Daniel Madsen Wins Trip to Wembley with Jacobsen

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daniel-madsenIpswich, Suffolk (November 17, 2016) Daniel Madsen is the latest winner of the Jacobsen New Groundsman of the Year award. Turf equipment manufacturer Jacobsen and local dealer Svenningsens co-sponsored the prize that included a trip to work alongside the groundsmen at St. George’s Park, England’s national team training facility, and a tour of Wembley Stadium with Head Groundsman Karl Standley.

Daniel is the grounds manager at Telia PARKEN Stadium, the home of F.C. Copenhagen and the Danish national football team. Having grown up as an F.C. Copenhagen fan, Daniel has now spent 10 years at the club that is regarded as the most successful club in the history of Danish football. Daniel has played a crucial role in preparing the pitch for every game played at the stadium which includes Champions League fixtures, the most recent being the visit of the reigning Premier League champions, Leicester City F.C.

The Groundsman Association Denmark (GDA) nominated Daniel for the award as a result of the pitch being voted as “Denmark’s best pitch” two years in a row. This accolade is achieved by the captain of the opposing team rating the pitch from 1-5, with the highest ranking pitch at the end of the season winning the award. Commenting on being nominated, and winning the Jacobsen New Groundsman of the Year award, Daniel said:
“It was a huge privilege to just be nominated for the award. My peers are the ones who voted for me to win, so it really means a lot to me that my work has been recognised in this way. I have to also acknowledge the work of my team. There are only three of us, and between us, we maintain the training ground and the stadium, so there is a lot of work to do! The stadium is multi-use so as well as preparing the pitch for football, we also have to prepare for concerts and other sporting events, which comes with its own challenges.

“I hope to be able to continue the good work in the years to come. I am particularly looking forward to the challenge of preparing the pitch for the 2020 European Championships, which marks the 50th anniversary of the competition. Telia PARKEN Stadium will host three group games and one round of 16 game. I hope to be able to make it to Wembley for the final once my work is done!”

Commenting on the prize of working alongside F.A. Head Groundsman Alan Ferguson and his team at St. George’s Park and the trip to Wembley Stadium, Daniel said:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in England. I have been blown away at the size of St. George’s Park, and I have also been surprised how open it is to the wider community. For example, I have been told that Burton Albion train here every day and I have seen the Australian national rugby league team here as well. It’s fantastic to see a world-class facility that is so versatile and well-used.

“My trip to Wembley was also a great experience. Wembley is the Mecca of football and it was exciting to be able to stand on the pitch and go behind-the-scenes of a place which has hosted so many memorable sporting moments. I would like to thank Jacobsen for making the experience possible; I have learnt a lot which I hope to be able to take back with me to Copenhagen.”

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Storm-tec weathers it with Polaris

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StormtecStorm-tec has been appointed an authorised Polaris dealer for the Republic of Ireland. The Wexford-based dealership has built an exceptional reputation supplying clients in the marine industry, including the Irish Coast Guard, Community Rescue Service, the Rivers Agency, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Northern Ireland Fire Service.

With a policy of working only with premium world class brands (they are Northern Ireland’s only Helly Hansen workwear provider), the Wexford branch has an in-house marine service centre, alongside which they run a Managed Service solution in servicing and storing life jackets, dry suits and other marine wear.

“With Wexford as the base, Storm-tec is now expanding its farming and countryside business,” says Dealer Principal Conor Gribbon “and as authorised Polaris dealers we’re very confident we are supplying all our clients with top of the range and competitively priced 4×4 vehicles to suit our terrain and climate.”

Conor cites the Polaris Ranger Diesel as the ideal UTV for the Irish Coast Guard, while the Polaris Sportsman ATVs are highly popular with the farmers. This was well demonstrated at the recent National Ploughing Championships in County Offaly where Storm-tec exhibited for the first time. Braving the weather, with a large stand, they put on display the full range of Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles. Attracting a great deal of interest from many of the 283,000 people who had donned wellies and visited the event, the successful leads they took prompted a definite return to the show with Polaris in 2017.

Polaris Britain: 0800 915 6720 www.polaris-britain.com

VERTAS DELIVERS “PROFESSIONAL SERVICE” WITH TORO

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Fast-growing facilities management provider Vertas Group Limited’s grounds division has invested in the adaptable Toro T4240 high-output mower to deliver a “professional service” for its customers.

Vertas provide services to schools and businesses in Suffolk and across East Anglia and its grounds team, which primarily maintains sports fields for schools, football and rugby clubs, decided to make an addition to its shed when an old machine needed replacing.

Contracts manager Shaun Swan says: “We tried a variety of machines and preferred the Toro T4240 over competitor brands. We had to test the market, but the T4240 really is the leading machine for what we want.”

It became clear to Shaun that the T4240 was perfect for the job when Toro UK distributor Reesink Turfcare loaned him a machine. “Our Reesink rep Danny was very helpful in sourcing a T4240 for us to use and we quickly saw the quality of finish needed across all our sites. The employees were all impressed; they found it comfortable and were more than happy to use it!”

Shaun speaks of just some of the many benefits of the T4240: “The machine’s portability makes life easier as you can piggy-back it onto a trailer to transport it from site to site. It’s very versatile too; it can cover a large area and also be used in tricky, confined spaces as either a triple or five-unit machine.”

One of the main reasons Shaun chose the T4240 is because it gives Vertas’ sites a top quality finish. He says: “The cutting cylinders float and follow contours producing a consistent and beautiful cut. As professionals we need to ensure we’re providing a professional service to our customers – the Toro T4240 makes this easy.”

But it’s not just the initial acquisition of the machine, Shaun feels he can rely on Reesink’s aftercare service too: “With Reesink we know we can get parts easily and locally, meaning our Toro machines are never out of service for long.”

Jonathan Pendry to join Bernhard and Company as the newly appointed Director of Agronomy

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Jonathan-Pendry-Bernhard-and-CompanyBernhard and Company is pleased to announce that Jonathan Pendry, world leading agronomist and turf consultant, will be joining the company this October as Director of Agronomy.

The company is already renowned in the industry for its ability to offer full service turf care solutions to its global customer base. Jonathan’s agronomic know-how and considerable experience will further strengthen their reputation as a leading supplier of turf health solutions.
Jonathan founded his own consultancy business, International Turf Company (ITC), in 2012. Over the last four years ITC has established itself as a premier consultancy company with projects across Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. One of the first ever degree qualified agronomists in Europe and an approved GEP sustainability associate, Jonathan has the perfect credentials to support Bernhard’s latest addition to the EMEA product portfolio, SubAir™ Systems and TurfBreeze™ Fans.

“We are delighted to have Jonathan on board,” says Steve Nixon, Director of Global Sales. “He has such a strong industry background and provides the agronomy expertise we need to help us strengthen our turf care reputation in the pitch care and golf industries.”

“I have worked closely with Bernhard on several projects recently and I have always been impressed by the level of customer service, training and education that they provide,” adds Jonathan. “The company is truly focused on turf health and ensuring that customers get the quality of turf they desire. I really look forward to working closely with Bernhard’s global customer base and supporting the Bernhard team in growing the business.”

Free fertiliser efficiency appraisals from Germinal at BTME 2017

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Grass seed and turf care specialists, Germinal, will be challenging greenkeepers to scrutinise the nitrogen efficiency of their existing sward nutrient programmes with a free fertiliser appraisal at the BTME show in Harrogate from 17th to 19th January 2017. The company will also be showcasing its latest perennial ryegrass cultivar which has topped the Turfgrass Seed booklet’s 2017 Series L list with a fineness of leaf score of 8.8.

Cabrio: chart-topping fineness of leaf for tees, fairways and greens surrounds

Cabrio is the most recent addition to Germinal’s portfolio of perennial ryegrass cultivars for use on golf tees and green aprons. Formally introduced as a new cultivar last year, Cabrio sits at the top of the Turfgrass Seed booklet’s Series L list for 2017 thanks to a fineness of leaf scoring which is half a point ahead of its nearest rival.

Cabrio is available exclusively from Germinal as part of the company’s ‘Grade A’ range of grass seed mixtures. “The Grade A range has been designed specifically for use by professional greenkeepers and groundsmen,” Richard Brown, Germinal Amenity Sales Manager explains. “These mixtures only contain the most vigorous and highly rated cultivars, resulting in a range of dependable mixtures that consistently deliver results time and again.

“As predicted 12 months ago, Cabrio has entered the 2017 Turfgrass Seed booklet at the top of the Series L table thanks to its class-leading fineness of leaf score,” Richard adds. “At 8.8 it easily outperforms its nearest rival and gives greenkeepers, groundsmen and turf growers an excellent opportunity to produce a harder wearing sward that can not only tolerate a close mowing regime, but which will also give good ball roll or bounce and will be very attractive aesthetically.”

Cabrio is recommended for use on golf tees, golf green aprons, tennis courts and cricket outfields and is included in Germinal’s A5 Cricket, Tennis and Tees and A28 Superfine Ryegolf mixtures. It is also included in Germinal’s A10 Golf Tees and Divot Repairs mixture where it is partnered with a browntop bent, a creeping bent, a smooth-stalked meadow grass and a pair of fescues to create a seed mixture which gives a high density, wear tolerant sward and rapid repair capability.

Slow release fertilisers – the Activity Index challenge

Germinal will also be challenging visitors to BTME 2017 to examine the nitrogen efficiency of their current turf nutrition programme and to reconsider their fertiliser choice.

“The key remit for any golf or amenity nutrient plan is to ensure that the fertilisers used provide a consistent and long-lasting supply of readily available nutrients to the rootzone with the minimum of losses,” Richard Brown, continues.

“Whilst an increasing number of turf professionals have moved away from conventional quick release fertilisers in favour of more technologically advanced slow release products, it would be wrong to assume that all slow release fertilisers are equal.”

Mr Brown warns that, at best, the slow release fraction in methylene urea (MU) fertilisers only actually contains around two thirds of ‘true’ slow release N, whilst many contain less than half. “Put simply, that means the remaining nitrogen is either quick release, and therefore no more value than standard fertiliser, or so insoluble that it may take years to be released.

“In contrast, fertilisers which provide nitrogen in the from of isobutylidene diurea (IBDU) have an ‘Activity Index’ or efficiency rating of around 96%, meaning that almost all of the N supplied will be slowly and steadily released into a form which can be taken up by the sward for a period of around 12 weeks.”

In IBDU based fertilisers, the nitrogen is organically bound and therefore has a very low cold-water solubility rate. As such, it cannot be displaced from the rootzone by leaching or volatilisation to the atmosphere. This ensures that a single application of an IBDU slow release fertiliser, such as Floranid Turf or Floranid Permanent, is able to deliver a consistent supply of nitrogen over a period of up to three months.

“IBDU fertilisers produce a more even growth pattern, with none of the intense bursts of growth associated with regular applications of granular compound products,” Mr Brown continues.

“Unfortunately, not enough turf professionals are aware of the differences between the various types of slow release nitrogen, so we are challenging attendees to BTME 2017 to bring a copy of their current fertiliser’s specification to the Germinal stand where we will give a free assessment of the product’s nitrogen efficiency and activity index.

“A simple photo of the fertiliser bag’s ingredients table is all we need. From that we’ll be able to ascertain the activity index of the product and offer advice on how they can improve the efficiency of their sward feeding regime.”