 wide wheels for a better

Lantra on course with line marking

Lantra, one of the country’s leading awarding bodies for land-based industries, offers a specialist line marking course.

The course will introduce the basic competencies for setting out sports markings from scratch, preparation and application. It will emphasise the efficient, safe and legal aspects of line marking and the basic skills required.

This course has been designed for anyone who wishes to learn how to correctly set out sports markings from scratch across a wide range of sports, including running tracks.

It is suitable for both novice and experienced delegates.

The course aims to: Interpret the rules of the sport when setting out and marking out

• Understand and read the required dimensions of the sports pitch etc from a diagram

• Provide safe working practices and environment when marking out

• To be competent in the use and maintenance of marking machines

To be competent and understand the costeffective best practice of different types of materials available and to be able to calibrate them correctly.

stability Ensures perfect line even in windy weather Reinforced metallic chassis

Promain are proud suppliers of sports coatings products. These products include both indoor and outdoor line marking solutions, including football pitch marking paint.

Promain Enquiry 75

“It was also about helping the team, so they didn’t feel under pressure all the time. With the robot, where it’s taken us six or seven weeks to mark everything, we can effectively do that in a week now. Suddenly, the pressure has gone, and if we have staff on holiday or off sick, it keeps us out of trouble.”

Rigby Taylor Enquiry 74

Lee Marshallsay, Head Grounds Manager, Eton College