SALTEX Attendance Announced

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SALTEX Attendance Announced: An independent audit has confirmed that the combined attendance over the two day exhibition at the NEC totalled an impressive 8,909 – the highest ever since SALTEX moved to the Birmingham venue.

After two successful days, the 72nd SALTEX exhibition came to a close on 2 November and by all accounts it was a resounding success. Over the past two years the exhibition has recorded an encouraging and consistent flux of visitors on each occasion, but this year a boom of visits seemed to be apparent.

SALTEX Attendance Announced

The show’s debut year at the NEC in 2015 saw 8,714 attendees, 2016 recorded 8,754 and this year saw a record 8,909 – which didn’t go unnoticed by exhibitors.

“An excellent show in 2017,” said Jeremy Hoyle, director at Earlsmere. “Enquiries on the stand were up 15% on last year, and we gained a number of significant leads with sports turf professionals, schools and colleges featuring heavily within our stand attendee list.”

Nathan George, contracts manager for MJ Abbott, said: “Having the opportunity to speak to potential new customers – as well as current customers – is invaluable when continuing growth into a new market, and that is why such an emphasis is placed on attending shows, with the large number of attendees and decision makers a particular highlight for the company at this year’s SALTEX.”

“We were really impressed with the amount of customers visiting our stand this year!  SALTEX TV was excellent too, perfect for promoting a new product,” said Holly Jones, marketing manager for Reesink Turfcare.

After a 16 year absence from SALTEX, LWS Irrigation returned this year and director Simon Edginton, confirmed that it was the correct decision. “We were delighted with the huge amount of leads we received from a wide sector of the industry including football, golf, cricket and bowls facilities. The large number of visitors created a great atmosphere and we were also able to catch up with many existing customers and industry colleagues to share news and developments. Needless to say we certainly won’t be waiting so long to exhibit again.”

Price Turfcare, a newly established business founded by Ransomes Jacobsen’s former sales director, Rupert Price, was another exhibitor that achieved all of its objectives. “As a start-up business which has only been in existence since the beginning of the year, our first visit to SALTEX has been a very positive experience. One of our aims at SALTEX was to look for new dealer partners and this worked well for us. I can safely say that SALTEX ticked all the boxes,” said Rupert.

With more than 300 exhibitors showcasing their products and services, SALTEX visitors were treated to an impressive line-up of world-class innovation.

“I’m like a kid in a toy shop,” said Stuart Kerrison, Essex CCC head groundsman. “There are so many fantastic products and it’s nice to be able to see them and have a good close-up look before you make any purchases.”

“We are always looking for new ways to do things, looking for new products and new machines that may be able to help us and SALTEX gives us this opportunity,” said Hannah Richards, gardener for the National Trust.

Chris Wood, pitches consultant at England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), suggested that SALTEX is a place where some of the greatest industry ideas are born. “The value of a show like this is being able to talk to colleagues from other codes of sport and share ideas. Not only that, it is a place to challenge exhibitors about new technology and that is how new innovation comes about.”

He continued; “I’ve been in this business for 50 years and the opportunities for young groundsmen now, compared to when I first started, are profound.”

Indeed, there were plenty of opportunities at SALTEX 2017. Learning LIVE, SALTEX’s all-encompassing education programme, featured over 100 high-profile speakers and 26 hours of free seminars; Pathology and Soil Science LIVE enabled visitors to solve any problematic soil profiles; career advice was on hand through the all-new Job Clinic and turf management advice from IOG regional pitch advisors was readily available through Ask the Expert.

SALTEX 2018 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on 31 October and 1 November.

To view show highlights and key interviews please visit www.youtube.com/MyIOG

For more information visit www.iogsaltex.com

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Kubota Launch Christmas Campaign

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Kubota Launch Christmas Campaign: Kubota UK has launched #KubotaChristmas, a festive social media campaign to thank and reward the company’s dealer and end-user customers by giving them the chance to win a host of exciting Kubota branded presents this Christmas.

The festive campaign will be launched on Kubota UK’s Facebook and Twitter pages on Friday 15 December, kick starting a ten-day countdown to Christmas with prizes to be won every single day!

Kubota Launch Christmas Campaign

Kubota UK is encouraging all of its social media fans and followers to get involved by entering and sharing the campaign.  Watch out for a new and fun #KubotaChristmas video animation to appear every morning.  The video sees Santa Claus heading off in his sleigh from Kubota Corporation’s head office in Japan to the shores of the UK and Ireland with a sack full of presents.

Last year’s grand prize winner, Andy Roberts, said: “I think the Kubota Christmas campaign is brilliant.  I’ve been an avid follower of Kubota UK on social media for a number of years and the content they share is fantastic.

“The fact that they reward followers with prizes every now and then, particularly at Christmas, is superb.  My young lad was absolutely delighted with his very own Kubota pedal tractor, it made his Christmas, I don’t know whose smile was biggest, mine or his! I would encourage everyone to enter as there are some great gifts to be won.”

On Facebook, fans simply need to answer questions related to the festive period to be in with a chance of winning a whole host of Kubota merchandise, from beanie hats and body warmers, to pedal tractors.  Entries via Twitter will encourage individuals to retweet and like the post to win a present.

Karen Tipping, Marketing Manager at Kubota UK, commented: “Our Christmas campaigns are all about giving back and thanking our customers for their loyal support.  This is our third year now and the feedback we receive is excellent.  I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Kubota UK and good luck entering our #KubotaChristmas campaign.”

For more information about how to enter, visit the Kubota UK Facebook page or follow @KubotaUK on Twitter.

For more information, visit: www.kubota-eu.com

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Etesia Factory Visit

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Etesia Factory Visit: Etesia UK dealers were recently given the opportunity to visit the company’s HQ and factory in Wissembourg, France to see their state-of-art factory and production line.

More than 15 dealers, made up of new and existing companies, took part in three days of visits and saw the skill, precision and professionalism of Etesia operations.

Etesia Factory Visit

Visitors got the chance to see the newly-refurbished visitor centre to the automated fabrication and production line, viewing the quality control and attention to detail which goes into every pedestrian and ride-on machine.

Etesia boasts one of the best networks of green space maintenance equipment specialists in Europe; it has become a key supplier of local authorities and landscape contractors throughout Europe, while acquiring an exceptional International dimension with operations in over 40 countries spread over five continents.

Les Malin, operations director of Etesia UK, kick-started the trip by relaying the unique benefits of Etesia machines, while Patrick Vives, President of Etesia SAS told the intriguing story as to how it all began with the unique Hydro 100 machine over thirty years ago. Attendees were then delivered a presentation on the advances in technology, a sneak preview of the new products which will be launched ahead of 2018, followed by a tour of the impressive, state-of-the-art factory.

A hearty lunch complimented by some delightful local wine ensued as the group had time to muse on the Etesia experience before being given the opportunity to get hands on with some of Etesia’s machinery outside.

The day was rounded off with an evening visit to the luxurious Royal Palace, Kirrwiller, which saw everyone enjoy live music, acrobats, and other enchanting entertainment.

The last day began with a tour around the picturesque town of Wissembourg with a private guide before meeting the town’s Mayor for a greater insight into what Etesia offers the local area in terms of employment and export.

The trip was concluded with a visit to Maginot Line – a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany and force them to move around the fortifications, which was constructed on the French side of its borders with Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg.

At the end of the visit Les Malin, operations director of Etesia UK, thanked everyone for attending: “We are very proud of the work we do in the UK with our dealers and of our facilities in France. To be able to show the people, who are effectively our sales force, just how much effort goes into achieving the best, and to get their feedback, is invaluable.”

For further information, please visit www.etesia.co.uk

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Tribute To Cricket Groundsman Peter Green

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Tribute To Cricket Groundsman Peter Green: Peter Green was one of Huddersfield cricket’s most popular figures.

The 73-year-old gave a lifetime of dedication to Honley Cricket Club and only last month received the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League’s highest award, the Fred Stallard Cup.

Presented to an individual who has given long and outstanding service to his club and the game, guests at the league’s annual dinner gave a standing ovation when the award to ‘Mr Honley’ was announced.

The Drakes honour came just weeks after Peter received the Institute of Groundsmanship Special Recognition Award in front of 700 guests at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

He has been groundsman at Honley’s pristine Far End Lane ground for the past 40 years.

Peter, who was associated with Honley CC for over 60 years, will be sadly missed by the whole Huddersfield cricket community.

Born in Gilsland, Northumberland, in 1944 (because his father, Leslie, was stationed in the north east with the army at the time), Peter moved to Honley at the age of three – the Green family have been part of the village for centuries.

His father and uncles all played for the club and Peter, who went to Honley Junior School and Holmfirth Secondary (now High School), grew up loving cricket.

He couldn’t wait for his 12th birthday when he was officially allowed to join to play junior cricket and once through the gates he was never going to play anywhere else and his love for the club never waned.

After leaving school Peter worked as a painter and decorator before joining David Brown’s at Meltham, but he then joined The Post Office and worked as a postman until retiring eight years ago.

He married wife Isabel at St Mary’s Church in Honley in 1970. They had a guard of honour with cricket bats and hockey sticks because Isabel played hockey for Huddersfield Ladies and then Colne Valley Ladies.

They passed on their love of sport to sons Martin and James, both of whom have followed in their father’s footsteps and become stalwarts of the Honley club.

Peter had been encouraged by his father and uncles, who took a keen interest in his pathway through junior cricket in the 1950s to the Honley first team, and Peter did likewise for his sons.

In addition to his playing career, Peter served as groundsman, coach and committeeman and, having enjoyed a 50-year playing career, he was rewarded with the Lady Sykes Candlesticks in 1983 (son Martin received the same accolade in 2015).

Peter scored at least 6,711 senior runs and took 88 outfield catches. A talented wicketkeeper, he also had 154 dismissals behind the stumps and twice won the league wicketkeeping prize, the Cyril Thorpe Cup.

He became club groundsman in 1977 and continued in that role until his retirement, due to ill health, earlier this year.

Honley won the Greenwood Trophy (for most improved ground) on four occasions and Peter won the Tom Walker Trophy for best groundsman a record four times.

He forged a close working relationship with the Yorkshire County ground staff and his talents and dedication allowed Honley to regularly stage the Sykes Cup Final, league representative matches and Yorkshire junior games.

Receiving the award from the Institute of Groundsmanship really was the ultimate accolade for all that work.

While working full-time, playing every weekend and looking after the ground, Peter also found time to become a qualified junior coach, spending many hours at junior practice evenings and school indoor nets, not only helping his own lads to love the game, but countless other young players as well.

Family holidays have, for the last 38 years, included an annual trip to St Ives in Cornwall with good friends Bruce and Christine Jakeman – the last earlier this summer while Peter was still well enough to travel – but the Greens followed cricket all around the world.

They supported England on five Ashes tours to Australia – their favourite place being Sydney – in addition to watching the national side in the West Indies and South Africa, but they went to many other places to watch the game.

Peter’s funeral will be at Huddersfield Crematorium on Wednesday, December 20 (10.30am) and Isabel, Martin and James would like everyone to wear colour in celebration of his life.

That celebration will continue at Honley Cricket Club.

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Aqua-Aid at BTME

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Aqua-Aid EU BV at BTME: Aqua-Aid Europe BV will be returning to BTME in Harrogate for the third time in January to demonstrate the power of Verde-Cal G against black layer and the benefits of WormPower Turf.

Common golf course issues such as compaction and thatch are tackled using machinery, but the causes of these problems can be tackled and prevented using Verde-Cal G and WormPower Turf.

Aqua-Aid EU BV at BTME

Following the REACH pre-registration process after the successful introduction of the AQUA-AID product lines, all individual products have now been full registered with the ECHA to follow the REACH guidelines; this ensures availability of our products after the impending new legislation becomes effective.

Black layer is a common problem that all golf courses can face, and once this layer is established drainage is greatly reduced, with machinery often the go to remedy. Verde-Cal G uses gypsum and thCa™ to remove this layer and provide a healthier root zone with no surface disruption.

The gypsum (calcium sulphate) within Verde-Cal G is combined with the organic complexing agent thCa™. This makes it more readily available for soil or plant use without effecting or raising the pH. In high pH soils this is a great tool to reduce salts and bicarbonates to lower pH levels. Using the product loosens compacted soil, improves aeration and allows water to percolate, which directly combats the causes of black layer within the root zone, and provides more oxygen to the plant roots.

Detailed information on Worm Power Turf will also be available on stand B37. This product increases root mass by enhancing the availability of plant nutrients, and accelerating root initiation, establishment and development. In turn, this increase the water holding capacity of the soil, reducing irrigation frequency and increasing the stress tolerance during harsh conditions.

 All of Aqua-Aid EU’s products are designed to combat and prevent specific root zone and soil issues, from black layer and compaction to hydrating and penetrating the soil using OARS PS (penetrating surfactant) and HS (hydrating surfactant). Ultimately this is done by promoting clean soil profiles, strong roots and healthy plants.

For more information on the range of products please visit the www.aquaaid.eu

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