Vandals target cricket club

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Vandals have damaged the pitch at Alton Cricket Club by driving a vehicle over it.

A series of tyre ruts has scarred the outfield at the Jubilee Playing Fields in Chawton Park Road.

The culprits also drove over the square – but this was unscathed, as the constantly rolled earth is much harder.

Alton Cricket Club has informed Hampshire Constabulary and hopes that police will patrol the ground in the evening, when it believes this and other recent incidents have occurred.

A statement from the club read: “Alton Cricket Club are very disappointed that someone has taken the decision to vandalise the facility at Jubilee Playing Fields.

“The cricket club have worked very closely with the town council over the past four to five years to improve the facility for all who use it, not just the cricket club.

“The work undertaken led to the club winning the most improved ground in the county in 2016, and we have received many commendations from visiting clubs in the last year.

“This is the fourth incident which has happened in the last eight to 10 weeks, including a broken window and theft of furniture which was used by not only the club but also by some of the elderly dog walkers.

“We are working with the town council to look at ways to prevent a repeat of this and hopefully they will be in a position to do something shortly.”

Alton Cricket Club chairman Richard Myers, who was at the ground on Friday morning, said the fourth incident was the kicking of a football on to the pavilion roof, causing a leak.

Talking about the damage to the pitch, he said: “We discovered this on Wednesday morning and think it probably happened on Tuesday night.

“It’s not kids doing it, it’s adults – they’re driving cars. You can see where they escaped by the tyre marks on the bank.

“It was worse than this at first, because we’ve rolled it since. But when you’re fielding, you wouldn’t want a cricket ball hitting that at 80mph.

“I’m down here between 20 and 30 hours a week, working on the outfield so Martin the groundsman can concentrate on the square, and I felt like giving up when I saw this.

“Ideally there should be a barrier to prevent entry at the car park end when the ground is not in use. Most dog walkers do a lap of the playing fields, so they could use the entrance at the other end and still see all the same things as they go around.”

To read original article visit – http://www.altonpostgazette.co.uk/article.cfm?id=109547

Jacobsen and AGCSA Deliver Successful Future Turf Managers’ Initiative

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The AGCSA, in conjunction with Jacobsen, held another Future Turf Managers’ Initiative, after the success of the inaugural event in Australia last year. With help from the NZGCSA, delegates from New Zealand were also selected to take part in this joint venture. The FTMI took place at the 33rd Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort at Mudjimba Beach, Queensland.

The two-day educational event is aimed at up-and-coming course staff who are focused on making the career leap to Superintendent or Course Manager. Focusing on personal and professional development, the FTMI uses the expertise of respected course managers, cross-industry training specialists and industry experts to mentor and educate the next generation of industry leaders.

The event involved presentations on budgeting, an insight into the Australian job market, CV and cover letter writing and interview techniques. The speakers were Stewart Fenton, CEO of Royal South Yarra Tennis club and president of Golf Management Australia (GMA), Lee Strutt, Course Manager at the Royal Automobile Club, Jeff Blunden from the Golf Business Advisory Services (GBAS), and Susanne Macphee, a human resources management professional.

The mentors were of the highest calibre and were on hand to support the groups assigned to them. Mentoring at FTMI for the first time were Leon Hennessey, Superintendent at Cromer Golf Club, NSW, and Travis Scott of Riversdale Golf Club, Vic. Mentoring for the second time was Ben Tilley of Headlands Golf Club, Qld, and for the fourth time, after being involved in the FTMI in New Zealand was John Spraggs of Royal Wellington Golf Club, NZ.

The FTMI is the only programme available to industry professionals that provides lifelong skills to both men and women wishing to pursue a managerial career within turfcare. This year, both delegates from Australia and New Zealand took part in a joint FTMI held in Australia to further broaden networking opportunities. Commenting on the success of the event, mentor Leon Hennessey said,
“It has been a privilege to be a part of this unique event in Australia. I personally found it such a fulfilling experience to mentor a group of superintendents who are so passionate about the industry and furthering their careers.

The format really worked; there was never a dull moment, and the delegates were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to network with peers from Australia and New Zealand, and have first class speakers on hand to pass on their wealth of knowledge. I would definitely urge anyone who wants to take the next step in their career to apply for the FTMI, it prepares you for everything you’ll face as a course manager.”

Speaking at the close of the event, Jacobsen’s Marketing Manager Karen Proctor, said,
“It has been another fantastic FTMI in Australia! The delegates were engaged throughout the two days, and it was touching to hear some of the positive feedback from all involved. I would like to thank the AGCSA and NZGCSA for working with us to make the event possible, it’s an initiative we are extremely proud to be a part of.

We have been given some great news that several of last year’s delegates have already been promoted to course manager since attending FTMI, and we are confident that many more will share the same success as a direct result of attending this fantastic educational event.”

Simone Staples, AGCSA Events and Education Manager added,
“We are delighted once again that Jacobsen has supported FTMI in Australia. It’s becoming the number one educational event within the industry for those wishing to make the step up to course manager, and the results are already showing. The AGCSA is pleased that there is so much enthusiasm for educational and networking opportunities within the industry, and we very much look forward to working with Jacobsen on this event again next year.”

This year’s delegates were: Luke Nowlan, Mathew Soles, Thomas Bickerdike, Brittney Goldsworthy, Ryan Pantic, Brenton Clarke, Tim Hoskinson, Simon Work, Jason Berkhout, Jacob Burridge, Rob Arestia, Matt Pollock, Danny Adams, Nick Launer, Garry Kunz, George Flynn, Alex Yates, Connor Scott, Kiel Stechman and Lance Morrin.

These delegates join a cohort of more than 160 greenkeepers from around the globe, who have graduated from the Future Turf Managers Initiative during the past five years.

For more information, visit: www.jacobsen.com/europe

Andy Walker celebrates 40 years at SISIS

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Andy Walker, Field Support Manager for Dennis and SISIS, recently celebrated an impressive 40 years of working for the company.

It all started back in 1976 when a fresh faced 16 year old, took a chance and strolled into the SISIS factory looking for a job – the rest as they say, is history.

Andy showed his potential during a month’s trial and was offered a permanent role working on the shop floor. He remained in that position for a few months but the ever determined Andy had his heart set on development engineering, where five years later he was supervising that very same department.

2009 began another significant change of direction for Andy when he was promoted to the position of Field Support Manager. He was in this role for two years before the Howardson Group acquired SISIS and it was a move which Andy believes signalled the start of a perfect partnership.

Andy Walker 40 Years“The two brands complemented one another perfectly – SISIS opened up markets to Dennis and Dennis opened new markets for SISIS.”

“It’s a nice feeling to work for a company that’s getting stronger and stronger all the time. There’s excellent management in place, the company is forward thinking and everyone supports each other.”

Andy admits that he never dreamed of where his career would take him and 40 years later he’s seen some of world’s most beautiful places, become a prominent and well respected figure in the turf care industry and seen first-hand the widespread adaptation of several technological advances. It’s an impressive achievement – but what’s the secret to his long and rewarding career?

“Quite simply – I love what I do. Throughout the 40 years not once have I ever woken up and dreaded going into work. The main reason that I’ve stayed in the industry for so long is because of the people in it – those I’ve met at bowling greens, cricket squares, football pitches, people from other companies and especially my colleagues over the years – they’ve become some of my closest friends and that’s something that money can never buy. It’s also been great to witness and be a part of the evolution of the turf care industry.”

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

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

SALTEX gets BIGGER

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Organisers of SALTEX 2016, which is being held on 2 and 3 November at the NEC, Birmingham, have revealed that the show is expanding to accommodate an increasing number of exhibitors.

The extra floor space marks a show growth of 1,120sq/m as exhibitors continue to sign up for the event. In fact, 81% of allocated space at SALTEX 2016, which includes the extra floor space, has already been accounted for.

The extra space will not only allow for more exhibitors to showcase an even wider range of products and services, but also provides an extra seminar theatre to accommodate an enhanced free-to-attend LEARNING LIVE programme plus Young Groundsmen’s Conference sessions, sponsored by Rigby Taylor and Top Green, which will now be held on the show floor.

SALTEX gets BIGGERLast year’s conference, organised and hosted by the Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) Young Board of Directors, which saw many of the industry’s leading experts taking part, was held in a separate room just outside of the exhibition halls. However, post-show feedback revealed that visitors would prefer this to be integrated into the show area. Organisers have listened and acted upon this feedback by enabling its new location.

Students and aspiring groundsmen interested in a career in turf management will be able to network with leading companies, view the latest technology and learn more about pathways into the industry by attending informative Young Groundsmen’s Conference sessions – within one easy-to-access location.

The relocation of this conference is just one of a number of revisions which are being implemented by the IOG to ensure that the show maintains a fresh feel. Last year’s education programme, LEARNING LIVE, saw 1,655 minutes of free seminars, and post-show visitor feedback revealed it to be extremely popular. This year, show organisers are planning an even more exiting programme with a greater depth of content and quality.

Commenting on the updated programme, IOG CEO Geoff Webb said: “Last year’s LEARNING LIVE programme was hailed as a great success – we had a huge range of subjects and there was something for everyone. Preparation for the 2016 LEARNING LIVE programme is already well underway and will address the issues that surround our industry.

For example we will be looking at the EU Debate – whether we are out or in, the 2016 European Championships in France and the Olympics in Brazil.

“We have now commissioned a fourth lecture theatre to expand the number of presentations across the two days. Pencilled in already are expert speakers from the UK and abroad. The Young IOG are also joining the LEARNING LIVE programme with some dedicated sessions in purpose-built seminar rooms with better sound systems and screens – a direct improvement from 2015 – based on speaker and visitor feedback.

“All in all we are looking at a growing event which we look forward to welcoming you to in November.”

Since SALTEX was first held in 1938, the event has brought the industry together to network, learn and view the latest innovations. While remaining true to these core principles of SALTEX’s heritage, it is apparent that the show is moving with the times and now reflects a unique and modern 21st century trade show.

Last year’s audited visitor figures confirmed 8,714 visitors spanning 45 different nations and the exhibition’s role as the industry’s principal showcase was evident. SALTEX 2016’s improved show features and unrivalled industry support are set to work together to create the freshest and most exciting turf management event to date when the doors open later this year.

Award Winning Volunteer Groundsman Puts His Trust in Etesia

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Robin Taylor, a volunteer groundsman for Grendon Rangers, a FA Charter Standard Club, has sworn by his Etesia Hydro 100 for the last twenty-one years. In that time he has picked up five awards and believes it is down to his trusty ride-on mower. His pitch has played a large part in ensuring that the club meets the FA pyramid step 7 criteria.

Grendon Rangers FC boasts two senior teams and six youth teams from Under 7’s upwards. It’s a good, successful footballing organisation for all ages, but arguably the club’s star performer is Robin – who dedicates up to 12 hours a week of his spare time to ensure that players have a good pitch to play on.

“My whole purpose in doing what I do is to have a nice level pitch that the players can play football on and it has to be safe pitch – no divots, no big cracks and nothing that can hurt a player.

“We all have past-times and my past-time is football. I enjoy maintaining the pitches and I enjoy watching as well. My reward is looking at the presentation of the pitches and watching the game without anyone picking up an injury,” said Robin.

Robin’s admirable enthusiasm is of great advantage to grass roots sports – not only does he tend to the main pitch but also the whole of the recreation ground, the school sports field and a nearby children’s park. It therefore seems fitting that he has picked up five awards in his time as groundsman – the most recent achievement being the runner-up Groundsman of the Year throughout the whole of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. With over 500 clubs in these counties, it truly is a remarkable accomplishment.

However, Robin doesn’t really have time to dwell on such feats; when he is not dedicating his spare time to maintaining the grounds for Grendon Rangers FC, he also finds time to work for RT Machinery, based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Award Winning Volunteer Groundsman Puts His Trust in Etesia Recently awarded the 2015 UK Dealer of the Year Award in the Service Dealer Awards, this successful family run business offers a wide range of equipment in serving the professional ground care, sports, private estate and homeowner turfcare markets. One of the company’s biggest selling brands is Etesia and Robin is certainly an advocate.

“I use the Etesia Hydro 100 ride-on mower which is what I call my right arm. It is so adaptable and I can do whatever I want as far as grass cutting goes. It’s a work horse for me really and I use it for everything I do.

“The cut is excellent – it is clean, can cut to any length, and the clippings come out the back of the machine without any loss of suction and it leaves the pitches nice and tidy,” said Robin.

As well as using the Hydro 100 to cut the pitch, he also adapts it for a number of other tasks. He uses it as a tractor unit to tow a slitter, roller, drag mat and he also uses it with a ‘hopper’ style basket on the back to transport top soil, sand and any other materials required.

“It sits on the back in place of the collection unit and it will hold almost two barrow loads of sand, so in the winter I can sand the pitch. In pre-season when I’m doing my renovation work, I can also put topsoil on with it and then for the rest of the year I can use it for a number of other odd jobs.

“I chose the Etesia Hydro 100 because if you are not careful you can end up with a machine that only does one job. The football club has not got a lot of money to throw around and one of the biggest things when you are maintaining pitches for a club such as this is to keep the overheads as low as possible. The club wouldn’t be able to afford a compact tractor or an individual cylinder mower. Even if you had these you’d still need other implements so it would work out very expensive – even if they were second hand. The Etesia mower is very well priced and comes into a category that football clubs like Grendon can afford.

“I’ve had the machine for 21 years and it’s still going strong – which says a lot about the quality of the build. The base of the machine never deteriorates – you’ve got the chassis which is strong, it has a robust front axle, there have never been any problems with the gear box and the engine is nice and smooth. Overall it has performed for 21 years in all weather and ground conditions – it’s been brilliant.”

The Etesia Hydro 100 was in fact the mower that helped Etesia make its entry into the world of green spaces. It was in 1989 and the concept was a revolutionary one – the first ride-on mower with direct ejection and integrated collection. This new concept made a strong impact on the mower market and rapidly became the standard-setter. Since then, the Hydro 100 has evolved and 2015 saw the launch of the Hydro 100 III. Capitalising on the strengths of the previous model, the new Hydro 100 goes beyond existing standards providing a powerful new Kawasaki engine, a larger 14-litre gas tank to give it more power and range, new steering for greater comfort and a new modern hydraulic drive transmission with differential lock for improved traction and drivability.

Although Robin is extremely happy with his current model, it appears that he already has one eye on the new Hydro 100 III and believes that it will be of great benefit to whoever he eventually passes the baton to.

“We are currently looking into grants because I would like a new Etesia mower. At my ripe old age someone else is going to have to do it one day so I hope the club manages to get one.

“But hopefully that’s a long way off. I love what I do; it’s just like doing the gardening I suppose, except I get more of a reward from this. The award is just the icing on the cake really.”

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk. You can also follow Etesia on Twitter @EtesiaUK for much more news, reviews and insightful views.