Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality

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Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality: The Premier League, widely considered the world’s most competitive football league, understandably put the playing surface at the heart of everything they do. The recently launched Premier League Pitch Standards Framework is a resource that documents the requirements of establishing and maintaining an elite surface, that performs to the highest standards and keeps players safe.

Serving as a reference for stakeholders involved in pitch management, club management and league organisers, it outlines the Premier League’s rules and expectations. It’s packed with guidance on everything from pitch construction profiles, drainage and irrigation to hosting concerts and managing pitches in winter weather, alongside a raft of informative case studies.

Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality

Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality

This is the first official document of its kind published by the Premier League and has been a truly collaborative effort – a key factor in its depth and quality. Authored by highly experienced consultants at STRI Group, the process involved consultation with senior grounds people from all Premier League clubs and the Grounds Management Association.

Adam Kaliniecki, Football Operations Manager for the Premier League, commented, “This is a fantastic document which reflects the hard work and professionalism of grounds teams in the Premier League who work tirelessly to ensure our pitches are the best in the world.

“The expertise and knowledge of the consultants from STRI was invaluable in leading the project. The data they gathered and interpreted was a vital part of the process, and the ongoing collaboration with grounds teams resulted in a resource that effectively benchmarks best practice in the industry.”

The document is available online here: https://www.premierleague.com/about/publications 

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The new Ariens Summit Pro series

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The new Ariens Summit Pro series: In a seasonal business such as lawn care, a service provider must be able to rely on its machinery. Breakdowns and poor performance cost money, time and nerves.

Professional service providers around the world rely on the dependability of the Ariens Summit Pro series. Operating times of 500 to 1,000 hours per season are not uncommon. Ariens is now bringing the proven fleet star to Europe.

The new Ariens Summit Pro series

The new Ariens Summit Pro series

Professional users around the world place the same demands on their mowers. They must be robust, deliver a consistently high-quality cutting pattern and have a long service life and low downtimes – ideally complemented by long service intervals and an extended manufacturer’s warranty. The new Ariens Summit Pro series was developed precisely to meet these requirements for tough continuous use in a professional environment.  Maximum durability, a perfect cut and high ride comfort culminate in the new zero-turn mowers.

The new series comprises the Ariens Summit Pro 300 (26 hp) in three cutting widths from
122 cm to 152 centimetres and the Ariens Summit Pro 500 (27 hp) in two cutting widths (152 centimetres or 183 centimetres). With a total of five variants, there is a suitable model for every service provider. Even the compact model, the Summit Pro 348, achieves an area output of up to 17,800 m² per hour at a speed of 14.5 km/h. The largest model, the Ariens Summit Pro 572 with a cutting width of 183 centimetres, is made for extreme area performance and the largest areas. With a speed of 16 km/h, it achieves a maximum area output of 29,500 m² per hour.

The design: Robust and stable

The new Ariens Envy Pro mowing deck ensures optimum grass distribution. It is made from
4.6 mm thick sheet steel, it is extremely robust and can withstand years of intensive use. Its great depth makes it perfect for installing the optional mulching kit. The fully welded, one-piece tubular frame is also extremely solid. The large square tubes can withstand shocks and torsion for years.

The new high-performance blade spindles of the Ariens Summit Pro models are made of cold-forged aluminium. This makes them particularly resistant to vibration and dissipates any heat generated. They are equipped with two double ball bearings. The entire unit is sealed to prevent corrosion caused by the ingress of moisture and dirt and to ensure a long service life and low downtimes.

Made for everyday service provider life

The new large zero-turn mowers from Ariens are fitted with premium Kawaski engines, which are made for the demanding conditions of everyday service work. The Kawaski FX engines with 852 cm³ displacement, V-twin, double air filter, high-performance oil cooler, electronic ignition and internally ventilated twin carburettor deliver full power at all times.

Constantly refilling the tank costs time and nerves. That’s why all models in the Ariens Summit Pro series have an extra-large 48 litre tank for a long working day.

The high-quality hydrostats from Parker are known for their smooth response when changing from forwards to reverse. The Summit Pro 300 models are fitted with professional Parker HTJ hydrostats, which are designed for a maximum speed of
17 km/h and operate with a 12 cm³ high-performance pump. The filters are easily accessible from the rear for simple maintenance. Thanks to the fully integrated design with few components, the risk of oil loss is significantly reduced. The Summit Pro 500 models utilise Parker HTG hydrostats, which enable a maximum speed of up to 24 km/h with a 16 cm³ high-performance pump. The particularly efficient gerotor motors in the hydrostats save energy, allowing up to ten per cent more motor power to reach the blades.

The wheels: puncture-proof at the front and powerful at the rear

Large drive wheels are essential for riding comfort and enable high riding speeds. With a diameter of 26 inches (Summit Pro 500) or 24 inches (Summit Pro 300), they can be ridden with low air pressure. This ensures a high level of suspension comfort. Unevenness is levelled out and it is easier to ride over kerbs.

The 15-inch, 360-degree swivelling front wheels are semi-pneumatic. This means that they are completely filled with a rubber foam. This prevents flat tyres and pressure loss.

The air-sprung Ariens Air-Ride seat (Summit Pro 500) can be optimally adjusted to the rider’s wishes at the touch of a switch. Special vibration isolators decouple the entire seat from vertical shocks. The extra high seat backrest, the adjustable armrests, the extra thick padding and the integrated lumbar support offer maximum seating comfort.

Thanks to helpful and useful original accessories, which are optionally available, the models in the new Ariens Summit Pro series can be perfectly customised to suit personal requirements.

Plannable costs

The 5-year manufacturer’s warranty is particularly noteworthy. It makes operating costs easier to plan and supports smooth processes. The Ariens Summit Pro 300 comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or 1,250 hours, while the Ariens Summit Pro 500
a warranty of 5 years or 1,500 hours. In the first two years, the guarantee applies without an hour limit. The official guarantee conditions of AriensCo GmbH must be observed.

The Ariens Summit Pro zero-turn mowers will be available from the 2026 mowing season.

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Ballybunion GC Enhances Turf Maintenance with Foley

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Ballybunion GC Enhances Turf Maintenance with Foley: Ballybunion Golf Club, located on the north-west coast of County Kerry, Ireland and steeped in history since its founding in 1893, is widely celebrated for its breathtaking coastal views and challenging yet rewarding links.

Over the years, the club has become a symbol of golfing perfection, attracting players from around the globe to experience its world-class courses. Continuing its tradition of excellence, Ballybunion recently acquired state-of-the-art Foley grinders, comprising a Accu-Pro 633 Accu-touch 3 control cylinder grinder with rear tail lift and an Accu Pro 673 bedknife grinder, to further elevate its turf maintenance standards.

Ballybunion GC Enhances Turf Maintenance with Foley

Ballybunion GC Enhances Turf Maintenance with Foley

The decision to invest in Foley grinders was driven by Ballybunion’s unwavering dedication to delivering immaculate playing conditions. With such a large fleet size in regular use, the advanced automated relief and spin options offered by Foley grinders ensure that the reel’s edges remain sharp for longer, improving efficiency and playability.

Speaking on the importance of this investment, Course Manager John Bambury remarked, “At Ballybunion, we pride ourselves on maintaining some of the finest greens in the world. Our new Foley grinders allow us to achieve a level of precision and consistency that aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence.”

Ian Robson, Managing Director of ProSportUK Ltd, distributor for Foley Company in the UK and Ireland stated. “We are delighted to have placed two of the latest Foley grinders into a prestigious club such as Ballybunion. We have had a relationship with the greens team at Ballybunion for many years after supplying and supporting the previous Neary grinders, and will continue to offer them assistance, whenever required going forward.

Ease of use and robust training were vital considerations in choosing Foley grinders. The intuitive design of the equipment provides Ballybunion’s maintenance team with the tools to keep the workflow going, while the thorough training ensures that team members can maximize the potential of this innovative technology.

The exceptional back-up service provided by Prosport UK and the Foley Company has been a key factor in this successful upgrade. According to John, “The support and service we’ve received have been outstanding. Being able to rely on Prosport UK and Foley Company helps us maintain the highest standards in turf management”

Foley Company is the world leader in professional reel and bed-knife grinders and delivers the most economical solution for all your spin and relief grinding needs. Designed for optimum operator safety and ease of use.

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Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

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Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®: Introducing the latest innovative solution for sports turf maintenance from Campey Turf Care.

Designed with sustainability at the forefront, the new lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®(RCD) 1.3 is ideal for use with smaller tractors and engineered to reduce labour and material costs by recycling and redistributing substrate material across the playing surface. This would consist of either the existing soil or sand in the case of sand-based golf courses or where the natural composition of the soil substrate is sand based.

Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

This new model, weighing only (approx.) 470 kg (1036lbs), incorporates a specially designed rear flap for improved soil management and enhanced operational efficiency, ensuring minimal disturbance to the surface. It is also suitable for all areas where the native sand/soil is good.

The flap drags in material more efficiently and breaks it up faster, speeding up drying as it goes along. This sustainable maintenance practice aerates the underlying soil both vertically and horizontally, removing soil/sand from the root zone and redistributing it. This process eliminates layering and compaction, increasing biological activity, and extending the efficacy of existing fertilisers in the soil structure.

Another new feature are the new smart folding legs which double as protective side bars, ensuring transport and storage are simple and secure.

Working width is1300 mm (51ins) with a working depth of 175 mm (6.9ins) respectively.

Other specifications include the distance between digging blades of 260 mm (10.2ins),

The new RCD 1.3 only requires a tractor with 30hp and 540 PTO and has an operating speed of 3km/h (1.9 mph).

Finally, the machine width (parked): 1575 mm (62″).

The inclusion of the rear flap on this latest model of Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER® ensures better handling of displaced soil material, reducing waste and maintaining the integrity of the turf. Perfect for environmentally conscious operations. This machine is the ideal choice for sports field managers seeking to balance high performance with ecological responsibility.

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John Deere named among top employers of veterans

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John Deere named among top employers of veterans: John Deere has been recognised in the 2025 ranking of the UK’s top 50 employers for the armed forces community following the success of its Military Hiring Programme.

The GREAT British Employers of Veterans programme is a prestigious benchmark recognising those organisations setting the national standard in veteran employment.

John Deere named among top employers of veterans

John Deere named among top employers of veterans

Inclusion in the highly competitive top 50 reflects a genuine, measurable, and sustained commitment to the Armed Forces community in the UK.

Allan Cochran, Branch Training Manager for the UK and Ireland, said: “Following on from the success John Deere has had in recruiting thousands of skilled armed forces veterans in

America, it has been fantastic to see our own Military Hiring Programme roll out across the UK and Ireland over the past three years.

“The skills and the mindset of those leaving the forces are perfectly suited to the roles being

offered by our dealerships, and those who have resettled into the John Deere family have cited many similarities in a working environment that’s built around team effort and camaraderie.

“We’re honoured to be recognised in this way. It will further fuel our passion for offering service veterans a next step in their careers across the agricultural and professional turfcare sectors.”

The groundbreaking initiative to attract ex-service personnel into new careers at John Deere dealers was launched in the UK in 2023.

The Military Hiring Programme matches ex-members of the armed forces with technician role vacancies at dealerships across the country.

The next Insight Day, designed to show veterans what a career with the brand could look like, takes place at John Deere’s Langar headquarters on 8 July.

The 50 GREAT British Employers of Veterans was created to provide a definitive, data-backed guide to the UK’s most exemplary forces-friendly employers. It stands as a mark of excellence for organisations whose support is embedded, enduring and effective.

Each year, more than 15,000 individuals leave the British armed forces. Highly trained, values-driven and mission-focused, they represent one of the most capable and under-utilised talent pools in the labour market. Yet barriers remain to building a meaningful second career.

Ben Rossi, founder of the global Forces in Business Awards series and 50 GREAT British

Employers of Veterans programme, said: “This comprehensive ranking of forces-friendly employers has become a cornerstone resource for veterans, reservists and their families – and a powerful benchmark for organisations seeking to lead in veteran employment. To feature in the top 50 is to stand among the most committed supporters of the armed forces community.

“Inclusion is not easily earned. The 2025 list reflects a growing coalition of employers who truly understand military talent, setting best practice and proving that investing in the Armed Forces community is not just the right thing to do – it’s a clear strategic advantage.”

Service members and ex-service members interested in the John Deere Military Hiring

Programme can find out more by visiting Deere.com/JDMHP.

They will be put in touch with an ex-services person within the John Deere network to discuss all potential options.

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