Turf News is the perfect place for professionals working within the UK’s vibrant turf industry – keeping you up-to-date with topical news, latest market developments and much more across all areas of the industry.
NEWS ARTICLES

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

/in , /by

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium: Last year a Hunter Industries irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK, was installed at the iconic London Stadium. After seeing a number of benefits, Head Groundsman James Williams wanted to extend the Hunter system to other areas of the stadium.

The former Swansea and Liberty Stadium groundsman has certainly made an impression in London since he took the job in 2016. James’ work has been widely praised by his peers, and also by players and managers. By his own admission he is addicted to his profession.

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

“I think every head groundsman has a bit of an obsession with their pitch,” he said. “The lads are always asking why I’m messaging them even when I’m on holiday but I have cameras all around the pitch which I view on my phone and I’m forever spotting things. It’s difficult to switch off.”

James now has even greater control over the pitch when it comes to irrigation – so much so that he can even manage it from his own home or wherever he may be.

“We’ve got probes in the pitch which give me a lot of readings such as moisture, the humidity in the stadium, the temperature and a lot more. Every morning I get an email with a report telling me what the moisture levels are from three different depths. If I see that the moisture has dropped below 10% then I’ll turn the irrigation system on through my phone.”

This advantage has all been made possible thanks to a newly installed Hunter Industries irrigation system. Last year James felt that he was not getting the best out of the previous irrigation system and the pitch wasn’t getting the water it needed. After getting in touch with KAR UK, the UK’s leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment, a new Hunter system was installed. The system included eight of the most technologically advanced commercial rotors on the market – the all-new I-80’s.

Engineered for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 meters. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides total top serviceability (TTS) via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance.

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

“I was instantly impressed with how good they were,” said James. “The service from KAR UK was also excellent and was part of the reason why I decided to go ahead and replace the outfield and pitch surrounds with the new Hunter TTS-885’s with no-bounce covers and turf cups.”

The new Hunter TTS-800 rotors provide maximum uniformity and longevity as they use the same gear drive and nozzles as the I-80’s. The high-torque gear drives are the strongest in the industry, so the challenges of reclaimed water use or poor water quality are mitigated. An extra-large, fast-access flange compartment comfortably accommodates wire connections and other components.

James and his team are now able to control the system both to the pitch and the outfields through the mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform. This provides highly secure, comprehensive cloud-based control and monitoring features to the new ACC2 controller at the stadium. The connectivity allows users to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notification of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

It is a technologically advanced system, yet incredibly user friendly – something which James felt was important.

“The one thing that stands out the most for me is that this system is very simple to use and that was essential. I needed something that the whole team could use – not just myself.

“I’m very impressed with the whole system. There is a reason that more and more stadiums are switching over to Hunter.

“The service and support from KAR UK has again been fantastic.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Mansfield Sand helps give Boston new identity

/in , /by

Mansfield Sand helps give Boston new identity: A new and exciting era is just around the corner for Boston United FC, and it all starts with an impressive new stadium and a Mansfield Sand Fibresand pitch.

Boston United has said farewell to its ground at York Street after its lease expired and the club is now looking forward to creating a new identity at its new home. The new 5,000 capacity Boston Community Stadium is being built to Football League standards in the hope that the Pilgrims can regain their place in the EFL after being relegated from League 2 in 2007.

Mansfield Sand helps give Boston new identity

Mansfield Sand helps give Boston new identity

A lot of the spotlight will be on the new pitch which manager Craig Elliott, hopes will aid an attack-minded style of play. This wasn’t always possible on the on the old pitch according to current head groundsman Jim Portas.

“The old pitch served a purpose but to be honest it wasn’t fantastic,” said Jim. “It had limited drainage and couldn’t be watered in the way the team wanted and it didn’t really suit the manager’s style of play.

“This new pitch will be a lot faster and slicker and safer for the players. It has a nice, sturdy construction – just what it should be for an ambitious football club.”

The secret ingredient in the construction of the newly-laid pitch is Mansfield Sand’s Fibresand Technology – which has over the past few years become one of the most widely accepted systems for natural turf reinforcement.

It has been developed following a two-year research programme at the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) with the aim of further improving the characteristics of typical fibre reinforced, sand dominant rootzones by imparting a significant degree of resilience and energy absorption to the surface.

Fineturf (the chosen sports turf contractor) firstly laid 100mm of gravel on top of the drainage, followed by 300mm of graded fine sports sand before rotavating and mixing in of the fibres to the top 25-50mm. This process was followed by seeding and surface preparation including fertiliser programme in order to produce the final natural turf finish.

“The pitch works were originally meant to begin in April, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it wasn’t completed until July. The seed germinated after 6 or 7 days,” said Jim.

“The pitch also benefits from a new irrigation system which is working towards encouraging a deep-rooted sward.

“What we have now is a far superior pitch compared to what we had. Thanks to Fineturf and the Fibresand surface, we have an incredibly stable and more playable pitch – it will suit the team’s style of play and the manager will be happy.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

STIHL’s Robin Lennie retires

/in , , /by

STIHL’s Robin Lennie retires: STIHL Great Britain today announces the retirement of long-standing Managing Director Robin Lennie at the end of the year.

Robin joined the company in 1990 as Finance Director and Company Secretary and was promoted to Managing Director in 2008. Having studied Accountancy, Law & Economics at The University of Glasgow, Robin qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1978 and as an IOD Chartered Director in 2006.

STIHL's Robin Lennie retires

STIHL’s Robin Lennie retires

Robin leaves STIHL Great Britain in excellent financial health and during his tenure as Managing Director, the company has increased turnover from £57m in 2008 to over £109m in 2019.

Robin retires with many exciting plans including exploring even more of the world with his wife and travel companion Liz.

STIHL Great Britain is delighted to announce the appointment of new Managing Director Kay Green. Kay has a successful track record in sales and marketing and joins STIHL from Hasbro UK Ltd where she is Country Manager for UK and Ireland.

Kay Green will join STIHL on 1 March until which point Financial Director, Nick Burroughs will act as Interim Managing Director.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

STIHL updates long-reach hedge trimmer range

/in , , /by

STIHL updates long-reach hedge trimmer range: STIHL has launched the new HLA 66 and HLA 86, updating its range of cordless long-reach hedge trimmers designed for landscaping professionals and groundskeepers.

Ideal for pruning taller hedges and shrubs as well as clearing ground cover plants, the new HLA 66 and 86 replace the popular HLA 65 and 85 models, and feature a series of upgrades to improve the user experience. Exceptionally well balanced thanks to the repositioned battery, the hedge trimmers are lightweight for easier handling and reduced fatigue when working over longer periods.

STIHL updates long-reach hedge trimmer range

STIHL updates long-reach hedge trimmer range

Thanks to the EC motor, rapid acceleration of the blades is achieved for optimum performance, and the tool can be used in wet conditions to minimise downtime. The 115º swivelling cutter bar allows user to achieve top, side and bottom cuts easily, whilst the blade is also sharpened on both sides for efficient cutting in any direction. Additionally, the cutter blade can be folded flat for improved user safety and space saving when transporting the tool.

Both of the models feature a new ergonomic control handle and a self-resetting locking lever in combination with the Ergo lever for an intuitive start-up process. This design also ensures that the tool is comfortable to use whether right-handed or left-handed and features anti-slip protection for further safety and comfort.

The HLA 66 is available with a loop handle and shaft grip for ergonomic working helping users trim closer to where they are standing, whilst the HLA 86 offers a telescopic alternative for a longer reach. With an adjustable length of 260cm – 330cm, users can easily find the best working position using the HLA 86, whilst the square shaft design prevents against twisting and deflection allowing for precise positioning even at full extension.

Both the HLA 66 and HLA 86 can be used with STIHL’s high-performance 36V AP battery system for professional use and are compatible with a number of accessories, including a mounting base, carrying system, clamp for the telescopic shaft and catcher plate for the cutting blade.

For more information on STIHL’s range of long-reach hedge trimmers, please visit www.stihl.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Brush-Pro keeps it clean at Worksop Town FC

/in , , /by

Brush-Pro keeps it clean at Worksop Town FC: After a new synthetic pitch quickly turned fortunes around for Worksop Town Football Club, the club’s attentions soon turned to the maintenance of their new pitch. Life president and groundsman Keith Ilett explains why they chose the SISIS Brush-Pro.

It is safe to say that over recent years, Worksop Town FC had fallen on hard times. In fact, the club was close to liquidation and arguably, no-one was more saddened than life-long fan, Keith.

Brush-Pro keeps it clean at Worksop Town FC

Brush-Pro keeps it clean at Worksop Town FC

“It was a very difficult period,” said Keith. “I’ve been supporting the club since 1954 and I was four years old when my dad and my grandad started to bring me along to watch the games. I then got more involved with the club in the 70’s and actually celebrated my 50th year at the club just a couple of months ago.

“Fortunately, Pete Whitehead (new owner), came in and he has completely turned the club around.”

One of the first actions under Pete’s new ownership was to remove the natural grass pitch and install a new synthetic pitch in a bid to make the club more self-sufficient.

“The revenue that the club receive from hiring the pitch out to the local community will hopefully keep the club surviving,” said Keith.

With a tremendous amount of usage building on the pitch, Keith required a machine to keep the surface at the highest possible standard, and this led him to the SISIS Brush-Pro.

It is a very common misconception that synthetic surfaces require very little attention but just like natural turf, they require maintenance as soon as they are constructed if they are to perform to the standard expected of them. Regular and periodic upkeep is required because it ensures a safe playing environment, retains the performance characteristics as well as prolonging the longevity of the surface.

The SISIS Brush-Pro is a ride-on brushing system comprising a pair of mid mounted oscillating units and three rear mounted brush units that that have been specifically designed for maintaining synthetic surfaces.

Brushing synthetic surfaces is essential to keep infill mobile, lift the pile and prevent algae accumulation, surface compaction and loss of porosity. The Brush-Pro has been designed for maximum manoeuvrability and operator comfort with features such as an electric start, hydrostatic drive for forward/reverse and its brush combinations – oscillating for thorough periodic work and rear mounted brushes for routine frequent work which cause less compaction than conventional drag brushes.

Brush-Pro keeps it clean at Worksop Town FC

Brush-Pro keeps it clean at Worksop Town FC

“I’m so happy with the Brush-Pro,” said Keith. “It really does leave you with an immaculate pitch once you’ve used the machine and we tend to give it a good brush after every ten hours of usage.

“I like to take it nice and slow when I’m using the Brush-Pro and I tend to brush in different directions in order to get the best results – it is fantastic breaking up any compaction which could potentially cause problems.

“It’s so comfortable to use as well – it is highly manoeuvrable and just a joy to use.”

Keith is now looking forward to a brighter future ahead.

“This is the start of new beginnings. We’ve got a great new pitch, brilliant equipment and a new owner who knows his football and knows his business – we couldn’t be in a better place.”

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 and 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

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.