Darren McMahon Joins Howardson Group as Head of Marketing

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Darren McMahon Joins Howardson Group as Head of Marketing: Howardson Group is pleased to welcome Darren McMahon as the new Head of Marketing.

Darren’s career has spanned several industries, with roles at Aga-Rangemaster, Valor Fires, and, most recently, Viessmann, a family-owned German company where he spent 14 years leading UK marketing, training, and public affairs. His extensive background in high-quality product manufacturing and customer-focused marketing makes him a perfect fit for Howardson Group, which includes the Dennis, SISIS, Hunter Grinders, and Syn-Pro by SISIS brands.

Darren McMahon Joins Howardson Group as Head of Marketing

Darren McMahon Joins Howardson Group as Head of Marketing

Speaking about what attracted him to the role, Darren said:

“As a family-owned business, decisions are made for the long term. There’s a very high drive for product quality, which I believe is extremely important. Customers should receive the very best product that we can manufacture, and the product should do the job for which it’s purchased. To support these products in the Dennis, Hunter Grinder, SISIS, and Syn-Pro ranges, there’s a crystal-clear focus on delivering the kind of service our customers would expect from a premium business.”

Since joining, Darren has already had an immersive introduction to the industry. Within his first five weeks, he attended three major exhibitions in the UK and USA, met with dealers, customers, and industry experts, and even got hands-on experience using Dennis and SISIS machines on both natural and synthetic surfaces.

“I think I joined at the best time to get a good feel for the company and the industry,” Darren said. “It’s been incredibly busy, but I have a growing appreciation for the hard work that goes into the preparation and maintenance of playing surfaces by groundscare professionals and how difficult the job is.”

Darren’s vision for the role focuses on two key objectives:

“I can break my objectives down into two areas,” Darren explained. “First, is to protect the historic legacy that’s gone into building the brand perceptions and reputations of today as a result of the hard work of others up to this point. Second, it’s to use that strong base to support further expansion of the Howardson Group, both locally in the UK and Irish markets and more internationally around the world where there are further opportunities for high-quality machines coupled with superior service.”

Away from work, Darren is an avid cyclist, finding peace in long countryside rides.

“There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting on my road bike on a crisp day, heading into the countryside, and enjoying the beautiful country we live in but usually take for granted rushing from one place to another,” he shared.

Howardson Group is excited to have Darren on board and looks forward to his contributions in driving the company’s growth while upholding its legacy of quality and service.

For further information visit www.howardsongroup.com

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Aspen return to Arb Show after record-breaking 2024

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Aspen return to Arb Show after record-breaking 2024: 2024 was a record-breaking year for Aspen Fuel – with even more commercial customers across arboriculture, landscaping and groundcare discovering the benefits of using a cleaner petrol.

Maintaining that momentum, Aspen Fuel are now looking forward to exhibiting at the Arb Show when it returns to Westonbirt Arboretum on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May.

Aspen return to Arb Show after record-breaking 2024

Aspen return to Arb Show after record-breaking 2024

Aspen are proudly the original and premium brand of alkylate fuel for the professional arborist. Free from ethanol, benzene and most other hazardous hydrocarbons traditionally found in pump petrol, Aspen delivers a longer shelf life and a cleaner burn, enhancing engine performance and reliability while providing an improved working environment for the operator. Available in 4-stroke and a pre-mixed alkylate petrol for air-cooled 2-stroke engines, Aspen offers a viable solution for those seeking a more environmentally friendly fuel source, without resigning fully serviceable petrol-powered equipment to the shed or scrapyard.

The many proven benefits for people, machinery and the planet, has seen Aspen become the workstyle choice for a range of businesses within the arboriculture and forestry sectors, together with golf courses and local authorities. As of February 2025, the use of alkylate fuels has also been recommended by the Forest Industry Safety Accord (FISA) for the health of chainsaw operators.

Those sceptical about making the switch are invited to stand C10 this May to speak with a member of the Aspen technical team, who can also explain the trial opportunities for you to ‘Experience the Difference’ within your business. More details will also be available on the various pack sizes and flexible delivery options which bring further time and budget savings by all-but eliminating trips to the petrol station.

While on the stand, visitors can put their strength and skills to the test with the return of the infamous ‘Aspen Challenge’, for a chance to win a fantastic prize on each day of the show.

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GroundsFest Academy Launches with Free Educational Day

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GroundsFest Academy Launches with Free Educational Day: The highly anticipated first GroundsFest Academy event is set to take place on May 13, 2025, marking the beginning of a new era in free, hands-on education. The first session, hosted in partnership with DLF, titled ‘Seed Science,’ will be held at DLF Seeds’ UK head office in Inkberrow, Worcestershire.

This CPD-accredited educational day is completely free to attend, thanks to GroundsFest’s commitment to reinvesting profits from the show back into the industry. The Academy aims to provide valuable training, helping attendees refine their skills, discover new techniques, and gain insights from leading experts.

GroundsFest Academy Launches with Free Educational Day

GroundsFest Academy Launches with Free Educational Day

Who Can Attend?

The GroundsFest Academy is designed for anyone working across the groundscare, landscaping, greenkeeping and sports turf sectors. Whether you’re an industry professional looking to deepen your knowledge or a newcomer keen to gain practical experience, this event offers an excellent opportunity to learn and network.

What to Expect

The Seed Science event will feature expert-led, hands-on sessions covering key aspects of seed science, including:

Grass & Seed Identification – Learn how to distinguish different grass species and seed types through practical exercises.

Germination & Pre-Germination Tests – Gain insights into how and why seeds germinate, with live demonstrations and interactive learning.

Site Tour of DLF – Discover how seed production, testing, and breeding processes work firsthand.

Sowing, Aftercare & Maintenance – Develop your understanding of best practices for sowing and maintaining grass seed.

A Unique Learning Experience

The day will be structured to encourage participation and engagement. Attendees will be split into groups and will take part in quizzes throughout the sessions. The winning group will receive a special prize, adding an element of fun to the learning experience.

Bradley Tennant who is leading the GroundsFest Academy initiative expressed his enthusiasm for the launch, stating: “We’re absolutely delighted to be launching the first-ever GroundsFest Academy. Thanks to the support of DLF, we’re able to offer such a high-quality educational event. The DLF team share our passion for knowledge and innovation.”

Matt Gresty, MM and Designer Sales and Brand Manager for DLF UK, said: “DLF are pleased to host the inaugural Groundsfest Academy Education Day on Seed Science, we look forward to providing an interesting and informative day for all attendees.”

Secure Your Spot

The GroundsFest Academy offers a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders while networking with fellow professionals. With limited spaces available, early registration is recommended to avoid disappointment.

To view the full seminar programme and to secure your place, visit the dedicated GroundsFest Academy website www.groundsfestacademy.com

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Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

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Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB: A fleet of natural and artificial maintenance equipment from GKB Machines is being championed by specialist sportsground contractors Bancroft Amenities.

Built up over a number of years, a Quick-Brush, Rotobrush and Deep-Clean are out daily servicing the requirements of synthetic pitches, while a Sandfiller, Combiseeder and pair of V-Strong scarifiers are preparing for a busy renovation season on a range of fine and sports turf surfaces.

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

In addition to delivering all aspects of renovation and maintenance for sports facilities in and around the northwest, Bancroft Amenities also offer a comprehensive hire fleet – with GKB playing a key role in both sides of the business. “Our relationship with GKB Machines is a longstanding one, starting initially with the brushes and cleaning systems for artificial turf pitches” explains Director Stuart Thompson. “We have one operative permanently on synthetic maintenance and our GKB fleet allows us to offer everything from a quick, routine brush to a deeper clean and decompaction of the infill.”

“The main thing about GKB is the build quality and back up support we receive from their UK Operations Manager Tom Shinkins. The kit is put through its paces with us, and even more so when it goes out to customers on hire so it’s critical for us that equipment is robust enough to cope with demand. With GKB, we have no concerns.”

This confidence in build quality quickly saw the addition of machines for natural turf to the fleet, including a Sandfiller and GKB Combiseeder. “The Sandfiller is unique on the market and does an incredible job of removing thatch and backfiling with sand in a single pass. As a specialist tool, we conduct this operation for golf clubs who just can’t believe the speed and cleanliness of the process and the dramatic improvements it brings to the growing environment.” He continues, “The Combiseeder is one of our most popular hire machines – user friendly and versatile, delivering reliable results on both golf courses and football pitches.”

The most recent delivery was a second GKB V-Strong, to come to the rescue of the original unit which is in high demand! “This scarifier does a bit of everything – an important piece of equipment for all of our renovation work and another popular machine on hire. With the weather now picking up, we’re booking the V-Strong in for spring projects on fine turf, before coming into play with winter sports renovations.”

Stuart adds, “Tom also understands the inconvenience of downtime and is quick to respond to any queries we have to ensure our schedule stays on track. The customer service is as good as the machinery itself, with GKB it’s the complete package.”

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Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

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Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro: Hayling Golf Club on the south coast of England has upgraded its machinery fleet with a significant investment in Toro.

Driving the decision was the club’s masterplan for course improvements created by renowned Golf Architect Tom Mackenzie to raise its profile as one of the top links courses on the south coast.

Hayling's masterplan includes Toro

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

“We have a clear blueprint to follow over the next few years and have our sights set on becoming a top 100 golf course,” says Course Manager Graeme Roberts. “We know success is reliant on having the right resources available and having worked with all the major turfcare machinery brands I knew Toro would be the choice to raise the bar and present a true links course for visitors to experience Hayling at its best.”

The purchase was structured by Toro distributor Reesink Turfcare and its financial partner, Novuna, to give the club control of its budget, forecasting every payment for the next five years.

Graeme continues: “When Steve Slinger, our new general manager, joined the club in February 2024, he was keen to prioritise what we needed to get the course where it needs to be. Once we’d put together the fleet list, we needed to safeguard that so other priorities didn’t delay or prevent us from getting the equipment, which can happen sometimes at golf clubs. The planned purchase and payment schedule suit our objectives.”

The Workman MDX Lithium, Toro’s latest addition to its hugely popular and successful utility vehicle range, headlines the new fleet and complements the heavy-duty HDX Workman, also included in the order.

“The MDX Lithium is ideal for a busy club like ours. There were 48,000 rounds of golf played here last year so maintenance has to happen while there is play going on and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest reduced noise pollution is a key objective of ours. The MDX Lithium is quiet and quick, meaning there’s little interruption for visitors or disruption to wildlife.

“This is our first time having a lithium-powered electric vehicle and in a way it’s a trial to see how we get on and if electric mowers should form part of our future. So far, it’s looking promising especially with the reliability and build quality of Toro.”

The fairways will be cut with Toro’s Reelmaster 3555-D mowers which Graeme chose for their light footprint, low centre of gravity and smooth, turf-friendly slick tyres. These are perfectly suited to Hayling as a links course, says Graeme.

“The course is built on shingle, and we want to promote fine grasses, which can be challenging for a site with limited water resources which dries out quickly. It’s like these mowers were specifically designed with these conditions in mind, delivering a delicate cut with no turf damage.”

The greens have been taken good care of by the Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420 for 13 years and there was no intention to change that, and for the surrounds, the Reelmaster 3550-D joins the club, chosen for its wide cut for enhanced efficiencies.

Peter Cornwall, Area Sales – Turfcare Equipment for the Reesink South East branch, comments: “It’s a priviledge to be working with and supporting Hayling with the machinery they need to improve the course and raise their profile. This is a comprehensive package deal and all the choices Graeme and the team made will make a valuable contribution to that.”

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