Ian Campbell Joins GGM

/in , , /by

Ian Campbell Joins GGM: GGM Groundscare, the leading specialist supplier of high quality professional groundscare equipment continue to expand their sales operation with the appointment of Ian Campbell as Business Development Manager.

Ian, who joins GGM having previously worked initially at Sisis and laterally at Campey Turf Care will be working alongside the rest of the GGM team to develop the sales of Kubota, Baroness, Dennis & Sisis & Amazone and GGM’s other leading Groundscare franchises. Ian’s appointment demonstrates GGM’s ongoing commitment of building an ever growing team capable of exceeding customer expectations and delivering first class sales, hire and service support across the North West of England and Yorkshire.

Ian Campbell Joins GGM

Chris Gibson, Managing Director of GGM Groundscare said:

“Ian brings with him over 38 years experience within groundscare including extensive experience within the sports turf sector coupled with a wealth of knowledge and a great amount of enthusiasm. He is a fantastic addition to our team and he joins us with substantial selling and account management experience within similar markets and I’m sure he will thrive in his new role.”

Ian says of his new role, “I’m delighted to have been appointed as the new Business Development Manager for GGM who along with an extensive range of high quality machines from leading brands, have an outstanding reputation within the industry for their high level of customer care and service. I’m excited and very much looking forward to getting out and meeting customers and demonstrating the fantastic capabilities and benefits of our range of machinery”.

Ian can be contacted on:

Mob: 07983 557754

Email: ian@ggmgroundscare.co.uk

Web: www.ggmgroundscare.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Sid Arrowsmith Retires

/in , , /by

Sid Arrowsmith Retires: Well known in the greenkeeping industry for his work at Frilford Heath Golf Club and as a president of BIGGA, Sid Arrowsmith has now retired after 42 years.

With such a varied and impressive career, Sid has certainly left his mark on the industry and will undoubtedly be much missed by many. And he credits Reesink Turfcare and Toro as having played a part in some of his biggest achievements.

Sid Arrowsmith Retires

“One of the things I’m proudest of is what we achieved at Frilford Heath Golf Club, where I was course manager for 25 years,” says Sid. “From developing a third championship course, to obtaining GEO (Golf Environment Organisation) certification for our sustainability efforts and becoming an Open regional qualifying club, Frilford Heath has come a long way since I arrived. And the successful relationship we had with Toro really aided the club’s progression.”

With more and more Toro brought in to Frilford Heath under Sid’s tenure, the progress made is proof that a forward thinking club and equipment brand working together can achieve great things.

“And the same could be said for my time as Head Greenkeeper at Royal Portrush Golf Club. I was responsible for preparing the courses for the club’s centernary year and used Toro to get them up to standard. It speaks volumes that the club still uses Toro today and hosted The Open Championship this year.”

Sid continues: “As well as producing reliable and high quality machines, Toro is constantly investing in research and development to create new equipment that meet the needs of the industry. My partnership with Toro has meant I’ve made friends for life with those at Reesink Turfcare and also gave me the opportunity to go to the Toro Headquarters in Minnesota, USA which was a great experience.”

And it’s not just Toro that has helped to improve Frilford Heath. Five years ago Sid turned to Reesink and Otterbine to improve the club’s water reservoir. “We had a lot of algal growth caused by pollutants getting into the water source,” says Sid. “But with Otterbine aerators, the reservoir was transformed. In fact, using the water from the reservoir to irrigate the course allowed Frilford Heath to become self-sufficient.”

One of the biggest tests of Sid’s career was obtaining BIGGA Master Greenkeeper certification, but he says he “loved the challenge”.

“The Master Greenkeeper certification means an awful lot,” he says. “It’s a demanding and lengthy process which isn’t for everyone, particularly the two exams – they’re definitely not for the faint hearted! But the fact I was able to test myself at the highest level possible and be successful, is definitely one of my proudest moments.”

Imparting his knowledge is something Sid also had chance to do during his time as president of BIGGA, while attending the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. “Seeing the stars of the future developing their knowledge and getting to speak to them was very rewarding. It’s wonderful Toro and Reesink sponsor these awards and involve themselves in the industry this way.”

With such an incredible career behind him, Sid is now taking some much deserved time off. “I’m going to really miss working with the guys at the club every day, but I’m looking forward to spending as much time with my wife as possible. We’re spending a lot of time travelling and have three trips booked for this year alone!”

But Reesink Turfcare couldn’t let Sid retire without a proper send off – presenting him with a personalised decanter to commemorate such a fantastic career.

“I was absolutely honoured,” says Sid. “It was such a lovely gesture that I wasn’t expecting at all. I have some great friends at Reesink, and I know those friendships will continue.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Kelly-Marie Clack Joins STRI Group

/in , , /by

Kelly-Marie Clack Joins STRI Group: STRI Group is delighted to announce that Kelly-Marie Clack has joined the business as a consultant agronomist.

Kelly will be working with a range of sports facilities across the UK delivering STRI’s broad suite of services and agronomic support for clients.

Kelly-Marie Clack Joins STRI Group

She has worked in the amenity industry for over ten years, most recently with AGS where she discovered a passion for soil health and biology.

Kelly said: “I’m over the moon to have joined STRI Group. It’s an exciting time for the business and I’m relishing starting this journey with them. I have lots to learn over the coming months and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Kelly’s appointment is one of several new faces to join STRI Group in the last three months, as the business continues to grow across its global territories. A number of new diverse roles have recently been created and STRI is looking for talented individuals to fill them.

Agronomy general manager, Paul Woodham, said: “Kelly has been on our radar for a while and this is the perfect time to welcome her to STRI Group. Her skill sets and enthusiasm are well suited to our team who work across a diverse range of sports. Kelly’s recruitment has been well received in the industry and she’ll be out meeting clients in the coming months.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New Appointment At Reesink

/in , , /by

New Appointment At Reesink: Rochelle Bedford has been appointed the new marketing manager for Reesink Turfcare.

Overseeing marketing activity for all the turfcare machinery and equipment brands in the Reesink portfolio, Rochelle says it was Reesink’s established reputation, values, great work ethic and ideas sharing culture that appealed to her most about the role, as well as working in a new industry.

New Appointment At Reesink

“Reesink Turfcare is a well-established company and its reputation preceded it,” she says. “With a great work ethic, the values of the company and the way staff are encouraged to share their ideas to come up with new solutions for ongoing projects was an exciting aspect of taking on the role. Plus, my marketing experience with commercial vehicles and dealer network support lends itself well with this new and interesting industry.

“With the marketing machine fully up and running, I was excited to get stuck straight in to see how it all worked. Over the past couple of months, I have seen great potential for how the marketing department can be developed, in supporting the business as a whole and taking it to that next level.”

Rochelle has already recruited another member to the team and Nichola Spinks joins the company as marketing assistant.

Reesink’s marketing department is a vital part of the business, as well as coordinating all of Reesink’s turf marketing programmes in the UK, it also organises all the shows and events the company attends throughout the year too.

Rochelle concludes by saying: “There’s no question there’s definite potential for future growth for the team!”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Limagrain UK Appoint Sam Horner

/in , , /by

Limagrain UK Appoint Sam Horner: Sam Horner has been appointed as Limagrain UK’s new amenity seed specialist covering the south of England, the company has announced.

Sam has been involved in the sports turf industry for over twenty years and brings with him a wealth of experience.

Limagrain UK Appoint Sam Horner

It all started at his beloved Gloucester Rugby where he first became familiar with sports turf maintenance. He then went onto study sports turf at college and after graduating he landed a job at Tewkesbury Park Golf Club. Sam quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to deputy course manager before accepting the position of golf course manager at Gloucester Golf Club.

Five years ago he moved into a sales and marketing role within the amenity industry but continues to ‘work on the tools’ by offering match-day support for the grounds staff at Gloucester Rugby.

Commenting on his new position at Limagrain UK, Sam said that the opportunity was just too good to turn down.

“It was a very easy decision – all the way through the process I knew that if I was offered the job then I was absolutely going to take it. Limagrain is an outstanding company, in terms of its product portfolio and its reputation – the way it conducts itself is very professional. Limagrain has always been a leading company in the industry working at the very high end of sports turf and opportunities like this do not come along very often – I was always going to take it.”

With immediate effect Sam will now be offering technical advice and full support on products such as Limagrain’s leading brands of MM and Designer grass seeds and Colour Splash amenity flower mixtures.

For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.lgseeds.co.uk/mm.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.