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NEWS ARTICLES

Replay Invest In Grassroots Sport

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Replay Invest In Grassroots Sport: Back in 2013 artificial sports pitch specialists Replay Maintenance commenced an ambitious programme of partnering with County Football Associations (CFAs) across England. This has proved to be such a valuable tool to the partnered CFAs, and just as importantly to the grassroots game, that in five years the number of CFA partners has quadrupled, with Replay now proactively supporting half of them.

Replay’s partnerships with the CFAs works to simplify what can be a daunting proposition for any grassroots volunteer.  As part of this unique partnership, all CFA member clubs and facilities have access to information and expert advice on the planning and implementation of an artificial maintenance programme. Replay’s remit is driven by a desire to put innovation at the heart of the business. Never more so than through the introduction of PitchPassport®, an asset management tool that is revolutionising the industry and breaking down barriers for the grassroots game – a tool that all partnered CFAs have access to.

Replay Invest In Grassroots Sport

A fundamental element of the partnership is the opportunity to design bespoke in-house training courses, run in conjunction with Replay, as well as exploring individual CPD training options for facility staff. Other benefits include free site surveys, reporting and competitively priced, bespoke maintenance packages.

Commenting on the extended agreement Replay Maintenance Director, Garry Martin, said, “We have enjoyed a positive working relationship with a number of CFAs over the last five years and in that time have shared new processes, advice and guidance to support those responsible for maintaining an artificial surface. The growth of the partnership is testament to our dedication to raising awareness around, and the quality of, effective maintenance regimes as well as being at the forefront of technological innovations in the synthetic maintenance market. With more CFA partnerships in the pipeline, we look forward to supporting and sharing new developments with the grassroots clubs and organisations within these CFAs over the years to come.”

A recent addition to the CFA partnering programme is Essex, one of the largest counties in the country. Commenting on the agreement, CEO Brendan Walshe said “With Essex’s stock of 3G pitches growing all the time, it’s crucial we help to ensure they’re being looked after effectively. We view our partnership with Replay Maintenance as a real step in the right direction towards providing the best possible surfaces. We’re always keen to understand how we can develop and better the offer to our member clubs and associated organisations. Given the FA’s commitment to rolling out 3G pitches we wanted to ensure Essex is going to be in the best possible position to support the grassroots game going forward and, as such, I’m delighted that we’ve managed to agree a five-year partnership with Replay.”

For more information on those counties partnered with Replay Maintenance, please visit the website or contact your local County FA Representative for further details.

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TYM T393 To Headline At BTME

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TYM T393 To Headline At BTME: The TYM T393 has been selected by distributor Reesink Turfcare to headline its TYM tractors stand at BTME because of its perfect positioning to bridge the gap in the TYM line up, from the compact utility range into the mid-duty range.

 TYM sales manager, Steven Haynes, says: “The T393 was the logical choice to bring to BTME. It’s done hugely well in the UK in its first year, the fact that it’s able to do a lot of the tough stuff as a compact is a major benefit which will appeal to the fine turf market. It has already established itself as a comprehensive workhorse, a tractor that can take on the small and big jobs with ease.”

TYM T393 To Headline At BTME

A 39hp Yanmar engine, two transmission options: 12×12 speed manual with dash mounted shuttle lever or a three range HST transmission, and the highest lift capabilities in its class at 1200kg, means productivity is at the fore of the T393’s design. It has one of the highest hydraulic flow rates with a maximum output of 42 litres per minute, making it suitable for use with a wide range of hydraulically driven attachments.

The cab features wide opening doors which allows for easy access on and off the tractor and, unlike larger models, there is no intrusive B-post on the tractor to hinder visibility.

Steven continues: “The T393 brings the utmost versatility to our TYM offering in the UK. It’s more productive per acre and is the ideal choice for those who don’t need a larger framed mid-duty model but need the most amount of power, productivity, versatility and efficiency in a compact package.”

Also on stand will be two of 1st Products’ rear-mounted tractor attachments: the AERA-Vator and the VC Verti-Cutter. A complementary fit with TYM, this newly introduced capsule range increases the options customers get from their tractor.

“Tractors are of course designed as implement carriers,” says Steven. “Making use of this capability with attachments rather than bringing in additional machines for mowing, tilling and shredding saves space in the shed and is much more economical and these products are ideal for that.”

Completing the line-up is the popular heavy-duty T503, renowned for being more than capable for all tractor-based applications on the golf course.

Steven concludes: “This is our biggest show in the UK and represents how far the TYM name has come in a few years. We’re looking forward to welcoming people to stand 202 in the Red Zone, to show our products existing and new.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Supporting Grass-Roots Cricket In Mongolia

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Supporting Grass-Roots Cricket In Mongolia: When the enquiry came in for a good value gang mower to cut the grass on a cricket field, it was immediately clear that the request was an unusual one. The Mongolian Cricket Association (MCA) were looking for a machine to cut the only real grass cricket pitch in Mongolia, a pitch that is the focal point of the sport in a brand new cricketing nation!

The MCA provides year round coaching and kit to state schools and orphanages, focusing on the difficult areas of Ulaanbaatar where around half of the city’s 1.5m population live in informal “ger districts” on the edge of town. A large proportion of these have no access to mains water, heating or sewage.

Supporting Grass-Roots Cricket In Mongolia

Great social inequality exists here and the MCA want to create a community where sport is the common denominator and where friendships can be made irrespective of wealth or social standing. Now coaching 250 kids a week from 10 different schools, 40% of which are girls and young women, they are certainly well on the way to achieving their mission.

“I was very touched by the work they do and in particular how they raised the USD 50K to build that first pitch in 2016”, said Richard Taylor, MD of RT Machinery. “It just felt like the right thing to do to ship them one of our Junior Tow n Mow gang mowers, together with a few spare cylinders, with our compliments, as our way of helping them further with their mission. It’s not often you can do something that has such wide-reaching benefits!”

Battulga Gombo, or Tulga as he is better known, is the heart of cricket in Mongolia and the association’s head. He says “It has been a long path for the association to get to where we have in terms of funding. Firstly was the fundraising for the pitch itself, then the nets and concrete, then the containers and the pavilion. The last item on the list of big expenses was for a mower.”

Supporting Grass-Roots Cricket In Mongolia

“As a small NGO, the mower is for us a large piece of capital equipment, and we expected that we would not be able to save up enough to buy one for at least another year. To receive it as a gift from so far away by people that have not come and seen the kids starting out in cricket and having fun, demonstrates an extremely kind, generous and outward looking attitude.”

“Now all efforts, both fundraising and energy, can go towards coaching the kids and building participation, in particular introducing the sport to the secondary school system, as requested by the Minister for Education! We have a long way to go, so if you would like to get involved, please contact us on the ‘Cricket Mongolia’ Facebook page.“

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New ICL Products & Innovations At BTME

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New ICL Products & Innovations At BTME: ICL, who will be located at Stand 426 in the Purple Zone, will be showcasing a range of new products and innovative technologies at BTME 2019.

Visitors to the stand can learn about the new and improved range of ProSelect grass seed mixtures which are ideal for golf courses, sports fields, turf growers and landscape contractors. The updated range contains highly ranked STRI varieties which have been developed through an extensive breeding selection.

New ICL Products & Innovations At BTME

Torsion TRT, the unique turf repairing tiller perennial ryegrass or Riptide, the UK’s No.1 ranked creeping bent are just some of the outstanding developments in the portfolio which can be seen at this year’s BTME.

As a leading innovator in the industry, ICL has a vast range of products and solutions trusted by turf managers across the globe. The company continues to invest in new trials and technologies visitors will have the chance to see at first hand the exciting new innovations in liquid and granular nutrition that are being showcased on the stand.

Visitors will also get the opportunity to discover what new qualifying products and rewards will be added to the Turf Rewards loyalty scheme in 2019.

ICL has been a long-term supporter of BIGGA’s Continue to Learn education programme, which runs alongside the exhibition, and ICL will be playing a part in this year’s schedule.

Henry Bechelet, UK & Ireland Technical Sales Manager and Dr Andy Owen, International Technical Manager, will be taking to the stage twice across the week, presenting a ‘Whats in a Soil Analysis on Monday and then on Wednesday they will be delivering a 45 minute seminar that will continue to develop the discussion about the relative merits of granular and liquid applied approaches to turf nutrition.

The ICL barista team will be on hand to provide refreshments on the stand so if you would like to talk about products, projects or turf and landscape management in general then make sure that a visit to Stand 426 is on your agenda.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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Toro Praised At Stirling Golf Club

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Toro Praised At Stirling Golf Club: Lying on a tilted slab of ancient volcanic lava in front of the historic Stirling Castle is Stirling Golf Club, one of Scotland’s oldest golf clubs, which is preparing for its 150th anniversary with a helping hand from Toro and its distributor Reesink Turfcare.

All eyes are on the club in central Scotland, whose golfing credentials actually stretch back to 1505 when golfing activity involving Monarch King James was first recorded, as it prepares for its anniversary. But with a carefully constructed Toro fleet the pressure to keep the course up to standard is under control, says course manager, James Lindsay.

Toro Praised At Stirling Golf Club

“It’s an exciting time and everyone is looking forward to it, but it does mean there are a lot of people expecting great things; 150 years is a big deal after all! We’ve been completely redoing the bunkers for the anniversary, working with renowned course architect Howard Swan of Swan Golf Designs repositioning, reshaping and draining them all, which will be finished in time for the celebrations, so members can enjoy a newly refreshed course. It’s important for us to be able to provide the best, especially as there’ll be a full calendar of events over the year with members and dignitaries invited.”

Maintaining such a respected course, James knows having the best turf maintenance equipment is essential. Since his appointment six years ago, he has continually updated the machines at the club and it now boasts a 100 percent Toro fleet.

“I’ve always used Toro, they’re the highest quality and most reliable, so it’s a no-brainer really. Plus, having an all Toro fleet makes it’s easier to train people, which means we can spend more time working on the course. They’re quick to cover the grounds, which saves us fuel, but the speed doesn’t stop them giving a smooth finish. Being 100 percent Toro has improved the club in lots of ways.”

He continues: “The machines themselves are really dependable, but on the rare occasion there’s been an issue it’s been fixed very quickly. It’s comforting to know that if there’s ever a problem, there’s always someone at the end of a phone who can get it sorted.”

With the fleet consisting of a Greensmaster TriFlex hybrid 3420 and two GR3250-D mowers, a Reelmaster 5610-D, RM6500-D and RM3100-D, plus a Groundsmaster 4500-D, Workman MDX-D and Procore 648, the club has built up a comprehensive collection.

“I have to say my favourite to use is the Procore 648,” says James. “Aeration is key and this machine works at a good speed and delivers a tidy finish.”

With the club busier than ever, James and the rest of the greenkeeping team are safe in the knowledge the course is in good hands with Toro – and that’s set to continue as James concludes: “We’re signed on to a five-year exclusivity agreement, I trust the products and service and know what I’m getting. I don’t see us stopping our agreement anytime soon. Toro machines keep this club at the very top of its game, and why would I change that?”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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