ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha: First established in 2014, ABA Groundcare based in Tiverton, Devon celebrates 10 years of selling Yamaha’s ATV range this April. Jamie Hutchings initially set up the business following dealer changes in the area and was awarded the franchise in 2014. With a strong background selling the brand for a previous dealer, it was a no-brainer for Jamie to continue with a brand he knew and was respected in the area.

“Yamaha UK were forthcoming in working with me, it felt like they saw the opportunity to keep growing the brand in the area. We have gone from being one of the youngest dealers to now one of the older ones.” When the partnership first began, ABA Groundcare sold up to 20 ATVs per year, now the company sells over 85 units into the surrounding area. ABA Groundcare took on a bigger area in recent years following the purchase of Hayes Garden Machinery at the end of 2023. The business now operates from two locations: Tiverton, Devon and Dorchester, Dorset. “Yamaha holds a strong reputation in the area, and we will support any potential customers but most of our ATVs go to the farming community. We are confident in the brand from the product point of view but also from the back-up and after sales support we receive from Yamaha UK themselves.”

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

ABA Groundcare Celebrates 10 Years with Yamaha

“We at Yamaha ATV UK are delighted to have been in partnership with ABA Groundcare for the past 10 years. Jamie and his team have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the needs of their customers and a true passion for the Yamaha brand. Their dedication to providing exceptional service and expertise has been instrumental in the continued growth and success of Yamaha ATVs in the southwest region. We look forward to many more years of this successful partnership.” Gareth Sloane, Manager, Power Products, Yamaha UK.

Celebrations will continue at the company’s open day on Saturday 20th April. Congratulations ABA Groundcare, here’s to another 10 years.

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Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro

Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro: Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC), a leading organization in the leisure industry, has officially chosen Toro as its preferred supplier of 21” heavy-duty mowers, 60V Revolution® backpacks and handheld 60V blowers. The decision comes after Toro’s products successfully passed stringent testing protocols, demonstrating exceptional quality, reliability, and performance.

CAMC subjected Toro’s range of products to rigorous testing, including assessments of noise and vibration levels to determine suitability for their nationwide coverage of CAMC sites. Additionally, all manuals underwent meticulous scrutiny, ensuring clarity and comprehensiveness for end-users. Battery run times were meticulously recorded to assess product longevity and endurance.

Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro

Caravan and Motorhome Club Selects Toro

Furthermore, Toro’s products underwent a secondary round of testing in the form of a season trial, conducted at two separate CAMC sites. This trial allowed CAMC operatives to provide valuable feedback on the products’ usability, durability, and overall performance, further validating their suitability for CAMC members.

One of the key factors influencing CAMC’s decision was Toro’s ability to maintain a constant supply of products, eliminating concerns about long lead times that were experienced with previous suppliers. This reliability ensures uninterrupted service and support for CAMC members.

Moreover, CAMC expressed enthusiasm for Toro’s extensive portfolio, recognizing the potential for future collaboration and the convenience of dealing with fewer suppliers for a wide range of products. This strategic partnership reflects CAMC’s commitment to providing its members with the best-in-class equipment and services.

“We are honoured to be chosen as the preferred supplier by Caravan and Motorhome Club,” said Matt Coleman, Sales Manager, Professional Landscape Contractor and Siteworks Equipment – UK Direct Market at Toro. “This partnership underscores Toro’s dedication to delivering exceptional products and service, tailored to meet the unique needs of their sites. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CAMC and supporting their mission of enhancing the leisure experience for enthusiasts.”

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Windstorm scores highly at North Hants

Windstorm scores highly at North Hants: At Saltex 2023, on the STM Co Ltd stand, Sam Evans, the Course Manager at the prestigious North Hants Golf Club, and his Grounds team took particular interest in the SCAG Windstorm debris blower.

This is a stand-on zero-turn machine with a 37HP motor, 10mph ground speed and a colossal output of 600cfm.

Windstorm scores highly at North Hants

Windstorm scores highly at North Hants

They could see immediate advantages over their present system of a leaf blower unit towed behind a utility vehicle, a system that means that two engines are required, one for the UV and the other for the blower. The operator also struggles with restricted rearward view because of the blower size. There is also the general safety aspect with the operator needing to look behind regularly to check blower performance and suitable clearance.

The next step was to have an on-site demonstration; this was arranged with David Gray of the STM Co area dealer Lister Wilder.

The Windstorm performance on that demo went beyond expectations; clearly an immediate saving was there being only one motor in use, but the visibility and zero-turn manoeuvrability were real sellers once experienced by the operators on their regular grounds. Not only that but there was an additional benefit; the Windstorm has so much power it can cope with clearing leaves within heather areas, which has been very time consuming in the past. Sam’s expression was “that stuff can be like Velcro”.

The general reaction and enthusiasm were such that Sam was easily able to persuade his General Manager, who was equally impressed with the demo, that this was money well spent.

So now the machine has completed its first winter debris season – but it doesn’t end there because routine mowing can leave grass cuttings on the surfaces. The North Hants greenkeeping team have always cleared this away to keep the fairways pristine, and now, with the Windstorm, they can do it in two-thirds the time it took them before.

That, with general requirements for clearing wind and storm debris, plus the fact it does its job so well has made the Windstorm a firm favourite with Sam and his team at North Hants.

The machines are available through the STM dealership network. To find your nearest dealer ring 01789 488450, email info@st-mach.com or look at our website www.st-mach.com

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Origin Amenity Solutions hosts successful webinar

Origin Amenity Solutions hosts successful webinar: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) is thrilled to announce the overwhelming success of its recent webinar, ‘Dollar Spot Demystified: Proven Strategies from the USA and UK for Effective Integrated Management,’ which took place on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024.

With a staggering turnout of 107 attendees hailing from various countries including the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, USA, France, Spain, Germany, and Austria, the webinar was well received and proved to be a vital resource for turfgrass professionals worldwide.

Origin Amenity Solutions hosts successful webinar

Origin Amenity Solutions hosts successful webinar

The webinar, presented by James Hempfling, Ph.D., Technical Services Manager for  Northern US Envu, captivated participants with a comprehensive approach to managing dollar spot, a persistent challenge in turfgrass maintenance. Dr. Hempfling, a renowned turfgrass expert with extensive experience and expertise, shared invaluable insights and proven strategies for effective cultural and chemical management of Dollar Spot.

“Whether you’re a experienced turfgrass professional or new to the challenges of dollar spot, this webinar equipped attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to achieve success in dollar spot management,” said Kelly-Marie Clack from OAS.

The webinar’s hosts also included Phil Logan, National Account Manager UK & Ireland at Envu, and Kelly-Marie Clack, Agronomy & Technical Manager from OAS, both of whom brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the discussion.

“We are delighted by the overwhelming response to our webinar and are grateful to our esteemed hosts and attendees for making it a resounding success,” continued Kelly-Marie Clack. ” This was a rare opportunity to learn from one of the foremost experts in this field and we were delighted to co-host it. At OAS, we are committed to providing cutting-edge solutions and valuable insights to turfgrass professionals worldwide.”

Attendees of the webinar had the opportunity to earn BASIS points in the UK, IASIS points in Ireland, and BIGGA CPD points, further enhancing the value of their participation. This recognition supports OAS’s dedication to providing insightful content, as well as tangible professional development opportunities for turfgrass professionals.

To speak to an OAS advisor about strategies for managing Dollar Spot please call the team on 01423 138 7222 or visit www.originamenity.com.

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