Racing With Polaris

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Racing With Polaris: Polaris UK & Ireland is pleased to announce their continuation as title sponsors of British Side by Side Championship Racing in 2018. What started in 2011 with Polaris Dealer Martin Fletcher and racing Polaris RZRs has become the fastest growing sport and leisure racing in the UK. It is now the premier racing championship for all makes and models of SXS.

“Polaris and SXS Racing have had a fantastic relationship since UTV racing began in the UK, and that is set to continue this season,” says Colin Martin, Race Director, “as the UTV market has come alive, so the motocross style of Side by Side racing has grown, attracting entrants from widely diverse backgrounds.” SXS racing runs over three race formats, Short Circuit Racing, Endurance Racing and Youth.

Racing With Polaris

“Polaris is passionate about Sport and Leisure and the Polaris British Short Circuit Racing Championship has grown year on year,” says Richard Coleby, Polaris District Sales Manager, “and the BSCC attracts people from all over the country. We’re proud to be at the forefront of the development of the sport.” What’s certain, whether you’re a motocross veteran or looking to get into motorsport as a first timer, there is a home with Polaris British Short Circuit Racing which runs on the motocross style and format. The classes mean there is something for everyone in the Championship: 1000cc Rookie, 1000cc Expert, Open-Class Rookie, Open Class Expert.

Endurance racing against the clock had grown one-hundred percent since 2016 when it opened to all makes and manufacturers, though it has to be said the dominant vehicles have been the Polaris RZRs, which sends out the challenge to all comers. In 2016 the Youth Class was introduced with a predominance of the Polaris ACE 570 single seaters as the springboard for young drivers to get into the sport. The future looks good for SXS racing with European links already opened up with the Polaris European Invitational at Kettering in 2017, SXS Racing in Bastogne, Belgium in July this year and the Belgians coming to the UK to challenge in the autumn. There are plans ahead for different race formats, expanding the sport with European counterparts and growing the youth market, which could see future world champions in the making across all types of motorsport.

Polaris Britain 0800 915 6720

www.polaris-britain.com

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Six Nations: How the grounds staff are preparing

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Six Nations: How the grounds staff are preparing

For many sports fans it is the most exciting time of the year. The NatWest Six Nations is a celebration of sport and while non-rugby fans can wonder at what on earth is going on – particularly at scrum time – for those in the know each inch over the gain line, or steal from a line-out is celebrated like the winning goal in the round ball game. The six stadiums used are some of the finest in all sport and the pitches, which take some of the greatest hammerings around, are more often than not immaculate.
Turf Matters has spoken to the six people responsible for creating those surfaces.

Scotland: 

Name: Jim Dawson

Role: Head Groundsman

Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster

When was it laid? Spring/Summer 2014

What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?

Over-seeding, utilising pitch lights and plenty of rest… fingers crossed!

What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?

Desso grassmaster has been a game-changer, changing all of our maintenance schedule and increasing pitch usage.

What keeps you awake at night?

Uncontrollable weather the night before a big match!

How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?

We have a bigger pitch team allowing use to undertake more detailed work both on the international pitch and training pitches. As mentioned before, the Desso has meant major changes to our maintenance and lots of learning!

What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?

Fully automated machine to do divoting.

What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?

2017: Winning all three home games.

What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?

Scottish passion, the fans and hopefully beating England!

What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?

Have a great series and enjoy the atmosphere!

 

England: 

Name: Keith Kent

Role: RFU Head Groundsman

Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster

When was it laid? Summer 2012

What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations:

Depending on what the weather is doing we will cut the pitch at least once every day. Aeration is carried out to keep the top surface open in case of any heavy rain at that time of the year. The lighting rigs will be out on the pitch.

What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?

The Desso GrassmMaster pitch has changed our lives! It’s the best hybrid pitch system in the world in my humble opinion. In all of my career I have never known a pitch that can withstand so much usage.

What keeps you awake at night?

The removable paint used for logos!

How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?

The new pitch five years ago has changed my job for the better in so many ways. We host more events but it also allows me to do my second favourite job which is visiting community rugby clubs up and down the whole of England, offering advice and hopefully help to other groundsmen out there.

What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?

A magic wand that would make the grass grow in the winter like it does in the summer. And a grass seed that grows in the dark and the cold!

What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?

It’s hard to pick a specific game, but perhaps France in 2015 here at Twickenham. It was a fantastic game with 12 tries in total (the final score was 55-35 to England).

What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?

The whole event is something so special. The atmosphere at all of the games is amazing.

What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?

I wish them all a very successful tournament with good weather, great pitches and the hand of friendship to them all.

 

Italy: 

Name: Valeriano Bernardini

Role: Agronomist for CONI Servizi spa, consultant for FIGC and FIR

Composition of Pitch: Ryegrass + Bermudagrass (from November to April only as root system)

When was it laid? End of July, 2017

What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?

Routine work and overseeding.

What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?

Growing lights.

What keeps you awake at night?

Low turf density

How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?

Worry and preoccupation.

What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?

Possibility to easily adapt the microclimate for optimal growth of the turf.

What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?

Italy v France 2012.

What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?

No free seat in the stadium.

What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?

RUN!

 

Wales:

Name: Lee Evans

Role: Head Groundsman

Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster

When was it laid? September 2017

What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?

We had a boxing event on the pitch prior to the Autumn Series. This decimated the surface, so we have had to carry out a thorough renovation immediately after the Autumn Series.

What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?

Lighting Rigs/Technology – Grass cannot survive in our stadium without supplementary lighting.

What keeps you awake at night?

Some of the events our Venue Sales Manager, tries to shoehorn into our schedule!

How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?

I have been Head Groundsman at the stadium for 14 years – the job is unrecognisable to what it was then. A portable palletised pitch with grass that used to start dying back after six weeks in the stadium – to a fantastic Desso Grassmaster stabilised surface with supplementary lighting.

What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?

A full pitch lighting system that somehow is suspended above the pitch, no wheels and no obstacles, a pipe dream alas!

What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?

I have been fortunate to witness three grand slam triumphs in our stadium. They were all very special.

What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?

The atmosphere in the city is something special. As a teenager I used to go to Cardiff to watch the rugby (in a pub, couldn’t get tickets). 250,00 people descend on Cardiff on a six nations rugby match.

What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?

Keep up the good work!

 

France:

Name: Anthony Stones

Role: Grounds Manager Stadefrance ITURF management

Composition of Pitch: Desso GrassMaster

When was it laid? December 2015 and Desso was installed January 2016

What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?

We will have nine lighting rigs on the pitch as the stadium has no sun at this time of year. Depending on the weather we may have the undersoil heating on. Regular mowing three times per week. Two liquid fertiliser applications will be made and one granulated fertiliser application will done between the two matches that we have this year.

What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?

I have a couple of things the seegrow lighting rigs have been a massive help and the air2g2. I am also now looking at fans to help with air flow.

What keeps you awake at night?

Weather. You never stop looking at the weather.

How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?

Learning a new language since I moved out to France. The main thing to remember is that it’s a team effort and not just the headman that makes a great pitch.

What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?

Not sure on this one. I have lots of ideas.

What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship? England winning the tournament in my first year at Stadefrance.

What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?

Atmosphere – the rugby crowds are great.

What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?

Good luck guys and may the weather be kind to us all.

 

Ireland:

Name: Majella Smyth

Role: Head Groundsman

Composition of Pitch:

A Desso GrassMaster Hybrid

When was it laid? It was constructed 2013

What work will you be doing between Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations?

Mininimal renovation has been done to the pitch.

What development or innovation has had the biggest impact on your work in the last five years?

Desso Grass Master Hybrid/SGL Grow Lights.

What keeps you awake at night?

Weather conditions.

How has your job changed since you took over as Head Groundsman?

Technology.

What piece of equipment, yet to be invented, would make your life so much easier?

Lighting systems that would leave no impact on the playing surface.

What is your favourite memory for a previous Six Nations Championship?

Ronan O Gara drop goal 2009.

What is the best thing about a Six Nations Rugby match in your city?

The buzz the excitement and the impacted of visiting supporters.

What would you like to say to your fellow Six Nations Head Groundsmen?

It’s a calling, not a job, plus your pitch is now for international scrutiny when it goes live.

Win Dedicated To Ex-Groundsman

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Win Dedicated To Ex-Groundsman: Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe dedicated the club’s win over Stoke to long-serving club stalwart John Harriss who passed away last month at the age of 88.

A minute’s applause was held in memory of John, who joined the club staff in 1970 and became head groundsman and then referee liaison officer.

Ex-Cherries bosses Harry Redknapp and Sean O’Driscoll, together with a host of former players, joined mourners at his funeral at a packed Bournemouth Crematorium on Tuesday.

His wife Deirdre, son Shaun, daughter Nicky and grandchildren Rich, Rachael and Clare were guests of the club at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

John, who spent 37 years tending the pitch at Dean Court, died at home just hours after watching on television as Cherries toppled Premier League big guns Arsenal on January 14.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “The minute’s applause was very emotional for me because immediately you think of John and all the memories come flooding back.

“Every week, without fail, he was there by our side, cheering on the team and always knowing what to say whether you had won, drawn or lost. His outlook and reaction to me personally never changed.

“Then, you go back to the days when you were an apprentice and trying to make your way in the game. You look for people to support and help you and he was one of the people who did. I have never forgotten that and never will.

“He has an incredible family and it was really nice to share this moment with them. I saw them during the week and we spoke about stories of John and shared memories with them.”

Perhaps fittingly, the Harriss family looked on as Cherries wrote another chapter in the club’s record books by extending to seven games their unbeaten run in the Premier League.

And like most of John’s 79-year association with the club, it was eventful as Cherries mounted a stirring second-half comeback to take the points.

Goals from substitutes Joshua King and Lys Mousset cancelled out Xherdan Shaqiri’s early opener as victory saw Cherries climb to ninth place in the table.

Discussing the game, Howe said: “Mentally, it was a big challenge for the players. We beat Chelsea on Wednesday and then played again on Saturday.

“After the high of Chelsea, we didn’t start well and it is not easy to respond in the right way. But we have a really good feel about the group at the moment.

“There is a good team spirit and a lot of quality. That was highlighted by the fact the two substitutes came on and made such an impact.

“Would we have come back earlier in the season? – I’m not so sure.

“But the fact we are in the middle of this run and producing performances, you have it in the back of your mind that you can.

“It is reminiscent of times gone by when we have had the spirit to come back from losing positions and that is a great quality to have. We have done it a lot in this run and the challenge for me is to maintain and harness that and try to improve it if we can.”

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Velvit’s First BTME

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Velvit’s First BTME: This is the first time Velvit Ltd. has exhibited at BTME as the sister company of GreenBest Ltd., We had a great time, met lots of lovely people and it proved to be a great success.

Velvit supplies a complete range of fertilisers, biostimulants and wetting agents for the professional turf care industry. Velvit does not sell direct, it provides a branded range selling through distributors that compliments the bespoke service already provided by GreenBest.

Velvit's First BTME

Velvit was on stand A1, the first thing to be seen as the visitors entered the hall. Looking out on Tuesday and Wednesday morning we could see the constant streams of people entering the exhibition. We appreciated all the passing traffic, handing out hundreds of brochures and discussing what Velvit has to offer. Thanks to everyone who took the time to talk with us, we really enjoyed it!

On the Wednesday morning James Whittick (Sales Director) presented an info packed seminar ‘Fertiliser Choice – Quality, Cost and Performance’ as part of Continue to Learn at BTME 2018. The education opportunities are a huge draw to BTME and James was thrilled to present to a packed auditorium of around 150 people. Thanks to all those who attended and it was great to hear that the presentation was so well received.

GreenBest has been attending BTME for the last 20 years, but as a fertiliser manufacturer specialising in own-brand products it has never exhibited itself, preferring to meet directly with its distributors.

GreenBest launched Velvit to offer customers a consistent branded range, available off-the-shelf, rather than own-brand made to order. The Velvit range has been designed with all of GreenBest’s manufacturing experience in every aspect of the turf nutrition industry to offer the highest quality products at very competitive prices.

The Velvit range covers every nutritional aspect of turf management throughout the year and includes many advanced and innovative products.

Interest at BTME was particularly high for Resolute Wetting Agent which provides long lasting prevention from localised dry patch, and for Onyx Liquid an organic biostimulant that provides extensive benefits for plant and soil health.

Over 50 professional turf products
Over 25 distributors covering the UK
Fertilisers, biostimulants, wetting agents
Quick turnaround from order to delivery

www.velvit.co.uk

Velvit now has more than 25 distributors covering the UK https://www.velvit.co.uk/distributors

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Quick Clean Up With GKB

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Quick Clean Up With GKB: At Harrow School, the boys enjoy afternoon games five times a week, with no fewer than thirty-two different sports on offer to keep them healthy and active. Harrow teams frequently win county and national championships and the school enjoys partnerships with professional bodies such as the Saracens Foundation and Queens Park Rangers Football Club. Founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth 1, Harrow is located on a 300 acre estate.

The school is surrounded by acres of sports fields ranging from Astroturf pitches, 2G hockey and tennis, 3G rubber crumb, sixteen winter pitches and nine cricket through to a 9-hole golf course. That’s plenty for the groundsmen to be looking after, with Grounds Manager Michael Kemmett heading the team of eleven. Maintaining such large areas of synthetic turf takes a special mix of machinery and each pitch demands their own, specific, type of maintenance. Michael chose GKB machines following demonstrations and began with the GKB Quick brush in the summer of 2017, followed by the introduction of a Quick Clean in the November. Quick Brush is a modular brush that can be adjusted to each task, choosing between a rake, double brush and rubber finishing rag. There is a ‘flip over tool’ to enable infill material to be easily added to new fields.

Quick Clean Up With GKB

“We liked the Quick Brush for its ability to carry out the correct synthetic turf maintenance, whatever the requirements. We use it every couple of weeks on the surfaces and after using the Quick Clean,” says Michael, “it’s excellent for the getting pile to stand up and it’s also very good for the cricket outfields and pitches.” The Quick Clean is used on sand and rubber crumb and was chosen for its powerful in-depth cleaning of all types of synthetic turf pitches. With the wide variety of sports surfaces at Harrow School, the extraction of debris needs to be adjusted to suit the technical characteristics of each pitch.

“We first saw the Quick Clean at the Cologne show and it looked the part to fit our criteria,” Michael adds, “we were looking for quality and stand-out of the patterns after cleaning, and it needs to work fast and be reliable. We have all that and you can tell from the quality build the machine is going to last. That makes it very competitive as well as achieving precisely what we need to maintain our surfaces. We’re very pleased with the great results we’re getting from the GKB machines” He says.

For more information, visit: www.gkbmachines.com

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