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Terra Spike GXi8 HD gives boost to College grounds

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Terra Spike GXi8 HD gives boost to College grounds: Myreside Stadium in Edinburgh is home to George Watson’s College and Watsonian rugby club. Regular fixtures held there include Tennent’s National League Division 1, FOSROC Super Six Championship and Tennent’s Women’s Premier League matches.

Beside the main pitch, Head of Grounds, Craig Eccleston, and his team of five, have eight other full size rugby pitches, two large training areas and three cricket squares to maintain, as well as the school’s estate.

Terra Spike GXi8 HD gives boost to College grounds

Terra Spike GXi8 HD gives boost to College grounds

In September, they took delivery of a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD deep aerator from Wiedenmann UK’s Scottish dealer, Fairways GM.

Craig Eccleston said: “Aeration is a massive part of pitch playability and it’s important that we give all our surfaces best care. In summer I went to a demo at Dollar Academy, where the Wiedenmann team answered my questions. I thought the GXi 8 pricewise would be out my range, and we’d go for a smaller one, but I was pleasantly surprised when it came in under my budget.

“The long life of the Wiedenmann was a big consideration. The school plays so much rugby, and if you factor the FPs’ activity too, all pitches are busy right through until the summer term, when focus switches to athletics and cricket.

“We’ve relied on contractors to come in on a pre-booked day which can bring limitations. Sometimes the conditions don’t suit, or fixtures change, and it doesn’t get done. I made a financial case that if we owned our own machine, we could go out as often as necessary, making use of any windows of opportunity, especially as a full pitch can be done in just over 2.5 hrs. Having as many pitches, the numbers stacked up.

Craig, who took up his position almost three years ago had previous experience of working with Terra Spikes when he was head groundsman at Giggleswick School, North Yorkshire.

“This is a newer model to what I had before and I like that there are minimal grease points, so it is easy to maintain. This one is so quick and so smooth. When we look at the weather forecast for the week ahead, I say to the team, ’let’s get the machine on and we’ll pick a couple of pitches off each day and get around everything’. It makes such a difference.

“As soon as the GXi8 arrived in September we did all, rugby pitches with 20 mm tines at once. A few had a second aeration in November. During January or February, we will go again once, leaving them until renovations time, which for us is the end of July.

“Our cricket wickets only need to be done annually so ours were aerated at the end of October with 8 mm tines.

“I’m happy with its progress. Ultimately, we invested in the machine to improve the overall playability of the pitches to enhance their durability and performance. This enhances the enjoyment for the pupils, letting them play fast expansive rugby. The school has been particularly good investing in what we need.”

George Watson’s College is a single campus co-educational independent day school in the heart of Edinburgh, for young people from 3-18 years.

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Big Success for the Micro-Spray

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Big Success for the Micro-Spray: The demands from an amenity sprayer extend far beyond reliability. Strength, durability, and flexibility are naturally important, but a key requirement is low impact on the surfaces where the sprayer will be used.

For sports turf professionals, the Martin Lishman Micro-Spray is the number one choice of pedestrian sprayer. Combining control and power with responsive easy handling in a compact form, the fully electric Micro-Spray delivers a precise application with minimal turf impact, making it ideal for use on sports turf and golf courses.

Big Success for the Micro-Spray

Big Success for the Micro-Spray

Amenity specification with agricultural strength and durability has been the key design element of all Martin Lishman compact sprayers, and the Micro-Spray is no different. Its unique design and versatile functionality have captured the attention of the industry.

With satisfied users worldwide, Martin Lishman have reported a very successful year for the Micro-Spray. This is thanks to an exclusive partnership with Campey Turf Care Systems, who brought their expertise and delivery network into the mix to put Micro-Spray units in every corner of the globe, from Europe to Australia.

Designed and manufactured in England at the Martin Lishman site in Bourne, Lincolnshire, the combination of accurate control and spraying power in a lightweight package to prevent compaction and turf damage is at the forefront of the Micro-Spray’s design. A strong powder coated steel chassis, driven by an advanced rear wheel drive system and two large deep cycle batteries help maintain a low centre of gravity and weight balance.

The UV-safe 120 litre tank feeds the 23 litre/min pump which can accommodate a 2.5 to 3.5m folding boom and a wide range of application rates. Easy-to-reach controls enable the operator to quickly adjust sprayer settings including drive direction, speed, pump pressure and optional bout marker controls.

“It’s been great to watch the Micro-Spray gain traction and carve its way into the amenity industry”, explains Joel Capper, Managing Director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “We have worked with some very talented and influential people to make the sprayer what it is today. Now with the sales and distribution support from Campey Turf Care, we look forward to the next chapter in the Micro-Spray success story”.

The Micro-Spray forms part of the Martin Lishman compact sprayer range, including trailed, ATV mounted and demountable models. Tank sizes range from 70 to 600 litres and boom widths from 1 metre to 8 metres. Specialist or bespoke requests can also be catered for which allows considerable variation of models to meet the specialist needs of customers.

The Micro-Spray along with a selection of other Martin Lishman sprayers will be on display at the BTME event, Harrogate (stand 248) in January 2023.

For more information on the Martin Lishman Micro-Spray and compact sprayers, visit their website at www.martinlishman.com.

“For more information or a demonstration of the Micro-Spray, contact Campey Turf Care or visit www.campeyturfcare.com

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New Toro technology at BTME

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New Toro technology at BTME: New machinery from Toro, the next big thing for sustainable machinery cleaning and a wealth of innovative technology to make the job of turfcare and ground management professionals easier from Reesink UK will be at BTME 2023.

New machinery from Toro is always a big draw and this year there are two machines debuting – the new Toro ProCore 648s and Toro Workman UTX 4×4.

New Toro technology at BTME

New Toro technology at BTME

The Toro ProCore 648s builds on the greenkeeper favourite – the ProCore 648, introducing even more features to the time-tested machine that changed the way customers aerate. With 10 new patents, the technology in this machine more than warrants the s in its name which stands for superior.

Now, with all the primary controls at the operator’s fingertips, this machine can be operated single-handedly. Hole spacing and true tine depth can be set and saved in the InfoCentre and there’s a broader range of 5mm (0.25 inches) for the ultimate control. Of course, there are plenty more features and benefits, visit stand 622 and speak to a Reesink representative to hear all about them.

The next new entry from Toro is the Workman UTX 4×4. This robust four-wheel drive, full-sized utility vehicle can handle curbs, inclines, hillsides, slopes and drops and all weathers. It has a high ground clearing (25.4cm/10ins), a towing capacity of up to 2000lbs and 25 percent more cargo capacity than that of others in its class.

It’s road-ready and comes with a proprietary speed control system to guarantee the right speed and power for the job at hand, meaning customers can choose between lower RPMs for lower fuel consumption and sound in sensitive areas, or higher RPMs for more power to haul a heavier load up hills and inclines.

Also on stand will be an example of Toro’s sustainable machinery options: the electric Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 riding mower, Greensmaster eFlex 1021 pedestrian mower and Workman GTXe utility vehicle.

The Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 is the industry’s first lithium-ion battery powered ride-on greensmower. As well as being whisper quiet allowing for earlier start times, the eTriFlex 3370 avoids emissions, pollution and damaging hydraulic leaks. While the all-electric Greensmaster eFlex 1021 takes electrical efficiency to a new level mowing 35,000sqft on a single charge. And with Flex suspension, it hugs the contours for that iconic Toro cut. Meanwhile, the lithium-ion battery-powered Workman GTX-L with hundreds of configurable options that include front and rear attachments, a flat bed and four-seat option, to name but a few.

Carrying on the sustainability theme, Reesink will have product from their UK Golf cleaning and sustainability partner Bio-Circle. On the stand will be Bio-Circle’s new EKO Natural Cleaning System and also GT Maxi, the parts cleaner that requires no water and eliminates pollutant runoff into the water system.

Further technology comes in the shape of the Toro myTurf Pro app, that allows parts to be ordered, service activities to be scheduled and utilisation data to be tracked in real-time.

Finishing off the line up from Reesink Hydro-Scapes are the most advanced central control irrigation system, controllers, sprinklers and soil systems from Toro, water aerators for the cleanest, healthiest water quality from Otterbine, the simple but effective 2-wire controller from SRC and the highest quality water pumping systems from Franklin’s Pumps, whatever the water requirement a solution can be found on stand 622.

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And the winners are…

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And the winners are…: The three winners of the Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards, sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, have been announced.

The Amenity Forum Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards (ASOOTY) 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.

And the winners are…

And the winners are…

ASOOTY is sponsored by ICL and Syngenta and managed by Amenity Forum, in association with BASIS.

From a record number of high-calibre entrants this year, the competition has now been whittled down to three great finalists – Darren McLaughlan, Course Manager at Trump Turnberry Golf Club; Keith Scruton, Course Manager at Darwen Golf Club; and Kiel Barrett, Head Groundsman at Leeds United FC.

Darren is now into his 26th year in the industry and followed in his uncle’s footsteps who was a greenkeeper. Commenting on his award, Darren said: “I’ve been spraying for as long as I can remember, and I look at this award first and foremost as personal development. This is a huge part in the way I like to manage myself and my team. If you are standing still, then you are going backwards so to have this award; and even to be nominated for me is progression.”

A summer job at a local golf club ignited Keith’s passion for greenkeeping and he has since been in the industry for 32 years. “The benefit of having this award is that it will act as an accreditation of good practice and that’s something I’ve tried to achieve with spraying over the years,” he said. “Hopefully this award shows that even a small club can implement good practice and do the right things without having as many resources as the bigger clubs.”

Kiel learned his trade at Headingley Carnegie stadium, home of Leeds Rhinos, before being appointed as the Head Groundsman of Leeds United FC in 2012. He has been at the club ever since and has worked wonders with the Elland Road pitch.

The overall winner will be announced at the BTME Welcome Celebration which will be taking place om 24th January 2023.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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GKB return to BTME

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GKB return to BTME: With all eyes set firmly on spring renovations, GKB Machines return to BTME to showcase an impressive line-up of equipment whether its scarification, aeration or overseeding on the agenda.

After making its UK debut at BTME in March 2022, the VCollector will be back in Harrogate, showcasing the benefits of effective organic matter removal and collection of the extracted material in one quick and simple pass.

GKB return to BTME

GKB return to BTME

The VCollector is available in two working widths – 1.2m and 1.6m – and is equipped with precision-engineered steel blades, spaced at 25, 50, 75 or 100mm, for the accurate removal of thatch, surface debris and lateral growth down to depths of 40mm. At the heart of the VCollector is the unique GKB CombiRotor®, fitted with wind paddles to generate the suction required to effectively vacuum the removed material up and into the 400L hopper – hydraulically lifted and emptied at the touch of a button.

Alongside the VCollector with be the GKB Deep Tine Aerator (DTA). Precision engineered and built for durability and strength, the DTA is available in four working widths from 1.2m to 2.6m meaning there’s a model suited to most fine turf and sports turf applications. Smaller models like the DTA 120 and DTA 160 are ideally suited to aeration tasks around the golf course, offering a maximum working depth of 250mm and a heave angle of up to 25 degrees.

Completing the line-up will be the versatile Combiseeder, available in four working widths to meet the needs of greenkeepers, sports turf managers and contractors alike and capable of both seeding and routine overseeding work. The tried and trusted combination of two spiked rollers and two brushes create the optimal number of holes in the ground, allowing for accurate seed distribution and creating the ideal conditions for germination.

The GKB Technical Team will be on hand to discuss these products, and many more from their innovative golf and sports turf portfolio, across the three days on stand 644.

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