Velvit to sponsor Exeter Chiefs

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Velvit to sponsor Exeter Chiefs: South West premium turf care specialists, Velvit, have entered into a sponsorship deal with Premiership Rugby Club the Exeter Chiefs.

Velvit, who are based in South Somerset, have been supplying fertiliser to the Exeter Chiefs through local distributer Tim Wakeham of Wakeham Groundcare for seven years, watching the club go from success to success in that time.

Velvit to sponsor Exeter Chiefs

Velvit to sponsor Exeter Chiefs

James Whittick, Sales & Marketing Director at Velvit explained “We have been supplying Exeter Chiefs for a number of years and have been following their impressive trajectory in that time. We are aware that the live sports industry has been widely affected by the COVID restrictions, and in light of the Chiefs being a local club who have done so much for the region we were proud to be in a position to be able to offer sponsorship for the upcoming season.”

Through the sponsorship deal, Velvit are sponsoring up-and-coming player Alfie Petch who has already had an impressive run of appearances with the England age-graded teams. A Cornish boy by birth, Alfie signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs at the start of the 2018/2019 season and made his debut in November of that year.

Max Sandford who leads the grounds team at Sandy Park said “The overall partnership is vital to ensuring we keep the playing surfaces in the best possible condition and we would like to thank Greenbest for their support they have shown over the last few years!”

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Reesink’s rising star

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Reesink’s rising star: The award-winning turfcare machinery and equipment distributor Reesink UK has launched a new division dedicated solely to electric utility vehicles. Named Reesink e-Vehicles, it introduces to the UK another award-winning brand – STAR EV and its extensive and compelling range of lithium and sealed battery-powered utility vehicles.

Responding to market demands associated to environmental concerns spans all industries and is an area Reesink was very much focussed on in 2020 with the launch of the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 mower and the industry’s first all-electric compact tractor, the Farmtrac FT25G.

Reesink's rising star

Reesink’s rising star

David Cole, managing director of Reesink UK, says: “We’re focused on introducing battery-powered machinery options to the UK turfcare market. Such products have been extremely well-received and this is the direction of travel for environmentally friendly technology at the moment, one we recognise will only gain more traction.

“The globe is focussed on reducing fuel consumption and heading towards electric transportation as the next transitional step. There simply has to be the choice to buy electric and we identified a gap in our offering for a comprehensive range of electric utility vehicles to complement the Toro Workman GTXe we have just rolled out here in the UK.”

Perfect for golf clubs, sports stadiums and training grounds, leisure resorts and landscapers, the STAR EV range of 28 lithium and sealed battery-powered utility vehicles includes golf buggies and small, medium and large capacity electric UTVs for carrying materials, and people carriers for 4–22 people.

David continues: “Wherever you are and whatever sector you’re in, the ability to work more quietly, earlier and for longer will be an advantage. Specifically, golf course and golf resorts with guest rooms or neighbouring residential areas or urban sports stadiums and training grounds will notice a big difference by switching to electric power.

“This has a direct advantage to sales and customer service, for example, the addition of this range means that through Reesink, not only can cutting start earlier to bring forward tee times with no dispute from neighbours, but other maintenance operations requiring transport of staff or materials can get around the course earlier too.”

When it came to finding a partner who could deliver the electric solution Reesink was looking for, it was a conversation with STAR EV at BTME in 2020 that lead the company to where it is today.

David continues: “I first came into contact with STAR EV at BTME and our discussions continued from there. It didn’t take long for it to become transparent that the brand delivered everything we were looking for. It’s a brand that delivers strong technology, innovation, breadth of range, value proposition and importantly – peak performance.

“Specifically though, we were looking for an electric range with rapid charge, a good mileage per charge, an extensive warranty – up to six years on batteries – along with the usual no more emissions and no more pollution stance. It’s no surprise that STAR EV is an award-winning company in the USA and we’re excited to partner with them.”

Jane Zhang, CEO and owner of STAR EV Corporation, says: “STAR EV Corporation is delighted to be partnering with Reesink, under their new EV division, with an exclusive agreement for the UK and Ireland. Reesink has many strong and proven business relationships across a wide variety of sectors and the company’s history and knowledge of turf and recreational outdoor products makes them the perfect partner to represent STAR. STAR looks forward to Reesink delivering to its customer base a fantastic range of ever evolving, and world-renowned electrical vehicles, growing both our brands.”

Electric-powered technology is a fundamental part of the transport and equipment future. Already growing rapidly, with customers keen to switch, the market will want choice, and that’s exactly what Reesink e-Vehicles plans to deliver. There will be a new team developed around the new division, plus a new website and branding, but for now further information can be requested by contacting Reesink e-Vehicles on 01480 226800 or via your usual Reesink contact with demonstrations available now.

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Royal Norwich joins Ventrac club

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Royal Norwich joins Ventrac club: Royal Norwich, the first ‘Royal’ golf club ever to relocate to a new site, is the latest organisation to appreciate the multiple benefits of Ventrac. Situated on the Weston Estate to the north of Norwich, they recently took delivery of a Ventrac 4500 all-terrain compact tractor in dual-wheel configuration and a Contour mowing deck.

Peter Todd is the highly respected turf manager who, in his role as estate manager and director on the Club’s board, specified the purchase following a demonstration earlier this year.  He began his career in 1990 working for Transcontinental Golf Construction, a hands-on role that included constructing the Nicklaus Signature courses at both Gleneagles and then the London Golf Club. He stayed on for the grow-in at the London, rising through the ranks to course manager, and managed the staging of numerous televised tournaments including the Volvo World Match Play Championship 2014 and the European Opens in 2008 and 2009.

Royal Norwich joins Ventrac club

Royal Norwich joins Ventrac club

“I first met Rupert Price, the owner of the UK Ventrac franchise, at London Golf Club just prior to leaving to take up this appointment,” he said. “I was extremely impressed by it’s all-round capabilities, but as I was leaving to join Royal Norwich, I didn’t think it pertinent to pursue the purchase.

“However, that positive impression stayed with me and I contacted him for another demonstration, so that my new team could see it on our course and have the chance to evaluate it; a structured process of evaluation that we always go through when considering a major cap-ex machinery purchase.

“My primary concern is the safety of my staff when operating equipment, especially on sloping terrain around greens, bunkers and tee surrounds. We demoed machines from the major manufacturers, but none could safely carry out these two prime tasks on the sloping ground.

“The Ventrac is the only machine that can handle the pronounced shaping around the course without scalping. It’s exceptionally stable, especially with its dual-wheel configuration, articulating frame and low centre of gravity. The Contour deck flexes superbly to follow the ground contours and its counter-rotating blades ensure the cuttings are thrown backwards and not on to the greens. Its manoeuvrability around our rectangular tees is exceptional, allowing it to turn through 90 degrees easily and efficiently. What you get is all the attributes of a four-wheel mower with the manoeuvrability of three-wheel machine.

“I also like the out-front set-up of the Ventrac with all the attachments clearly visible to the operator. The 3-point hitch at the back is useful as we can attach drag mats and, because of its very low ground pressure, use it on greens for brushing in top dressing.

“Obviously, mowing slopes in the wet is challenging for most equipment, but this is where the Ventrac excels. However, in dry conditions the grass becomes ‘glassy’ and can be equally slippery, but again, not an issue for this machine.

“We had a demonstration of the Trencher attachment and I can see this being beneficial in soft areas, especially in the autumn and the blower is a definite possibility as we are a parkland course and can get out in the very wet winter and spring conditions that have become a feature of our weather. This is undoubtedly, a very versatile machine.”

The Royal Norwich course at Weston Estate opened on 16th September 2019 with Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter playing the inaugural round to mark the completion of the 10-year project to create a world-class sporting venue in East Anglia.

The 18-hole genderless course was designed by Ross McMurray of European Golf Design and built by the UK’s leading golf course contractors to the highest industry standards. It is capable of hosting the sport’s leading events in the future. It also includes a 6-hole academy course, built to the same specifications as the main course and designed to both encourage new players into the sport and limit playing time to under an hour; something which has been identified as key to growing engagement in the sport.

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