The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation / Polaris 2016 Prize Draw for a brand new Polaris Sportsman 110 EFI Youth ATV, worth £2,799 (incl. VAT), was won by Tony Hewitt from near Leeds, an NGO member who beats on his local shoot. All proceeds from the sale of the draw tickets go to funding the work of the NGO in promoting and defending keepering. Polaris is an NGO sponsor.

Lucky winner: Tony Hewitt (pictured right) takes delivery of a brand new Polaris Sportsman 110 EFI Youth ATV from Matt North of Polaris dealer Forktruck Solutions in Ossett, West Yorkshire.

Tony Hewitt, the winner of the Polaris Sportsman 110 EFI Youth ATV, a retired self-employed electrician, said: “I was actually taking a line of beaters across a field when the NGO phoned me to say I’d won. You can guess the uproar that caused! It was a shock alright, but I am absolutely delighted. I can guarantee the vehicle will be put to very good use.”

Mr Hewitt added: “I am a supporter member of the NGO and my winning draw ticket was one of the book of tickets that came with my copy of Keeping the Balance, the NGO magazine. I bought the lot. I’d recommend everyone does the same. I’d like to thank both the NGO and Polaris for their generosity. It was a wonderful surprise.”

“Polaris is exceptionally pleased to be a part of this support for the NGO,” said Jim Clarke, Country Manager “and we join in sending our congratulations to Mr. Hewitt and wish all who use the Sportsman Youth ATV the greatest enjoyment.”

Liam Bell, the Chairman of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, said: “May I send huge congratulations to Mr Hewitt on buying the winning ticket for the Polaris Sportsman 110 EFI Youth ATV. I’d like to thank him, and all the others who kindly bought tickets, for supporting our draw, as the proceeds help fund the work of the NGO in safeguarding the interests of keepering. And a big thank you, too, to Polaris for its sponsorship.”

The Sportsman 110 EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) offers a wide variety of safety features, such as an adjustable throttle limiter to allow adults to set the vehicle’s maximum speed, daytime running lights, full floorboards and heat shields. Other features include an electric start, automatic transmission, 4-stroke 110cc engine, and long travel suspension. The ATV comes with a high visibility whip flag, safety video and a helmet to help teach children the importance of wearing the correct safety gear. Adult supervision is required for all riders under 16.

Polaris is the industry leader in youth off-road vehicles and heads the pack in promoting youth rider safety. Its youth model off-road vehicles (ORV) lead the way with safety features, making them one of the best-selling youth lines around. Polaris strongly encourages anyone operating an ORV to take appropriate training. A training session with the EASI (European All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute) is included free of charge with each Polaris purchase. Extra sessions are available directly from the EASI.

Polaris is the world leader in ATVs, the Polaris Sportsman being one of the best-selling ATVs of all time. As the All-Terrain Specialist, the company also offers the widest range of UTVs with the Ranger Diesel 1000 and six-seater Ranger Diesel 1000 Crew featuring as working and sporting vehicles for outdoor and recreational pursuits, especially keepering and shooting.

Former Hull City groundsman Craig Backhouse believes more football clubs should join the SISGrass revolution.

Backhouse, who now works as an Installation Supervisor at SIS Pitches, worked at Hull City for nine years, two of which he spent working with a SISGrass pitch installed by SIS Pitches.

He now travels the world to help install the product in his new role, and has carried out work in the Middle East, Germany, Greece, Turkey as well as a number of projects in the UK.

Having worked on a quick-fire SISGrass installation at Derby County’s iPro Stadium and witnessed AFC Bournemouth becoming the first Premier League club to have a new SISGrass hybrid pitch installed, Backhouse believes more football clubs should follow suit.

“The playability of SISGrass pitches is fantastic, the quality can make a groundsmans’ life so much easier and obviously I have worked on both sides,” said Backhouse.

“It is very important that our team are made up of groundsmen who understand both the grass and also what football clubs want.

“The feedback that we have had from players and clubs across the UK and also abroad has been incredible. It is an important part of the job to ensure that players enjoy playing on the surface.

“Of course, the pitch has to be maintained but my advice to football clubs would be to have SISGrass installed, it is one of the best playing surfaces in the world.

“The yarn and polypropylene fibres that we use stand up in the grass and as a result the ball moves faster across the surface. This means that the chances of playing more free-flowing football are increased greatly.”

Having spent a number of years working for a football club, Backhouse has only been at SIS Pitches for a little over six months. However, he has already seen a rapid rise in the company.

SIS Pitches have landed a number of prestigious projects across the country but have also confirmed deals to design, construct and maintain four pitches for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, including the Luzhniki Stadium, which will host the final.

“SIS Pitches and in particular SISGrass will continue to grow from strength to strength, it is incredible what has been achieved in the last six months alone.

“There is so much variety to the work we do and to be able to travel around building pitches and dealing with different groundsmen every day is fantastic.

“The team we have is excellent, everyone has a great spirit about them but also a determination to ensure that our clients receive the best possible service.”