Nominations Open For 2017 IOG Industry Awards

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Nominations Open For 2017 IOG Industry Awards. Nominations are now being accepted for this year’s Institute of Groundsmanship Industry Awards, with 22 categories of entry recognising the passion, dedication and challenges faced by grounds staff in both grassroots and professional sports, and including a series of new and ‘refreshed’ categories in response to industry feedback.Nominations Open For 2017 IOG Industry Awards

 

With headline sponsorship by Rigby Taylor and Top Green, this year’s awards now feature three new categories:

[] The Private Members Sports Club Grounds Team of the Year, and

[] Two awards for the IOG Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year, to ensure recognition for grounds teams at clubs at all levels. One award is for English Leagues 1 and 2, Scottish Championship and Leagues 1 and 2, and Ireland and Wales Professional Leagues. Another award is for grounds teams at clubs in the Premier League, the Championship and the Scottish Premier League. 

 

The ‘refreshed’ Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award will honour those who have contributed greatly to the groundscare industry over a period of time, short or long. 

Importantly too, the Special Recognition Award (which replaces the Unsung Hero Award) will acknowledge extreme dedication – perhaps performed under the radar – for the good of groundsmanship at any level. 

 

Commenting on the 2017 competition, IOG chief executive Geoff Webb says: “Now in their ninth year, the IOG Awards continue to expand and, importantly, take account of views that will help to improve them year on year. We have, for example, created more opportunity for greater recognition of those working in the lower divisions of professional football. And by redefining the unsung hero and lifetime achievement awards, we are recognising the work of those who sometimes operate under the radar.

 

“In addition, we are also making it clear that applications to every category are encouraged from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, as well as England.”

 

He adds: “These are the only awards for groundsmen that are judged by groundsmen, and we are lucky to have a dedicated group of volunteer judges with their range of backgrounds that encompass the diversity of the industry and profession today. 

 

“The awards are truly all-encompassing and recognise both volunteers and professionals across all levels of sport. So, please take the time to nominate, as you must know many deserving candidates and great examples of sports turf management at every level.”

 

The awards will be judged by an independent, expert panel using criteria that will include equipment utilisation (including the use of IT), training and education, community involvement and career achievements. However, the winner of the Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement Award will be decided by the IOG, while the Ransomes/DLF Johnsons Alex R Millar Groundsman of the Year Award is decided from the winners of the professional grounds team awards.

 

The winners will be announced Oscar-style at The National Conference Centre, within the National Motorcycle Museum, on Wednesday 1 November, on the evening of the opening day of the SALTEX exhibition at the Birmingham NEC.

 

Visit www.iogawards.com to make your nominations online.

 

The full list of award categories is: 

 

• IOG Bowling Greenkeeper/Team 

• IOG Best Maintained Artificial Pitch  

• IOG Ransomes Environmental/Innovative Project  

• IOG Toro Most Promising Sports Turf Student  

• IOG Redexim Charterhouse/Kubota Volunteer Groundsman/Team 

• IOG Rigby Taylor/Top Green Young Groundsman 

• IOG Countrywide Turf & Amenity Independent School/University/College Grounds Team 

• IOG Private Members Sports Club Grounds Team 

• IOG NGB Professional Sports Grounds Team 

• IOG NGB Grassroots Sports Grounds Team  

[Both of the above are co-sponsored by the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Football Association, the Lawn Tennis Association, the Premier League, Rugby Football League and the RFU (Rugby Football Union)] 

• IOG Professional Cricket Grounds Team 

• IOG Professional Tennis Grounds Team 

• IOG SISGrass Professional Football Grounds Team 

(English Leagues 1 and 2, Scottish Championship and Leagues 1 and 2, Ireland & Wales Professional Leagues)

• IOG SGL Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year

(Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League)

• IOG John Deere Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team 

• IOG Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team 

• IOG Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team 

• IOG Contractor 

• IOG International Ambassador 

• IOG Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement   

• IOG Ransomes/DLF Johnsons Alex R Miller Groundsman   

• IOG Special Recognition. 

 

Nominations close on Monday July 31.

The BALI Zone comes to SALTEX 2017

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The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), has underlined its continuing confidence in the strength of SALTEX by committing to its own dedicated area at the show, which will be held at the NEC, Birmingham on 1 and 2 November 2017.

Founded in 1972, BALI is the leading trade association in the UK, promoting, supporting and inspiring professional landscapers, landscape contractors, grounds maintenance contractors, interior landscapers, suppliers and garden designers to be leaders of an environmentally, ethically and commercially sustainable landscape industry. BALI is also a member of the Amenity Forum. With 1,700 members in total, over 850 of which are fully registered, covering 50 disciplines including irrigation, hydroseeding, golf course construction, soft landscaping including turf and sports ground and leisure facilities.

Many BALI members have also been long-standing SALTEX exhibitors and the association strongly believes that the show provides an ideal platform for these same organisations to connect with existing trade contacts and secure new business.

“Due to the reputable nature of the show, BALI has supported the event for many years,” said marketing and communications manager Darren Taylor. “I think it is a great venue in a fantastic location and the event creates the perfect opportunity to meet up with current BALI members and to talk to potential new ones, particularly those organisations offering turf care services, sports amenity and the provision of playground equipment.”

He continued, “By having the BALI Zone at this year’s SALTEX, previously labelled as the Village, we want visitors to feel like they have walked into a dedicated BALI hub area that promotes a level of excellence in quality that only comes from fully vetted landscape professionals. Any visitor that approaches BALI or any of its members exhibiting in the zone are guaranteed the highest level of service along with the best quality materials that BALI is known for within the trade.”

It has already been confirmed that BALI registered Affiliate members Green-tech, M&M Timber and Boningale Nurseries will be exhibiting within the BALI Zone, and Darren believes that by offering such a varied product line-up, it will attract a wide range of visitors from throughout the main hall.

“Already we’ve got three different members offering three very different product ranges. We’ve got exceptional quality nursery stock through Boningale; market leading round timber products and street furniture courtesy of M&M and a wide variety of award-winning landscaping materials and wholesale garden supplies from Green-tech. BALI will also be championing the importance of environmentally friendly, sustainable and renewable green products on the Zone and will be working closely with members to provide a comprehensive and attractive offering for stand visitors.”

BALI is working closely with SALTEX organisers to provide leading industry speakers for this year’s Learning LIVE – SALTEX’s all-encompassing, free-to-attend education programme.
“Thinking specifically about SALTEX and its audience, I think one of the most prevalent issues for us to explore further as part of Learning LIVE is the use of public parks, in terms of local council’s potentially charging for the public to use them due to the lack of Government funding and subsequently the repercussions this may have on BALI’s grounds maintenance contractors.

“Our chief executive, Wayne Grills, has an active seat on the Parks Alliance board, and through this Alliance, BALI has contributed to the Government’s most recent Local Government Committee’s Public Parks Report, published earlier this year. We also have our BALI National Contractor’s Forum (BALI-NCF), which represents some of the UK’s major grounds maintenance contractors working on large contracts up and down the country.

Although not confirmed at this stage, I believe a speaker representing each of these two groups would provide fascinating and informative discussions.”

Darren continues “Ultimately, parks and green spaces provide a whole range of health benefits for the public, and so you have to question what happens when those spaces are not maintained. It’s an interesting issue and one worth exploring further.”

Commenting on BALI’s support for SALTEX 2017, IOG CEO Geoff Webb said: “We are delighted to once again have BALI’s presence at SALTEX this year. We have a long history of collaboration since the event’s early years at Windsor Racecourse. BALI’s expertise brings with it companies who provide a wider offering to SALTEX which links the sports turf and landscaping sectors together at one major industry event at one venue – providing more choice for visitors and a greater range of product innovation.”

For more information on SALTEX visit www.iogsaltex.com

Campey Turf Care Systems Pitch Renovation Tour Begins

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The Campey Turf Care Systems 2017 Euro Pitch Renovation Tour has commenced in France, with another nine countries to visit before the final date on 6th June in Rotterdam, Holland.

The tour begins in France at the Parc de Haye, Nancy, before moving on to Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Belgium and finally Holland. Venues across the tour will encompass football stadia and golf courses, including the picturesque Terre Dei Consoli Golf Course in Italy.

As always, the Campey team will be joining its distributors with the aim of showcasing the most recent and cutting edge techniques in the sports turf industry, and showing the difference a professional renovation can make to elite pitches and golf courses.

Through following the demonstrations on the day groundsmen and greenkeepers will see how researched and proven techniques can be applied to their own renovation and maintenance programmes using the award-winning GT Air Inject Air2G2 or revolutionary Koro® FIELDTOPMAKER® with Universe® and Terraplane® rotors.

A host of other machines including the Imants ShockWave and Rotoknife, the Koro® Recycling Dresser®, Raycam Speedresser and Dakota range of spreaders will be in action alongside a Vredo seeder, to give a comprehensive view of what’s on offer.

Campey continue to place great importance on the education of industry professionals and managing director, Richard Campey, believes the 2017 tour will continue to provide the knowledge necessary in an ever-demanding industry.

He said: “The thirst for knowledge is still prevalent in Europe. We saw it first hand during our tour in 2015, and even in that time the technology we use to maintain pitches has developed and it’s important we inform our customers about these developments as the pressure grows on them.

“The expectation placed on groundsmen and greenkeepers is increasing and events like the renovation tour gives a platform for those who want to raise their standards, and shows them how they can achieve that by trying something new or improving on what they’re already doing.

“As well as getting to see the machines in action there is also an opportunity to learn from other industry professionals that attend the days. There’s nothing quite like learning from the experiences of others within the industry, so I’m pleased we can also provide that along with the demonstrations.”

Thefts At Greenkeepers’ Sheds

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Police in Scotland have issued a warning to golf clubs to protect their greenkeepers’ sheds after at least two were targeted by criminals.

Newbattle Golf Club in Midlothian was broken into on a recent Saturday night, in which the shed was targeted and a number of power tools were stolen, states the East Lothian Courier.

The following night, at about 10.30pm, Musselburgh Golf Club’s greenkeeping shed was also broken into.

Nothing was stolen, but damage was caused to the doors of the shed and the alarm was activated.

Police believe the two incidents may be linked and are asking anyone who has information to come forward.

Sergeant Scott Nicolson said: “As a matter of course we have advised all other golf clubs in the area to review their security arrangements and we are keen to speak to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity at, or around, Musselburgh Golf Club to come forward immediately.”

Meanwhile, police in Northumbria are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at Arcot Golf Club.

“It happened at a storage shed to the rear of the car park at Arcot Golf Club in Northumberland at approximately 9pm on Tuesday, April 11,” said a police spokesman.

“Thieves forced entry to the shed and stole two Stihl chainsaws and a Stihl hedge trimmer.

“Police are appealing for witnesses, anyone who was in the area and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, is asked to contact them. Officers also want to hear from anyone who may be offered these stolen items for sale.”

Other golf clubs around the UK have also reported break-ins at their sheds recently.

The Braintree & Witham Times states that Rivenhall Oaks Golf Centre had its shed broken during one night in early April, and fireworks were stolen.

Lincoln Golf Club also reported a break-in recently. It said that a Stihl saw was stolen from the alarmed building.

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