DLF The Only Choice For Beaufort Polo Club

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Bespoke DLF Johnsons Sports Seed mixture the only choice for Beaufort Polo Club – Beaufort Polo Club in Tetbury is the foremost centre for the development of Polo in the Cotswolds.

DLF The Only Choice For Beaufort Polo Club

With 90 acres of fields and grassed areas and just a small team around him, Head Groundsman Wlodek Sterkowicz needs a maintenance regime that’s simple but that can cope with the demanding conditions that Polo brings. It all starts with the right grass seed, and for this Wlodek turns to DLF cultivars.

Averaging 32 games on each of the 5 fields per season, the schedule requires an equally intense maintenance regime. “We have to cut the grass every other day to keep it at the ideal height of 25mm. As well as maintaining cutting heights, the grass must be incredibly wear tolerant and establish quickly – often we have less than 7 days to fill divots and re-establish areas that have sustained damage.” In 2016 Wlodek sought advice from Ian Barnett from Johnsons Sport Seeds on employing Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass.

“What it delivered exceeded my expectations. The plant was stronger, retained good coverage and just looked and performed better. It has also really helped to develop our root zone and the deeper and stronger roots system we now have can easily withstand the play – that really is key for us.”

This year Wlodek is using a bespoke mixture, delivered through his local distributor Sherriff Amenity, consisting of Double tetraploid perennial ryegrass, Berlioz and Bizet cultivars. “We’re very fortunate that all of our fields were purpose built with generally light, free draining soil. With the high quality surfaces we’re now achieving it means we can play in even the wettest of conditions, and it’s still safe for the horses and players. It was great to receive many positive comments from players on the condition of the fields last season and we’re on track to achieve the same high standards again this year.”

For more information, visit: www.johnsonssportsseed.co.uk

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SCG Curator Tom Parker To Stand Down

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SCG curator Tom Parker to stand down ahead of Ashes series – Outgoing Sydney Cricket Ground curator Tom Parker has cited the increasing amounts of speculation regarding the Test pitches he prepares as a reason for his resignation from the position.

SCG curator Tom Parker to stand down ahead of Ashes series

Tom has been in the role for twenty years and, throughout that time, has seen a growing band of “experts” commenting on his work publicly, while he also believes expectations from the players and fans are nowadays “above reality”.

“I always said I’d do this job until I don’t want to do it anymore and it sort of got to that point,” Tom stated.

“The SCG is like a fishbowl with everyone looking in. Everyone is an expert. The players today … they’re different to what it was it was 10, 15 years ago. Everyone’s expectations are well and above reality.”

“It’s very hard to win an argument against elite sportspeople. You’ve got someone who is the best in the world in whatever code it is say something, everyone listens, and they’ll listen to you last.”

“In years gone by, the administrations or the players themselves were probably a bit more understanding of the needs of what we had to do.”

Tom also suggested players and teams needed to take responsibility for results and the poor performances that lead to them, citing instead what he believes is the current trend of pointing the finger at the wicket.

“Is someone going to put their hand up and say ‘we weren’t good enough?'” he added. “It’s always the blame game and it’s never their (the players’) fault.”

“That can wear you down after a while and you think ‘I don’t need that in my life’.”

Tom Parker is just the eighth curator in the history of the famous venue. “It’s been a privilege to work at this magnificent ground,” he said on the SCG website. “There are certainly some special moments that I’ll look back on in coming years, but the opportunity to call the SCG home for the past two decades is what I’m most proud of.”

To read the original article from Cricket/Network, click here

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Sport Wales Opens Up £3m Community Physical Activity Fund

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Sport Wales Opens Up £3m Community Physical Activity Fund – The National Lottery funding will be distributed via two pots – the Community Chest fund and Development Grants.

The former offers start-up grants of up to £1,500 for smaller organisations to stimulate sporting and physical activity, while the latter is offering individual funds of up to £25,000 for more established sport and physical activity offers.

Grants can be used for start-up equipment, upgrading local facilities, physical recreation projects and business development.

Wales is also the only nation in the UK that offers full financial support for volunteers, therefore money can be used for a volunteering strategy as well.

In 2016/17, 1,421 Community Chest awards totalled £1.7m, while 82 Development Grants were made at an overall cost of £962,652.

The funding is part of a larger annual £42m pot earmarked by Sport Wales to stimulate community sport and support elite success.

New Sport Wales chair Lawrence Conway said that communities were “at the very core” of growing participation.

He added: “It’s so important because it’s about sport and activity but it’s much more than that. I see first hand how we can help build togetherness, give people new skills, help people get fitter and healthier and change people’s lives.”

To read the original article from Sports Management, click here

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Richard Lucas Makes First Dealership Appointment

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New signing at Charterhouse Richard Lucas makes first dealership appointment – Six months on from his appointment as Central Area Territory Manager for Charterhouse Turf Machinery, Richard Lucas has made his first new dealer appointment in the form of Charlies Groundcare.

New signing at Charterhouse Richard Lucas makes first dealership appointment

Responsible for the Shropshire region, Charlies Groundcare will be distributing the Redexim range of products for both natural and synthetic surfaces.

Based in the Midlands, Richard joined Charterhouse in November from a regional dealership where he gained experience with the Redexim range of products and developed a good insight into the products and marketplace in the area. His new role sees him take over responsibility for the dealers and sales in Central UK, as well as working together with some key customers. On his first dealer appointment Richard said, “Now I’ve found my feet in this new role it’s good to be adding valuable dealer support within my area. The Charlies Groundcare team deliver fantastic sales, service and technical support and I look forward to working with them in the coming months to further enhance the offering to new and existing customers in this area.”

Charlies Groundcare, a division of Charlies Stores Ltd, has grown from strength to strength since gaining a John Deere Dealership ten years ago. They now represent a range of brands catering for residential, landscaping, groundcare, golf and sports markets. Commenting on their appointment, Ian Trevor Charlies Groundcare Sales Manager said, “We’re delighted to be working together with Charterhouse and adding their vast selection of machinery to our portfolio. The Redexim range is continually being updated and refined and is renowned for being versatile and efficient, meeting the demands of today’s ground professionals.”

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STRI Professional Qualifications For The Amenity Industry

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STRI professional qualifications for the amenity industry – STRI Group, the world’s leading sports turf consultancy, has announced the training dates of its amenity sector qualification courses.

STRI Professional Qualifications For The Amenity Industry

The professional training courses take place during autumn and winter 2017 at STRI’s HQ in West Yorkshire, and include both introductory and professionally recognised qualifications.

Courses consist of BASIS (Amenity Horticulture), Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture, Fertiliser Advisers Certificate and Training Scheme (FACTS) and Nutrient Management Planning (NMP). Each qualification is recognised by BASIS, the independent standards setting and auditing organisation for the pesticide, fertiliser and allied industries.

In-depth training, and dedicated student support, will be provided by STRI research field experts, Dr Ruth Mann and Dr Christian Spring. STRI’s training courses allow individuals to build their skills and confidence by keeping their knowledge up-to-date, and enable career progression within the amenity industry. Courses include dedicated turf sessions, which have been specifically developed by STRI, to meet qualification requirements.

Courses will be held at STRI’s world-class research facilities in Bingley, and food and refreshments will be available.

Andrew Kerr, Head Greenkeeper at Surbiton Golf Club, said: “As a qualified greenkeeper and having been in the industry for 20 years, I thought that I knew a lot about being an agronomist – that is until I was introduced to BASIS. I completed the Foundation BASIS at Harrogate and this encouraged me to do the Professional BASIS.

“Two separate weeks of lectures and intensive study grounded and enthused me in everything to do with grass, weeds and chemicals. The written, practical and verbal examinations were challenging but now I know that I am a more knowledgeable and effective greenkeeper.”

 

The BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection – Amenity Horticulture
Week One: 9 – 13 October, Week two: 6 – 10 November, Exams: 4, 5, 6 December
The BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection – Amenity Horticulture is the national qualification for all field, sales and technical staff (FSTS) who advise on the use, selling or supplying of plant protection products in the amenity industry, head greenkeepers, head groundsmen, and course managers.

Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture
31 October – 02 November
The Foundation Award offers an introduction to understanding turfgrass management, including the use of professional pesticides in the Amenity Horticulture sector. The course is ideal for deputy greenkeepers, groundsmen and landscapers who wish to then pursue full accreditation through attainment of the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection – Amenity Horticulture.

 

Fertiliser Advisers Certificate and Training Scheme (FACTS)
13-15 November, 7-8 December (exam on 8th Dec)

The FACTS Turf Certification and Training Scheme is an independent scheme for advisers in plant nutrient management. This course provides a fundamental understanding of fertilisers, turf nutrition, and the environmental impacts of fertilisers.


Nutrient Management Planning (NMP)
20-22 November (online 30 question multiple choice exam)
The NMP course has been designed for FACTS (Turf) Qualified Advisors to update their expertise on fertiliser issues and legislation. The NMP training is compulsory for current FACTS Qualified Advisers and those gaining the qualification, to maintain their FQA status.

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