Kubota’s Rugby Partnership

/in , /by

Kubota’s Rugby Partnership: Kubota UK have announced that they are extending their elite sponsorship of Aviva Premiership club Northampton Saints until 2020.

The market leading machinery manufacturer and supplier of world-renowned Kubota engines joined forces with Saints back in 2015, the company’s first ever sponsorship with a top flight sports team.  Based on the success of the partnership, Kubota is looking forward to continuing its support for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.

Kubota's Rugby Partnership

Dave Roberts, Kubota UK’s Managing Director, said: “ Signing a new deal with Northampton Saints was an easy decision for us. Over the past 3 years that we have been involved with the club, it has proved itself to be an outstanding partner, delivering fantastic exposure for our brand, a high quality match day experience and, of course, a great way to showcase our products. Partnering with Saints aligns perfectly with our drive for excellence, and the desire to lead our respective fields. We’re delighted to be continuing to build on that over the next few years.”

As part of the deal, Kubota provides some of its industry leading groundcare solutions to help the Franklin’s Gardens Ground Staff maintain its pitches to the highest standards in the Aviva Premiership.

Mark Darbon, Saints CEO, is thrilled to see the relationship between the two organisations blossom.  He commented: “This is a partnership in the truest sense of the word.  Kubota UK has been a great asset to the club in recent years and we are delighted to have extended our partnership with them.

“At Saints, we set out to have the highest standards in every area of our organisation. This includes how we maintain our stadium pitch – one of only three natural grass pitches in the league – as well as our training facilities. Having the highest quality training and playing surfaces is vital in allowing the team to perform.

“By continuing our work with Kubota, we are helping build the best platform to realise our ambitions, and we are looking forward to working closely with the machinery manufacturer over the next two years.”

The elite sponsorship package also means Kubota receive a suite of commercial rights, from prime brand positioning on the back of the Saints playing shorts for all matches, to the Kubota logo featuring prominently in the stadium including on the big screen, on the perimeter advertising boards around the ground and in the matchday programme and matchday tickets.  The sponsorship also includes corporate hospitality and player appearances for Kubota events.

Karen Tipping, Kubota UK’s Marketing Manager, concluded: “Rugby union has a really strong appeal with our dealer and end-user customers.  As Saints are one of the leading professional rugby clubs in Europe, our sponsorship gives us the opportunity to extend the reach of the Kubota brand as well as further strengthen our relationships with our dealer and end-user customers.”

For more information on Kubota UK call 01844 268000 or visit www.kubota.co.uk.

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

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

Follow us on Twitter 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

SIS Pitches Project In Manadon

/in , /by

SIS Pitches Project In Manadon: SIS Pitches have announced a substantial new re-surfacing project taking place in Manadon, Plymouth.

The process commenced at the beginning of January and will see refurbishment of the existing sand based hockey surface, which will be replaced with SISTurf Soccer Pro60-meeting FIFA Quality Pro requirements. In addition, comprehensive fencing, floodlighting and surface extension works will be carried out, with the developments forming a new full size synthetic turf football pitch.

SIS Pitches Project In Manadon

A period of 8 calendar weeks was agreed in order for the completion of the project.

The project is the latest re-surfacing development carried out by SIS Pitches, following previous successes in the area at Ottery St Mary Leisure Centre and BH Live Littledown Leisure Centre.

The Manadon works represent part of a wider football, cricket and outdoor sports centre scheme led by the Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth City Council. The project is funded by the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, Sport England and the England and Wales Cricket Board, alongside contributions from the Council and the Trust. These works form one of a series of refurbishments to grassroots sports facilities, in order to improve the quality and experience of taking part in sport.

Simon Mroczek, UK Operations Director at SIS Pitches, feels the project represents a positive step for the city moving forwards: –

‘We are very pleased to be working on this project alongside the Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth City Council. The completed works will benefit not only the local community but also the city as a whole, providing a top-quality facility that the everyone can enjoy.’

SIS Pitches is a world-leader in the design, manufacture, construction, installation and maintenance of sports surfaces, and is a FIFA licensee, World Rugby preferred turf producer and certified FIH manufacturer.

SIS Pitches is a part of a framework agreement to provide the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of artificial grass pitches. The agreement is in support of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Football Association (FA), Sport England, England Hockey and Football Foundation (FF) capital investment programmes.

As part of ongoing innovation successes, SISGrass hybrid surface technology, developed by SIS Pitches, has been selected for 6 of the 12 2018 football World Cup pitches, including the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow-host of the opening and final matches of the tournament.

For more information, visit: www.sispitches.com

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

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

Follow us on Twitter 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.

GEA Winners Announced

/in , /by

GEA Winners Announced: The winners of the 2018 Golf Environment Awards (GEA) have been announced at The Crown, Harrogate, in a ceremony hosted by STRI Group and the R&A.

 Environmental Golf Course of the Year 2018 – Carnoustie Golf Links

GEA Winners Announced

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year 2018 – Stephen Thompson (John O’Gaunt Golf Club)

Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year 2018 – Abergele Golf Club

Operation Pollinator 2018 – Kingsdown Golf Club

STRI ecology consultant, Sophie Vukelic, said: “A huge congratulations to the winners and finalists of this year’s awards, you each showcase what sustainable management is within golf. The golf environment is a better place with you all working to protect it”

The annual Golf Environment Awards provide the platform from which the golf industry can demonstrate environmental excellence in all its forms. Established in 1995, the awards have gone from strength to strength and in 2018, attendees to the awards almost tripled in numbers.

Carnoustie Golf Links were awarded Environmental Golf Course of the Year for their incredible work within the local community and their continued environmentally conscious practices in all areas of golf course management. Each decision at the golf facility considers the impact on the environment and each member of staff is trained to work in such a way.

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year was received by Stephen Thompson of John O’Gaunt Golf Club for his passionate dedication to nature conservation within golf. Stephen has extensive biodiversity records for both courses at his club, enabling him to tailor the management of the mosaic of habitats accordingly.

Abergele Golf Club won Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year for their Tir Gwylllt (Wild Land) area. Darren, his team of greenkeeping staff and several members have created a wildlife haven from materials ready to hand or donated. The project is a remarkable example of people pulling together to create something spectacular.

Operation Pollinator was awarded to Kingsdown Golf Club where Tom Freeman had introduced extensive native wildflower areas with the help of local primary school children. Not only did this Operation Pollinator project provide for nectar and pollen loving insects, it also provided a great golf education to the younger generation.

STRI is indebted to lead partner, The R&A, and the sponsors – Ransomes Jacobson, Aquatrols, Syngenta, Tillers Turf and Wiedenmann and would like to thank them for their continued support. The R&A’s involvement in the GEA Awards does not elicit its endorsement for the sponsor’s products or services.

Fancy having a go yourself? The entries for the 2019 Golf Environment Awards are now open and we encourage all golf clubs, big or small, to enter and show off their hard work. Enter today at www.golfenvironmentawards.com

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

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

Follow us on Twitter 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.

Rain Bird Appoints Rigby Taylor

/in , /by

Rain Bird Appoints Rigby Taylor: Rain Bird, a leading global manufacturer of irrigation product and services, has confirmed the appointment of Rigby Taylor as its distributor of golf products for the UK market.

UK golf course managers will continue to access products through the UK-wide network of approved Rain Bird contractors, but they will now receive additional support, new product information and after-sales service from Rigby Taylor’s technical field sales force.

Rain Bird Appoints Rigby Taylor

Chris Clark, Rigby Taylor’s executive chairman, commented: “We are very pleased at this partnership agreement. The coming together of two such major industry names will bring significant synergistic benefits and our 50 plus team of highly skilled field personnel will be working closely with Rain Bird and its contractors to further establish this exciting range of products as the UK’s brand leader.”

Jimmy Sandison, regional sales manager for Rain Bird in the UK, Ireland, Iceland and Scandinavia explained: “We want to provide the very best levels of service and support to all of our customers. By having Rigby Taylor in place as a strong UK distribution partner for our golf course irrigation products, contractors and course managers will all benefit from a quicker, more efficient service.”

He added: “My expanding team and I will concentrate our technical expertise and irrigation know-how on educating and supporting customers in optimising the performance of their irrigation systems and in using water, energy and human resources more efficiently. We will also be focusing more of our time working with key partners who are designing and specifying new systems and those involved in course renovation projects.”

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

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

Follow us on Twitter 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.

John Deere Partnership Renewed

/in , /by

John Deere Partnership Renewed: John Deere and the Ladies European Tour (LET) have confirmed an extension to their partner agreement as of January 2018, during which Deere will continue to be designated the Tour’s official supplier of golf course maintenance equipment which includes mowers, tractors and Gator utility vehicles.

Under the terms of the agreement, LET tournaments – including The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in September 2019 – will be supported by John Deere equipment through the company’s European golf dealer network. Deere officials will also continue to work closely with the LET’s agronomists, with the goal of helping to produce better quality playing surfaces across the continent.

John Deere Partnership Renewed

The announcement was made by LET chairman Mark Lichtenhein on the John Deere stand at BTME 2018 in Harrogate on Tuesday January 23, together with John Deere’s global turf marketing director Manny Gan and European turf sales & marketing manager Carlos Aragones.

“We are delighted that John Deere has decided to extend its relationship with the Ladies European Tour for the next two years, beyond The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles,” said Mark Lichtenhein. “This is a testament to our enduring partnership since 2006 and demonstrates the alignment of our brands and our joint objective to ensure a bright future for the women’s game.”

Carlos Aragones added, “We are also delighted that what has already proved to be a fruitful relationship with the Ladies European Tour is continuing to grow. The strength of the John Deere brand is based on the quality of our products and customer service, and we are very proud to be associated with both the LET and The Solheim Cup.”

The Solheim Cup is the highlight of the women’s professional golf calendar, when the best women golfers from Europe and the United States compete for this prestigious biennial trophy. The next tournament takes place on the world-famous PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland from September 13-15, 2019.

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

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

Follow us on Twitter 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.