CPL’s Best Groundsman Award

CPL’s Best Groundsman Award: The Hero Caribbean Premier League has created an award for the groundsman that has overseen the greatest improvement in the pitches at tournament venues since the league’s inception in 2013. The award will see the winning head groundsman being flown to New Zealand to work with world renowned pitch expert Mark Perham.

The winner will visit New Zealand for three weeks spending time in both Christchurch and Auckland to see how pitches in other countries are prepared. This is an amazing opportunity for professional development and further cements the Hero CPL’s commitment to improve pitches across the region.

Speaking about the award Mark Perham said: “I have been delighted to work with the groundsmen across the region to help improve the pitches in the Caribbean. This opportunity for the groundsman that has made the biggest improvement to the standard of wickets at their venue is just reward for a lot of hard work, but I would also like to extend my thanks to all the ground staff who have also put in a lot of hard graft over the years.”

Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of Hero CPL, said: “As a tournament we are firmly committed to playing our part in the improvement of cricketing infrastructure across the Caribbean and we are very pleased to have been involved in the improvement of pitches. This award is another example of CPL investing in the development of West Indies cricket.”

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New Lords Head Groundsman

New Lords Head Groundsman: MCC has confirmed that Karl McDermott has been appointed as the new Head Groundsman at Lord’s.

McDermott, who will join MCC from Hampshire County Cricket Club, will replace Mick Hunt, who is retiring from the role after 49 seasons.

After beginning his career as Assistant Groundsman at Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin, McDermott took on the Head Groundsman role in 1997, ahead of the venue hosting an ICC World Cup Fixture in 1999.

He spent seventeen years at Clontarf, working on numerous international and domestic fixtures and winning the European ICC Groundsman of the Year award in 2007, before moving to Worcestershire as Assistant Groundsman.

He then took up post at the Ageas Bowl where he was initially appointed Deputy Head Groundsman in 2009, ahead of the ground’s inaugural Test Match in 2011 between England and Sri Lanka.

McDermott became Head Groundsman in 2016 and most recently presided over England’s victory over India, the third Test Match to be held at Hampshire’s headquarters.

John Stephenson, MCC Assistant Secretary (Cricket) said: “After a rigorous recruitment process, we are delighted that Karl has accepted the role of Head Groundsman at Lord’s. He is very well respected throughout the game, having spent the past nine years producing top quality pitches at the Ageas Bowl.

“Karl emerged from a competitive field as someone who will be able to maintain the reputation of Lord’s as the ultimate ground at which cricketers of all levels wish to play.

His first season will be a challenging one, with five World Cup matches including the Final, Ireland’s inaugural Test match at Lord’s as well as the prospect of England facing Australia in an Ashes Series but we have no doubt that he will prove himself up to the task.

“We’re very much looking forward to Karl beginning his role and working alongside Mick Hunt for a short time before Mick begins his well-earned retirement.”

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Reesink At John O’Gaunt Golf Club

Reesink At John O’Gaunt Golf Club: Celebrating the signing of its third five-year exclusivity agreement with Reesink Turfcare and Toro is John O’Gaunt Golf Club.

After a ten year plan the club in Sandy in Bedfordshire has now established an ‘all red’ Toro fleet of machinery, installed Toro Lynx and dual trajectory series sprinklers on its Carthagena course and the truly innovative Infinity sprinklers on its John O’Gaunt course. And they turned to Reesink when needing aerating fountains for a new lake, for which Otterbine suited.

Reesink At John O’Gaunt Golf Club

Course manager Nigel Broadwith is the decision-maker with a plan in place and the full support of the club’s committee. He says of the signing, which will take the club’s relationship with Reesink and Toro to 15 years: “It was an easy decision to make. When you have a relationship with your machinery distributor which brings you a good product, good support and peace of mind, you don’t need to look anywhere else.”

Over the years Nigel has created a Toro fleet of machinery that brings the best results and the best value, he says: “When purchasing machinery in a five-year lease deal I try to juggle the budget to get the best value and the best productivity. People who know me, know it doesn’t matter to me how old a machine is, if it performs it’s got a place in the shed. We have brand new machines lining up next to 18-year old ones with over 4000 hours on the clock! It’s all about having a balance to ensure the best results for the best value your budget can bring.”

Mixing the old with the new is an approach Nigel says he’s able to with the reliable back-up of Reesink, Toro’s MyTurf fleet management programme which tracks maintenance, repairs and parts, and a full-time on-site mechanic: “This combination of support with a good product means that any issues are sorted out quickly and there’s little, if any, machinery downtime.

“Going with Reesink and Toro was the sensible and logical thing to do, it instils confidence in the team for the foreseeable future.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Reesink’s Finance Schemes Return

Reesink’s Finance Schemes Return: After the previous success of Reesink Turfcare’s four Toro finance schemes, which last year offered ten ways to pay, they’re returning once more.

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

Reesink's Finance Schemes Return

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

Toro Triple Finance is a firm favourite for Reesink Turfcare customers, offering three options, each with several payment plans to suit individual budgets and circumstances. All three options have payment spread over five years, but there are three ways to spread the payment within that timeframe. Choose from monthly or annually, with one- or five-months upfront payment; with a 15 percent payment of the final balance in the final month; or with a six month pause before payment starts with payments condensed into the remaining months or years left for the term.

Buy Now Pay Later is interest free for orders before the end November. For all machinery bought between now and then, payment is required in full on 7 May 2019.

Jeff continues: “The ever-increasing importance of the role of finance in the acquisition of turf machinery is reflected strongly in these finance schemes offering customers plenty of options on how to fill or top-up their shed with the latest Toro machinery. We believe these finance options makes purchasing Toro equipment easy and affordable for every budget.”

All deals are available now until 30 November 2018 to customers in the UK only and subject to acceptance. Those interested in taking up one of the four finance schemes should get in touch with Reesink on 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk/finance for more details.

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Rigby Taylor’s Interactive Experience

Rigby Taylor’s Interactive Experience: Rigby Taylor will be announcing a number of exciting new product launches at SALTEX on October 31 and November 1 – to be viewed both on the stand and in the outside demonstration area:

  • The TinyMobile – a next generation, fully autonomous pitch line marking GPS robot that’s faster, lighter, more flexible and more economical than anything available;
  • The Armaline GPS multiple pitch marking machine that is operated from a multi-purpose utility vehicle;
  • A range of Carbon4Grass environmentally responsible grass seeds.

Rigby Taylor's Interactive Experience

Visitors will also be able to discuss Rigby Taylor’s leading range of turf fertilisers, turf fungicide tank mixes and water management products…and more!

A cup of freshly made coffee will be available to all visitors to the stand and company personnel will be on hand to offer information and advice, and provide on-stand presentations through the use of touch-screen TV monitors.

For the first time, too, Rigby Taylor is linking with the industry charity Perennial as sponsor of a football simulator where prizes will be awarded on each day of the show in a penalty shoot-out competition.

Rigby Taylor will also feature at the IOG Industry Awards evening as sponsor of the Young Groundsman of the Year Award.

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