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Over 360 runners complete JCB Lakeside 5

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Over 360 runners complete JCB Lakeside 5: Wet conditions failed to dampen sprits at the popular JCB Lakeside 5 and Fun Run – which saw a bumper field raise thousands of pounds for the NSPCC.

For the first time in the race’s 41-year history it rained – but that did not deter more than 360 competitors from around the UK and overseas from taking part. The event, which brings together some of the area’s best club runners with JCB employees and their families, also raised £4,150 for the NSPCC.

Over 360 runners complete JCB Lakeside 5

Over 360 runners complete JCB Lakeside 5

Race organiser Mick Grindey, who has taken part in every Lakeside 5 since it was first run in 1983, said: “It is amazing to see such a big field and supporters, who have come along despite the wet conditions and created a really great atmosphere. When the Lakeside 5 started in 1983, just 95 competitors took part, which shows how far it has come.”

The fundraising total was boosted by a sponsorship from Cheadle-based Ecam Engineering. First across the line was City of Stoke Athletics Club runner Chris Gidlow who completed the five-mile main course around JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, in a time of 26 minutes 57 seconds. First female across the line was Chris’ fellow City of Stoke AC runner Chloe Hawkins in 32 minutes 28 seconds. First JCB Man was Jason Burgess in a time of 29 minutes, 32 seconds – for the second year running – and First JCB Lady was Liz Plant in 42 minutes and 26 seconds.

Also in action was Charles Bevan, of Abbots Bromley, who has also taken part in every JCB Lakeside 5 race. The former JCB Electrical Engineer always runs in fancy dress and this year it was Charlie Chaplin. Charles, 77, said: “It is just great fun to keep coming back and taking part. I have no plans to stop any time soon – there is a great spirit surrounding this event.”

Another in action was Ted Prince – a third-generation member of his family to work at JCB.  The Sales and Marketing graduate was in his first ever Lakeside 5. He said: “It is just an amazing thing to be a part of and so pleased we have raised so much for the NSPCC.”

There was a good international representation too. The field included JCB Netherlands employee Michel Jansen who was taking part in his seventh event. The finance expert flew over to the UK just to take part. He said: “I love coming back – and this one is special. It marks my 20th year working with JCB in the Netherlands, so this is my birthday present to myself.”

Also running was JCB India employee Umesh Sakore, who is on a two-year-placement in the UK. He ran the two-mile fun route with his wife Smita and their daughter Asmi, 10, and three-year-old son Ansh. The Design Engineer said: “It is a brilliant family occasion so what better than to run it with my wife and children. We all thoroughly enjoyed it – a great JCB occasion.”

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Carus Green Golf Club becomes fully automated

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Carus Green Golf Club becomes fully automated: Carus Green Golf Club, a popular golf club in the North of England, is now reaping the rewards of automation, thanks to the installation of a fleet of Husqvarna professional robotic lawnmowers.

The 18-hole course, located on the outskirts of the Lake District, embarked on its automation journey back in August 2023, following a demonstration of the Husqvarna CEORA™ on its driving range. Since then, the club has bought into the technology and rapidly scaled up its fleet of robotics to ten machines altogether; five Husqvarna CEORA™, four Husqvarna Automower® 550 EPOS™ and one Automower® 430X NERA.

Carus Green Golf Club becomes fully automated

Carus Green Golf Club becomes fully automated

Here, Husqvarna speaks to Warren Bevan, Course Manager at Carus Green, about the club’s robotics journey so far, and how they’re benefitting from full automation.

Tell us a bit about how your robotics journey with Husqvarna began?

“We initially had a demo of CEORA™ on our driving range and were instantly impressed. Both myself and Graham Curtin, owner of the golf course, quickly noted the quality of the cut and finish and wanted to invest in the technology and expand it onto the course itself. We’ve always been progressive and forward thinking in our approach to new ideas and technology, and after a short demonstration, it became apparent that robotics was absolutely the path we needed to explore.”

How long did it take to scale up to ten units? 

“Following the demonstration, we initially started with one CEORA™ and one Automower® 550 EPOS™ which together managed one area of the course that included four fairways with some semi-rough. This allowed us to observe the machines and plan their usage across the full course. The time period from implementing those first machines to rolling a full fleet of mowers out across our whole course was approximately six months – a quick transition but we haven’t looked back. It took some time to get all the necessary infrastructure and electrics installed, but nine months later we’re enjoying the benefits of being fully automated on all fairways, rough and approaches.”

How do the robotic mowers operate on a daily basis?

“Four of the five CEORA™’s are cutting the fairways at a 10mm cutting height; and those machines cut overnight, every night, whilst the course is closed so as to not interrupt the golfers. The machines will then recharge before automatically changing their cutting height and commencing the rough cutting during the day at 60mm.The four Automower® 550’s are cutting the ‘carrys’ from tee to fairway around the clock on a 24 hour cycle. The last CEORA™ maintains our driving range split into different zones and can cut the full range over the space of 48 hours, which has eliminated significant hours of labour a week for our team who can now focus on other tasks in that time. The last machine, the Automower® 430X NERA cuts an area just in front of the clubhouse.”

How has the feedback been from members and staff?

“The feedback we received from the members was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the improvements in the quality of the finish, and in particular the edge of the fairways which are now immaculately maintained due to the mower’s GPS navigation system. Members also commented on the reduction in noise pollution as well as the absence of tyre marks which our former ride-on mowers sometimes caused during wet conditions.

“The feedback from our Greenkeeping team has also been really positive, with many of our staff now able to dedicate more time to take on and complete jobs we didn’t previously have capacity to do as often as we’d like, such as edging bunkers, which has now increased from once every two weeks to once a week.”

How has automation helped overcome industry challenges?

“There are two main issues that robotics have helped us to overcome. The industry is currently navigating changes to the climate, with more frequent wet days making maintaining the quality of the cut typically difficult, however, robotics really help overcome these challenges, as they can cut in any condition, whereas a conventional ride-on mower simply can’t. This year, we were able to mow the course throughout March and April, which we haven’t been able to do in previous years.

“The other challenge robotics has helped us to overcome is the labour shortage. The industry is experiencing a huge drop off in the number of greenkeepers, and robotics has not only helped plug this gap but has also freed up staff to do jobs that they previously didn’t have time to do.”

What led you to choose Husqvarna over other similar brands?

“When we were in the early stages of our robotics journey, we had a demonstration with a competitor brand, however the competitor’s machine didn’t leave the same quality finish or cut low enough on the fairways compared to CEORA™. This, combined with the level of service, enthusiasm and support from the Husqvarna team ultimately led us to become a valued partner. Since introducing the fleet of machines, we haven’t needed to use our traditional fairway mower at all.”

“I also like that Husqvarna are conducting further research into turf health and plant response from being cut with their robotic mowers.”

About Husqvarna CEORA™

CEORA™ is the ultimate solution for greenkeepers. The machines have an automatic cutting height adjustment system, meaning they can operate on fairways, semi-rough and rough, as well as other course areas, at cutting heights from 10 to 60mm. With a capacity of 20,000–25,000m2 per day, CEORA™ can cover an area of up to three regular-sized fairways every day and night.

For more information on Husqvarna visit www.husqvarna.com/uk

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Bionema Appoints Andrew Turnbull

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Bionema Appoints Andrew Turnbull: Bionema Group Ltd, winner of the King’s Award for Enterprise and Innovation 2024, is delighted to announce the appointment of Andrew Turnbull as Biological Technical Specialist.

Andrew joins the team with an impressive 25 years of experience as a turf professional, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company. Before joining, Andrew was at Biotechnica as a Business Development Manager. Andrew’s appointment starts in his role on July 8th, 2024.

Bionema Appoints Andrew Turnbull

Bionema Appoints Andrew Turnbull

Bionema is a leading biocontrol technology company specialising in developing and producing natural products to protect crops, improve plant health, and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and fertilisers. With a solid commitment to sustainability and innovation, Bionema collaborates with research institutions and industry partners to deliver effective and environmentally friendly solutions to the agricultural sector.

Andrew’s academic background includes a BSc (Hons.) and a Master of Research in plant sciences. His career has been distinguished by his pioneering work in using plant and soil biostimulants, particularly in the UK and European turfgrass markets. Andrew has demonstrated exceptional abilities in identifying challenges that growers, farmers, and turfgrass managers face, sourcing potential solutions, and implementing innovative treatments for optimal plant growth and health.

Andrew will work closely with existing and new markets in his new role, leveraging his extensive experience to enhance plant health through optimised rhizosphere interactions, plant nutrition, and natural responses to pest and disease attacks. His expertise will be instrumental in advancing Bionema’s mission to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Dr Minshad Ansari, CEO and Founder of Bionema commented on the appointment: “We are excited to welcome Andrew to the Bionema team. His vast experience and innovative approach to plant health and biostimulants align perfectly with our goals. Andrew’s appointment will significantly strengthen our capabilities and expand our reach in delivering sustainable solutions to our clients.”

Andrew Turnbull expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “I am excited to join Bionema and contribute to their pioneering efforts in sustainable agriculture. I look forward to working with the team to develop and implement cutting-edge biostimulant solutions that enhance plant health and productivity.”

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Highwoods Golf Club celebrates centenary

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Highwoods Golf Club celebrates centenary: As Highwoods Golf Club celebrates its centenary year with a week’s worth of celebrations, the East Sussex club reveals how Toro’s complete turfcare offering has been central to its ongoing success.

“We’re a Toro club through and through,” says Jamie Melham, course manager at Highwoods. “Alongside our new fleet of turfcare machinery, we’re also using Toro’s Lynx irrigation system, which, together, ensures all the greens, tees, approaches, and fairways are maintained to the highest standard.

Highwoods Golf Club celebrates centenary

Highwoods Golf Club celebrates centenary

“A strategic plan has been put in place to take the course to the next level and continue to push, year-on-year,” he adds. “With all eyes on us for our centenary, that’s never been more important.”

There is a lot for the club to prepare for as part of its centenary celebrations. Highwoods has been invited to host the County Championship in July 2024, and, as general manager Rebecca Prout points out, preparation for 100 years at Highwoods has been some time in the making, beginning in earnest back in 2017.

“Over the last seven years or so, Jamie and the greenkeeping team have been working hard on several projects to celebrate our hundredth year, including a new centenary pond on hole fourteen,” explains Rebecca.

“Toro has played a pivotal role in these developments and, thanks to our new fleet, the brand will be central to ongoing improvements at Highwoods, particularly when it comes to pushing those fine turf areas to the next level.”

To do so, Highwoods has invested in a variety of new turfcare machinery. However, thanks to the club’s long-standing relationship with Toro distributor Reesink, it has been able to do so in a simple, affordable way.

With a range of finance packages available, clubs like Highwoods can have all the benefits of market-leading mowers without the upfront investment.

“Leasing Toro machinery through Reesink guarantees first-rate performance year-on-year, as we will always be using the latest kit,” explains Jamie. “That way, we’re always going to get the highest quality of cut, delivering the consistency we know our players love.”

Highwoods’ new fleet includes the Toro Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, which, according to Jamie, has created a real buzz amongst his team.

“Everyone has been really excited to try the 3420,” he says. “It eliminates ribbing around our greens and, as the cutting units are so stable, we’ve already noticed significant improvements in the overall finish.

“By fitting an eight-bladed cutting cylinder, we can also use the 3420 on tees and approaches, which has totally transformed the way they look. The way it glides and follows the contours of the ground is truly remarkable.

“My team always takes a moment every Friday afternoon to appreciate the work and notice how beautiful the course looks,” he goes on. “It’s one of the best things about greenkeeping – the satisfaction you get when you can see the difference all your hard work has made, and Toro helps us achieve that feeling week in, week out.”

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Kibworth thrives with DSV EuroGrass Solutions

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Kibworth thrives with DSV EuroGrass Solutions: Martin Anderson became Course Manager at Kibworth Golf Club in 2019, aiming to improve the course in Leicestershire. With a strong connection to the club, Martin’s journey from apprentice to leader shows his dedication to its success. One significant change he made was using DSV EuroGrass seed mixtures, which greatly improved various areas of the course.

Martin’s connection with Kibworth runs deep, tracing back to his earliest memories. “I took my first ever steps here at a New Years Eve party,” he reminisces. Little did he know then that Kibworth would become not just a backdrop to his life, but a stage for his growth and passion.

Kibworth thrives with DSV EuroGrass Solutions

Kibworth thrives with DSV EuroGrass Solutions

From those first toddler steps to his formative years as an apprentice, Martin’s bond with Kibworth only strengthened. “My mum and dad were members, and I was a junior member before becoming an apprentice,” he shares, illustrating the club’s integral role in shaping his journey. It was here that he honed his skills, learned the art of greenkeeping, and even found love, meeting his wife in the clubhouse where she worked as a waitress.

In 2019, Martin landed the position of Course Manager, a role that held both challenge and promise. Armed with a vision to elevate standards and restore Kibworth’s reputation, Martin embarked on a journey of transformation. “Some areas of the course needed attention,” he recalls, “but with a new committee and investments in equipment and products, we set out to make a difference.”

Among the pivotal changes was the introduction of DSV EuroGrass seed mixtures, a decision born out of research and collaboration with trusted partners like Rhys Norville from ReGen Amenity. “Rhys put us in the direction of DSV,” Martin explains, emphasising the importance of building relationships with reliable suppliers. The trial of DSV’s Dual Use blend delivered promising results, paving the way for its integration into Kibworth’s approach.

For the fairways and tees, Martin turned to DSV’s 3-way rye mix, renowned for its quick establishment, vibrant colour, and disease resistance. The impact was profound. “The strike rate was really good,” Martin reflects, “and it keeps coverage throughout the season, even going into winter.” Remarkably, this season marked the first time in years that the tees remained disease-free—a testament to the efficacy of DSV’s seed.

“We have not had to put a fungicide on the tees at all,” adds Martin. “That is extremely remarkable when you consider that it has been so wet and warm – perfect conditions for disease to thrive.”

 

With its proven track record of performance, reliability, and innovation, DSV’s seed mixtures instil confidence with every application, ensuring that the areas it is applied at Kibworth remain vibrant and disease-free year-round.

“I am confident every time we apply DSV seeds. I know it is going to come through and deliver good results,” affirms Martin.

Backed by decades of research and expertise, DSV’s seed mixtures continue to redefine standards of quality and performance, offering greenkeepers and course managers like Martin the tools they need to achieve remarkable results.

As Martin’s journey at Kibworth Golf Club continues, the future looks brighter than ever. With products like DSV EuroGrass seed mixtures leading the charge, the club is poised for continued success and excellence in greenkeeping practices.

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