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Keith Gallacher Wins Sprayer Operator Award

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Keith Gallacher Wins Sprayer Operator Award: The prestigious title of Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year (ASOY) has been won by Keith Gallacher, Head of Complete Weed Control South West and East Scotland.

ASOY recognises and rewards top sprayer operators across the amenity industry. It aims to improve standards, by identifying the best practice of individuals to enhance results – and share their experiences across the industry.

Keith Gallacher Wins Sprayer Operator Award

Presented for the second time at BTME Harrogate this week (22 January 2019), the ASOY Awards are organised by the Amenity Forum, and sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, in association with BASIS.

As well as the overall top operator, Keith was the winner of the Landscape and Industrial using vehicle mounted equipment category.

Two other category winners were also recognised by the Awards. Ryan Shepherd of Hortech won Landscape and Industrial sprayer using a knapsack, while Andy Baker won the category for Sports turf using a boom sprayer or knapsack.

Keith has a wealth of industry experience and is an expert in all spraying methods. His clients range from local authorities, housing associations, golf courses to large facility companies and businesses within the construction industry. He predominantly undertakes highway spraying, but also has business operational responsibilities associated with running the Complete Weed Control South West and East Scotland franchise.

Keith commented “I take pride in best practice – it’s the culture that is bred within CWC and is encouraged from Head Office. We are a team of like-minded individuals that strive to be the best. For me, Professor John Moverley is an inspiration. I believe that our industry as a whole needs to get behind him and the work of the Amenity Forum.”

Commenting on Keith’s success, from a record entry in the fourth annual ASOY Awards, Professor John Moverley, Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said: ‘‘What is done to maintain amenity areas impacts upon every UK citizen every day and is important to ensure healthy and safe environments fit for purpose. This work depends upon the input of highly professional operators fully trained and qualified. A key element in the task is the use of authorised and safe chemical spraying.

The Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards seek to highlight the very best practice and identify those individuals who go above and beyond in their work.

I congratulate all those who were shortlisted, the category winners and especially our overall winner this year – an excellent ambassador for the sector. Thanks also to our sponsors who make all this possible.”

ICL Landscape and Industrial Manager, Mark Pyrah, added: “As an organisation we recognise that high levels of professionalism and commitment to best practice are essential in order to ensure that products remain available.

Sprayer operators like Keith, and the other entrants of ASOY, who are not only able to spray accurately, but also demonstrate a professional stewardship of the products, are helping to raise standards across the amenity sector.”

Glenn Kirby, Syngenta Turf UK Technical Manager, highlighted that the Awards demonstrate the amenity industry’s positive approach to safe and sustainable spray application.

“Keith has shown he has outstanding skills and works to very high standards to achieve the best possible results. He has proved a successful winner by showing that best practice can deliver efficient, cost effective and, above all, safe amenity spraying.

“Syngenta recognises that the skills of the sprayer operator are paramount in achieving the full potential from all applications and assuring future sustainable use,” he added.

Stephen Jacob, BASIS CEO commented: “The safe and appropriate application of plant protection products is essential to maintaining the environment in which we live, and it’s clear that Keith is a true advocate of these principles.

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Toro Praised By Royal Cromer GC

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Toro Praised By Royal Cromer GC: Royal Cromer Golf Club in North Norfolk is a classic example of how combining Toro irrigation and machinery can bring great benefits to a course.

As one of the first club’s in the UK to fully upgrade to a Toro Lynx control system in 2012, Royal Cromer is now halfway through its first five-year agreement plan with Toro machinery, and here course manager Mark Heveran tells us how the club has continued improving since using both.

Toro Praised By Royal Cromer GC

“We’ve been using Lynx for around six years now and it’s just phenomenal,” Mark says. “We have around four times the amount of sprinkler heads than we did previously, but we’re using less water. The efficiency is just spot on, which is exactly what we need. We’re in one of the driest parts of the country and our water comes from a borehole with a limited supply, so every drop counts.”

This is good news indeed for Mark who told us the club’s members unusually part-funded the installation through individual loans, such was their support for it. “Lynx was an easy recommendation to make to our members, and we have not been let down. So, when the time came three years ago to commit to a machinery brand, Toro was the logical choice.”

For the club, striving to create the perfect playing surface is a real priority, and Toro’s top of the line technology plays a large part in achieving that goal. Mark confirms: “Here at the club we have 650 members, plus a large number of visitors each year, and the main thing that keeps them coming back is the quality of the course. Since being with Toro, the course has continued to improve which has definitely kept everyone happy. With the irrigation system we noticed an improvement in the overall quality of the turf and with the equipment we have now, the course has become much more refined and every detail is attended to.”

“When we’ve used other brands, after three years or so you could feel the machines starting to get tired, but with Toro they’re much more durable, solid and reliable in comparison, and the technology is always top notch,” says Mark.

With the installation of Toro Lynx only the start of a long-term development plan for Mark to create one of the best cliff-top links courses in England, the club is continuing this progression by now looking to expand the irrigation system to cover new teeing complexes and walkways, and Mark is already considering the next stage in terms of the fleet.

“In the coming years I’m hoping to renew the full package deal we have,” he says. “We’ve had absolutely no issues with the service, and the back-up from distributor Reesink Turfcare has been fantastic. So, when looking for the latest and best in machinery and irrigation innovation, Toro is forefront of our minds.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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TYM T393 Headlines At BTME

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TYM T393 Headlines At BTME: Having debuted at the show in 2018, the TYM T393 is not only back at BTME but headlining the TYM tractors stand after a successful launch year.

With its perfect positioning to bridge the gap in the TYM line up from the compact utility range into the mid-duty range, the T393 was the logical choice to bring to BTME, says TYM sales manager, Steven Haynes:

TYM T393 Headlines At BTME

“The T393 has 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.”

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.”

Joining the T393 is the mid-duty T503, still as popular as ever thanks to its ability to competently manage all tractor-based applications on the golf course and strike the perfect balance between economy and performance.

Powered by a four-cylinder Perkins diesel engine and available with either a 16F/16R manual or a three-range hydrostatic transmission, this middleweight compact tractor is economical but powerful. It boasts a range of features and optional attachments too, including a spacious fully air-conditioned cab, independent auto PTO function, independent 4WD, telescopic lift arms, optional front loader and backhoe available and Dromone trailer hitch.

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 our stand to show our products existing and new.”

See this – and more – on stand 202 in the Red Zone.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Manchester Grammar School’s New Hockey Surface

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Manchester Grammar School’s New Hockey Surface: Staff and students at The Manchester Grammar School, the largest independent day school for boys in the UK, are over the moon after many years of planning has seen their dreams for an elite hockey pitch become a reality. GreenFields were handpicked from a number of other companies for the construction of the school’s new hockey pitch along with adjacent tennis courts, which were all completed in time for Christmas.

The top spec water based hockey pitch features GreenFields TX Elite, a product which has seen many of the best players in the world compete on it at tournaments such as the 2017 European Hockey World Championship. Classified by the FIH (International Hockey Federation) as the Global Elite standard, which is the optimum surface type for competitive hockey tournaments, GreenFields TX Elite provides the ultimate smooth playing surface combining high playing and ball speed, incredible precision and control.

Manchester Grammar School's New Hockey Surface

Dr Martin Boulton, High Master at The Manchester Grammar School commented: “The new hockey pitch and tennis courts are absolutely fantastic and will give our boys the opportunity to play on world-class surfaces of the quality used by international athletes, helping our boys flourish and develop their sporting potential. They are a great addition to our School.”

The 6,576m² elite hockey pitch was completed with a Trocellen ProGame XC 7008 shock pad for maximum comfort and safety with irrigation achieved by pop up sprinklers. The facility also includes a 3,560m² tennis surface featuring six compact courts.

Paul Milton, Commercial Director at GreenFields UK said: “We are delighted to have installed an international level water based playing surface at the prestigious independent school – The Manchester Grammar School and are happy to see that the pupils are getting full use of it already. This impressive sports facility will further strengthen our North West portfolio providing an elite case study for GreenFields for the future.”

Manchester Grammar School's New Hockey Surface

Upon completion of the new hockey pitch and tennis courts, GreenFields arranged for professional photography and drone footage to be taken to support the school in their marketing materials.

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Toro’s New Greensmaster 1021

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Toro’s New Greensmaster 1021: Bringing a new level of consistency to pedestrian mowing and launching on the Reesink Turfcare stand at BTME 2019 is Toro’s new Greensmaster 1021 with patent-pending features to improve the operator’s experience without affecting the quality of cut.

Part of a new series of fixed-head pedestrian greens mowers, the 21-inch mower benefits from a number of features designed to take performance cutting to the next level, according to the company. The handle and suspension have all received the Toro touch and together mean operation is simpler, cut is more consistent and adjustment is even easier.

Toro’s New Greensmaster 1021

Jeff Anguige, national sales manager for Reesink Turfcare, says: “The innovation in the new series of pedestrian greensmowers takes what was loved and appreciated in the enduring success of the Greensmaster 1000 mower and makes it even better. This is Toro innovation at its best – taking something you think can’t be any better and doing just that.”

The most significant design development comes from the new telescoping loop handle which can be easily adjusted to comfortably accommodate operators of all heights and skill levels, while handle isolation mounts give the cutting unit constant contact with the ground throughout the mowing process.

Jeff continues: “Even the slightest variability in the height of cut due to handle pressure or different operator movements can affect the consistency of cut. These design improvements eliminate that, while the constant contact with the ground and  the inclusion of the new EdgeSeries cylinders guarantees a crisp, close and precise cut.”

New operator controls in conjunction with a shorter distance between the roller and the drum also means handling is more precise in turns and on undulating ground.

Maintenance is now even quicker – now it only takes minutes to replace an entire cutting unit or engine assembly. It’s not just that though, the modular design allows for easy repair and replacement of key components and each unit’s ability to backlap directly using the transport wheels means the entire maintenance process is streamlined.

Jeff concludes: “The Greensmaster 1021 promises to be a big hit with customers and the show provides the perfect launch platform. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the stand, where our specialist machinery team will be on hand to give help and advice about all our products.”

See this – and more – on stand 420 in the Purple Zone.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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