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NEWS ARTICLES

Thefts At Greenkeepers’ Sheds

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Police in Scotland have issued a warning to golf clubs to protect their greenkeepers’ sheds after at least two were targeted by criminals.

Newbattle Golf Club in Midlothian was broken into on a recent Saturday night, in which the shed was targeted and a number of power tools were stolen, states the East Lothian Courier.

The following night, at about 10.30pm, Musselburgh Golf Club’s greenkeeping shed was also broken into.

Nothing was stolen, but damage was caused to the doors of the shed and the alarm was activated.

Police believe the two incidents may be linked and are asking anyone who has information to come forward.

Sergeant Scott Nicolson said: “As a matter of course we have advised all other golf clubs in the area to review their security arrangements and we are keen to speak to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity at, or around, Musselburgh Golf Club to come forward immediately.”

Meanwhile, police in Northumbria are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at Arcot Golf Club.

“It happened at a storage shed to the rear of the car park at Arcot Golf Club in Northumberland at approximately 9pm on Tuesday, April 11,” said a police spokesman.

“Thieves forced entry to the shed and stole two Stihl chainsaws and a Stihl hedge trimmer.

“Police are appealing for witnesses, anyone who was in the area and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, is asked to contact them. Officers also want to hear from anyone who may be offered these stolen items for sale.”

Other golf clubs around the UK have also reported break-ins at their sheds recently.

The Braintree & Witham Times states that Rivenhall Oaks Golf Centre had its shed broken during one night in early April, and fireworks were stolen.

Lincoln Golf Club also reported a break-in recently. It said that a Stihl saw was stolen from the alarmed building.

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New Optidrive™ developed by Avant to improve engine performance

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Avant has developed a new, innovative solution for improving the performance of the drive circuit in Avant loaders.

The drive system in Avant loaders consists of a variable displacement hydraulic pump, four hydraulic drive motors and some valves which are connected together with hydraulic hoses and fittings. This system where the drive power is conveyed from engine (electric motor on Avant e-series) to the wheels using hydraulic oil is often referred to as drive circuit. Instead of mechanical axles Avant uses a design where there are four separate hydraulic drive motors, one on each wheel of the loader.

Avant was the first manufacturer to design and utilize such a system in a compact loader. This system has proven to be very effective, offering lots of pushing power and yet enabling a very compact design to the loader while maintaining an extremely low center of gravity, which is an important part of the great stability of Avant loaders.

Through research and development Avant has now improved this system with an innovative way of rethinking. When hydraulic oil flows at high flow rate in the drive circuit – in hydraulic hoses, fittings, motors and valves – the resistance in these components heats up the hydraulic oil. The more there are hoses and fittings, the quicker the oil heats up, which means that all that unnecessary heat generated in the system uses a part of the engine output in vain. This also results in higher fuel consumption and less engine power is available for the actual job.

In the new system the amount of hydraulic hoses and fittings has been radically reduced and optimized, where the name Optidrive™ derives from as well. The new Optidrive™ is a standard feature first in Avant 700 series, later also in the 500 and 600 series.

Another Two GreenFields Pitches for Top Club Charlton Athletic

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After the successful installation of their stadium and training pitches, top English football club Charlton Athletic F.C. has once again selected GreenFields for two more 3G pitches, both at their training ground.

Work is now underway on the new pitches which form part of Phase II of the multi-million pound development at Charlton’s Academy. The four-phased development of the training facilities began in 2015 and once completed will provide facilities to benefit Charlton Athletic, Charlton Athletic Community Trust, Charlton Athletic Women’s Team, Footscray Rugby Club and the local community.

The redevelopment which is being fully funded by the football club will also include new changing rooms, classrooms, a consultation area, increased parking and an access road.

Charlton Athletic CEO Katrien Meire commented on the ongoing developments: “The improvements to the training ground will benefit the club and the local community for many decades to come.”

GreenFields attended the official launch of Phase II of the development at the beginning of March along with Eltham MP Clive Efford, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich Cllr Denise Hyland along with Charlton Athletic and Footscray Rugby Club representatives.

GreenFields UK Sales Manager, Colin Lyons said: “We are extremely proud that Charlton have once again selected us for the next stage of their redevelopments. To be part of such an impactful project for both the community and professional sport fits in with the very ethos of GreenFields as a company.”

During Phase I where GreenFields installed two 3G state-of-the-art woven MX pitches, the club used Footscray Rugby Clubs facilities. As part of Phase II of the project, GreenFields are installing a new 3G pitch for the rugby club. Club Chairman, Andy De Lord said: “At a time when rugby clubs are struggling to develop and get players in, the facilities will help us to attract the people who want to get involved in rugby.”

The new 3G pitches and access road (also being developed by GreenFields) are expected to be complete by September of this year.

Pink Spider seen on Mountain slopes in switzerland

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Pohled Czech Republic (28 April 2017) It was enough to have arachnologists around the globe in a state of high tension when a giant pink Spider was seen on the mountain pastures in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland.

However, it was not some previously undiscovered species, but a Spider 2 remote-controlled mower that was being used by a local contractor to maintain the grassed slopes on local farms in the Swiss alps.

His partner’s favourite colour is pink and, where possible, all his farm contracting equipment is painted pink, the plastic coverings for his silage bales are pink, the bells around the cows’ necks are pink and he wears pink shorts during the summer months.

Lubor Hladik, international sales manager at Dvorak, the manufacturers of Spider machines explained,

“We took an enquiry from our Swiss distributor for a Spider 2, but unusually they wanted it painted bright pink; we later discovered that it was the customer’s partner who is obsessed with the colour and it needed to match other equipment on the farm. As the customer is always right, we found the correct colour pigment and fulfilled their request. We’ve produced Spiders in black livery previously, for the Daytona Speedway track in the USA, but never in pink. That was a first!”

About Dvorak

The Dvorak – svahove sekacky Ltd. was founded on July 1, 2004 by Lubomír Dvořák. The patent protected radio controlled Spider slope mower is the principal product of the company. The revolutionary design of the Spider product range created a new sector into the groundscare market when introduced in 2004. During the past 13 years the product portfolio has expanded and a sales network now covers over 40 countries around the world.

Spider mowers can be used in multiple applications on golf courses; local authority open spaces; national, regional and local parks; water and river management; roads, rail and highways; waste management sites, airports and military installations; power generation utilities; vineyards and orchards; national heritage sites; skiing and sport resorts; motor sport arenas and solar farms.

High performance seed for Principality Stadium

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As the National stadium of Wales the Principality stadium has to play host not only the country’s rugby team, but also its football, while in the “non grass” season it plays host to a range of different events from rock and pop concerts to speedway and monster trucks. The grounds team led by Head Groundsman Lee Evans now face the additional challenge of hosting one of the most prestigious events in football – The Champions League Final! 

Such high demands call for an equally high performance turf surface which is why Lee uses Johnsons Premier pitch and Johnsons 4 turf for his overseeding program. Johnsons is the first choice for many of the country’s leading sports stadia.