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Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

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Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up: A former IT recruiter, a hotel doorman, a county cricketer and a heavy metal guitarist are just some of the finalists of the most prestigious awards event in the student greenkeeping calendar.

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and co-founders and sponsors Toro and Reesink UK have revealed the line-up for the 2024 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. Now in its 35th year, the awards have helped unearth some of the brightest talents within the turf management industry and laid the foundations for decades of professional success.

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

Held at Oulton Hall in Leeds on 2-4 September, the finalists will compete in a series of challenges that are designed to test their technical knowledge and passion for the greenkeeping profession. Winners will then be crowned in the categories of Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year and Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year.

BIGGA Learning and Development Manager Deb Burnett said: “Whether joining the industry fresh from full-time education or opting to switch after a career elsewhere, our finalists are a diverse group, but they demonstrate the extraordinary talent that is present in today’s golf greenkeeping industry. The degree of knowledge they possess is testament to the quality of training they receive, both at work and with their training providers, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them all to the finals in Leeds in September for what stands to be an exciting couple of days.”

David Timms, National Accounts Manager at Reesink UK and Young award category judge, said: “We are very much looking forward to again welcoming this year’s finalists to the long list of student greenkeepers who have made it to this stage previously. The interviews this year were all of a high calibre and showcased how positive the future of the industry is. On behalf of everyone at Reesink UK and Toro, we wish all the finalists good look and will see them in September for the next part of their journey.”

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  1. Patrick Brown, greenkeeper at Wentworth Club and student at Berkshire College of Agriculture
  2. Jack Chapman, apprentice greenkeeper at The Grove and student at Capel Manor College
  3. Matt McCreadie, greenkeeper at Tadmarton Heath Golf Club and student at Myerscough College
  4. Jack Vowell, greenkeeper at Farrington Park Golf Club and student at Bridgwater & Taunton College
  5. Jack Wellings, greenkeeper at JCB Golf & Country Club and student at Myerscough College

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  1. Morgan Bowen, greenkeeper at Nevill Golf Club and student at North Kent College
  2. Alex Fox, apprentice greenkeeper at Woodhall Spa Golf Club and student at Bishop Burton College
  3. William Moore, apprentice greenkeeper at Kilworth Springs Golf Club and student at Myerscough College
  4. Daniel Parker, greenkeeper at Knighton Heath Golf Club and Sparsholt College
  5. Cameron Redden, apprentice greenkeeper at Strathmore Golf Centre and SRUC Elmwood College

To be eligible for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year category, candidates must have been a greenkeeper for a minimum of 12 months and be studying towards the Level 2 Golf Greenkeeper or Level 3 Advanced Golf Greenkeeper qualifications.

To be eligible for the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year category, candidates must be aged 21 or under and studying towards the Level 2 award at the time of application.

More information about the finalists can be found on the BIGGA website, where you can also find information about the incredible prizes on offer for the awards winners and their endorsers and the runners-up in each category, including a 10-week placement on one of the industry’s most influential training courses.

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A journey into the Green Heart of Innovation

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A journey into the Green Heart of Innovation: In his role as bridge between R&D and consumers, the expert agronomist Fabio Banin is the voice of the first chapter of “Green Talk,” the project to discover STIGA’s innovations designed for more sustainable and accessible garden care.

STIGA, leader in the garden care sector, presents its new, innovative project “Green Talk”: a journey into the heart of innovation, technology, design, and sustainability through the renowned voices of industry experts.

A journey into the Green Heart of Innovation

A journey into the Green Heart of Innovation

With the experience of STIGA experts, “Green Talk” is designed to discover the valuable stories behind the brand’s innovations, demonstrating the strong connection between man and nature and how important the care for green spaces is for our planet. As sustainability and environmental awareness are increasingly in the spotlight, “Green Talk” aims to inspire and educate, offering a unique perspective to explore the interplay between nature and technology.

The first chapter of this journey features Fabio Banin, an expert agronomist in the field of green innovation, who likes referring to himself as a “grass advocate” because of the fundamental message that guides his work: “Greenery is alive and therefore needs to be cared for, not maintained.” Currently part of the STIGA team, Banin holds a wealth of experience in the industry, a cutting-edge vision, and his passion for environmental sustainability.

In this exclusive interview, Banin explored the fascinating world of garden care, sharing his experience, the challenges he faced over the years, and his vision for the future of the industry. As an advisor at STIGA, Fabio Banin brings a unique perspective by playing a crucial role as a bridge between R&D and customers, offering specialized technical assistance and gathering valuable feedback to improve STIGA’s products and services. “Within the company, I like to describe myself as a “joker”, a role that allows me to act as a connector between the different departments and the sales network, providing a cross-functional perspective that fosters collaboration and development.”

Reflecting its green soul, Fabio Banin addressed the constant focus on innovation and sustainability in STIGA’s approach – factors that make this company truly unique in its sector. “It is the winning combination of a future-oriented attitude and a deep commitment to sustainability. This is evident not only in the research and development of cutting-edge products, but also in the company’s practices that put environmental stewardship at the heart of its actions.”  Fabio continues “Among the most significant projects in which I am involved, I am particularly proud of the multi-year project on mulching in collaboration with the University of Padua, aimed at exploring the benefits of this practice for lawn health and for reducing fertilizer use. Preliminary results indeed demonstrate the effectiveness of mulching in improving lawn quality and in reducing the environmental impact of excessive or incorrect use of polluting fertilizers. In addition, from a resource-saving perspective, the results prove that mulching can work in synergy with fertilizer, enhancing its effectiveness and therefore requiring less of it (up to -60%) for a more lush, healthy lawn.”

Besides showing STIGA’s commitment to sustainable and advanced gardening solutions, this research project also has an educational objective aimed at the end consumer, so that the company’s efforts translate into innovative practices adopted by individuals to generate a positive impact together.

Moreover, Fabio Banin analyses the changes and challenges in the market, which are essential to adapt to environmental and consumer needs, underlining the importance of innovation and ongoing research to maintain leadership in the garden care sector. In this context, STIGA is constantly striving to remain at the forefront of current trends, starting from the transition to electric solutions and the integration of advanced technologies into products, ensuring effective and sustainable solutions for customers.

“Looking to the future, my hope is that STIGA will continue to be recognized for its commitment to sustainability and innovation as hallmarks, thus establishing itself as a pioneer in the garden care sector, designing machinery and equipment that can make gardening more efficient and accessible to all, and guiding the market towards more conscious choices.”

This is just the first of the stories from STIGA experts’ first-hand experience. A journey into the green world of innovation, guided by the passion and expertise of people like Fabio Banin and STIGA’s longstanding commitment to the care of greenery.

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Ben Cook named INFINICUT® Territory Sales Manager

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Ben Cook named INFINICUT® Territory Sales Manager: With over 16 years of experience in the groundcare sector, Ben Cook has been appointed as the new INFINICUT® Territory Sales Manager for Wales and the North of England.

Ben’s industry knowledge and proven track record in both a service and sales capacity bring additional strength and technical support to the INFINICUT® sales force.

Ben Cook named INFINICUT® Territory Sales Manager

Ben Cook named INFINICUT® Territory Sales Manager

After completing his NVQ Level 2 in Land Based Service Engineering at Myerscough College, Ben jumped straight into his first role with Balmers GM Ltd – where he stayed for the duration of his working career prior to joining INFINICUT® in April 2024. Starting out in a service technician role, Ben made the transition to Sales Representative in 2017 where he used his technical know-how to develop productive client relationships and drive sales across the Balmers GM groundcare portfolio. It was also during this time that Ben became well-versed with the INFINICUT® golf and sports turf ranges, with Balmers GM joining the network of approved dealers in 2020.

“I’m really pleased to be embarking on the next chapter of my career with the INFINICUT® team” Ben says. “Their market-leading pedestrian mower range is innovative and well-respected with professionals across the sporting spectrum, something I witnessed first-hand with the breadth of venues I had the pleasure of visiting during my time at Balmers and already since starting in my new role. With more exciting developments in the pipeline, it feels like an incredibly exciting time to join and I look forward to working alongside our dealers to support customers old and new.”

Also commenting, INFINICUT® Sales Manager Alan Jack added, “Ben’s enthusiasm and understanding of the industry will undoubtedly bring benefit to our customers in Wales, and in the area north of Birmingham up to the Scottish Borders. He joins just in time for the hectic summer season and has well and truly hit the ground running!”

When not running around selling mowers, Ben can often be found literally pounding the pavements and successfully completed the London Marathon in 2023 raising over £5000 for Hospice UK. Besides running, Ben is a keen sports fan and particularly enjoys a day out at the horse racing.

Ben can be contacted on 07385 149551, or via email at ben.cook@sbdinc.com

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Zero blade costs until 2027

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Zero blade costs until 2027: GreenMech have announced the launch of a special summer promotion which will present not just cost savings, but increased peace of mind, to customers purchasing a new woodchipper.

Between 1st June and the end of August, all machines will be supplied with a second set of GreenMech’s revolutionary disc blades free of charge, all-but eliminating additional blade expenditure for the duration of the 3-year warranty or average 3-year finance deal.

Zero blade costs until 2027

Zero blade costs until 2027

Launched in 1995, GreenMech’s unique disc-blade chipping technology means that, in operation, only 30% of the blade’s circumference comes into contact with the waste material. This not only reduces the blades vulnerability to damage caused when contaminants such as soil and stones are inadvertently introduced into the chipper, it enables the blade to be turned to a new sharp section when these edges get worn. In the field, this equates to 600% more blade life and significantly more hours of chipping before the need to re-sharpen.

In addition to improved longevity, the disc-blades ‘slicing’ action is 1.5dB quieter than conventional straight blades – reducing the noise emissions of every operation.

With the purchase of a GreenMech chipper and the completion of the warranty form, the new promotion will see customers receiving a second set of disc blades absolutely free – giving you two complete sets of blades at no extra cost. By rotating and replacing these sets, up to 360 hours of use can be expected without the need to sharpen, resulting in savings of over £600.

“At a time when costs are increasing across the board, this promotion is a great way of giving customers real savings on their maintenance costs over their first few years of ownership” adds GreenMech Sales Director Martin Lucas. “Together with reduced expenditure and less machinery downtime, the additional blade sets give all customers the peace of mind that their GreenMech chipper will remain in top working order.”

Terms and conditions apply. Further information is available by visiting the GreenMech website – www.greenmech.co.uk – or by speaking with your local approved GreenMech dealer.

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Seattle University’s Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper

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Seattle University’s Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper: Seattle University’s commitment to maintaining first-class athletic and sporting facilities has received a significant boost with the introduction of the SISIS SSS1000 towed sweeper.

Peter Larson, the Athletic Field Specialist overseeing the university’s sports grounds, has praised the efficiency and versatility of this innovative machine, particularly in its ability to effectively pick up grass clippings on both synthetic and natural grass pitches.

Seattle University's Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper

Seattle University’s Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper

The SSS1000 sweeper serves as an indispensable tool for maintaining pristine playing surfaces. Featuring a spiral rotary brush, it efficiently sweeps debris into a mesh hopper, allowing for the preservation of pitch infill. This crucial functionality not only enhances the aesthetics of the field but also ensures the safety and performance standards demanded by athletes.

Regular cleaning of synthetic surfaces is vital to avoid contamination and remove potentially harmful debris before play. The SSS1000 has proven instrumental in achieving this goal for Seattle University, providing Peter and his team with a fast work rate that helps keep the surfaces in optimal condition.

One of the standout features of the SSS1000 is its adaptability to different surfaces. Whether it’s synthetic turf or natural grass, the sweeper’s adjustable brush height ensures thorough cleaning without causing damage. Furthermore, its unique spiral brush design minimises vibration, guaranteeing constant brush contact with the surface for consistent results.

Peter’s journey with the SISIS Sweeper began with its introduction at the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Trade Show in 2023. Drawn by the promise of a quieter and more efficient alternative to their previous equipment, Peter was impressed by the sweeper’s self-propelled technology.

“I was looking for a tow behind sweeper for our synthetic field to replace our previous machine,” says Peter. “The old machine was effective at sweeping however it was too loud. I was interested in the self-propelled technology and friends at the Seahawks Training Facility gave the SSS1000 a ringing endorsement. They provided us with a demo on their grass field to show how effective it is at picking up grass clippings.”

Reflecting on his experience with the sweeper, Peter notes its intuitive operation and quiet operation as standout qualities. “We have used the SISIS Sweeper on our synthetic field and recently we brought it over to our soccer pitch to sweep up grass clippings – it gets the job done,” he remarks. “In both cases, I appreciate the quiet nature of the machine. It is intuitive and easy to operate.”

“I highly recommend this product. It works well on synthetic and natural grass fields, which is difficult to find in a sweeper,” adds Peter.

As Seattle University continues to prioritise the maintenance and enhancement of its athletic facilities, the SISIS SSS1000 towed sweeper offers superior performance and versatility.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter or Instagram @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery

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