Outlaw For Aspiring Gamekeepers

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Outlaw For Aspiring Gamekeepers: Two lucky kids, Arthur and Belle Rhodes arrived home from school one day to find a big surprise. National Gamekeeper Organisation member’s wife, Louise and dad Jamie had purchased tickets for their children and entered the NGO Summer Prize Draw launched at The Game Fair. The star prize was a Polaris Outlaw 50 Junior quad bike, which is designed for children over the age of six, and ideal for budding gamekeepers.

The winning ticket, which cost just £1, was drawn at the Countryfile Live Show at Blenheim Palace. To their delight Louise and Jamie Rhodes were the winners. The Polaris Outlaw, which has a RRP of £1,999, was presented to them by Richard Coleby, Polaris’ District Sales Manager.

Outlaw For Aspiring Gamekeepers

“We’re thrilled”, said Jamie “this has been an extremely welcome surprise to have won this bike, we have had a smaller quad bike for a couple years now for our two children Arthur and Belle to use but it is now too small and we were looking at replacing it with a new one. Both Arthur and Belle were so excited to take delivery of the bike. Unfortunately they were at school when it was delivered but it was an excellent surprise for them when they arrived home!”

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Rigby Taylor’s Ryder Cup Comp

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Rigby Taylor’s Ryder Cup Comp: Rigby Taylor has launched a promotion called Seeds For Change with prizes of Ryder Cup weekends and POGO soil moisture measurement and management systems.

Each of the first three winning entries will win for the golf/sports club a POGO Pro moisture management system and free one-year Cloud subscription while the head greenkeeper/course manager/head groundsman will receive an-expenses paid weekend at the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Rigby Taylor's Ryder Cup Comp

The prize includes return travel, two night’s hotel accommodation and full on-course, corporate hospitality at the 42nd Ryder Cup being held at Le Golf National (Albatros Course) in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a suburb south west of Paris.

POGO Pro measures all four of the most influential variable governing turf performance – moisture, salinity (EC), canopy temperature and salinity index. It connects remotely to any Apple or android device and its integrated GPS features include precise location, geospatial condition analysis, cup placements, sprinkler positioning and patterns, area measurement and custom mapping.

Rigby Taylor seeds offer greenkeepers and groundsmen unmatched quality and benefits, including top performing cultivars, tetraploid technology and Germin-8T, an advanced seed treatment with added trichoderma atroviride for improved disease tolerance.

As part of the Seeds For Change promotion, the listed seed packages for greens, tees or fairways, as well as sports pitches, from Rigby Taylor’s R range include new perennial ryegrass cultivars (Estelle, Eurocordus and Gianna) as part of the already hugely successful R9 ultra-fine dwarf rye, R14CR creeping and diploid, and R25CRT tetraploid creeping and diploid ranges, respectively, as well as the new R442 tetraploid and diploid perennial ryegrass blend mixture.

Rigby Taylor's Ryder Cup Comp

Customers are required to order (direct with a Rigby Taylor area representative) any of the listed packages for greens, tees or fairways, as well as sports pitches, and correctly answer a technical question to gain an entry into the national draw.

The grass seed order can also be combined with hectare applications of Exteris StressGuard for turf disease prevention and/or Activate-XL, a microbial biostimulant for improved early rooting development. As additional ‘packages’ are ordered then more entries can be made into the draw.

For more details, contact your Rigby Taylor area representative or Freephone 0800 424919.

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

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New Territory Manager For Kioti

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New Territory Manager For Kioti: To cover Scotland and Northern England, Kioti UK have confirmed the appointment of Richard Green as Area Sales Manager.

Richard is based in central Scotland and brings with him a large amount of knowledge and experience of Compact tractors and the Groundcare industry.

New Territory Manager For Kioti

Richard also has the advantage of already being familiar with the Kioti range of products having sold them successfully in his previous employment.

Richard also has experience in the Agricultural and Construction industries.

For further details of the Kioti range of products please do not hesitate to contact Richard Green on 07876 593216.

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Kioti Tractor’s 4 Year Warranty

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Kioti Tractor’s 4 Year Warranty: As an exciting and progressive development Kioti UK Ltd have announced that all Kioti tractors supplied by Kioti Uk and retailed since the 1st of January 2018 now have a manufacturer’s 4 year warranty cover.

The first 2 years cover the whole tractor for parts and labour. Years  3 and 4 relate to the engine and Transmission only. Once again the cover includes parts and labour. Terms and conditions including regularly dealer servicing obviously apply.

Kioti Tractor's 4 Year Warranty

Patrick Desmond the Kioti UK General manager said that the extended warranty cover package is a testament to the strength and reliability that customers can expect from the Kioti Tractor product. The sales of Kioti tractors have gone from strength to strength over the last few years and this step should further increase the attractiveness of the Kioti Tractor product to Professional end users.

The Kioti Tractor range starts at the sub compact CS2610 and currently finishes at the 113 HP PX 1153. All models are supplied to  a comprehensive basic specification with the focus on operator comfort.  Ergonomically positioned controls ensure easy operation and efficiency.

The engines on all Kioti tractors especially the 50 hp plus models, give class leading environmental performance.

Kioti Uk also offer the Kioti Mechron diesel Utilty vehicels and the Commercial Cut and collect WD1260  ride on mower.

Please contact either Kioti Uk direct on  www.kioti-uk.com or telephone 01480 401512 or your local Kioti dealer for further details.

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New Dealer For TYM Network

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New Dealer For TYM Network: TYM Tractors has welcomed KJ Stoneman & Co Ltd in Devon to its dealer network, and in doing so is continuing its healthy network expansion of 2017 into 2018.

The appointment extends TYM’s coverage in mid and north Devon and provides the family-run agricultural dealer’s customer base of landscape and amenity customers, such as private estates, small holdings and farms, with a comprehensive compact tractor range.

New Dealer For TYM Network

Commenting on the latest dealer to join the TYM network, Scott Turner, southern regional sales manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “KJ Stoneman was looking for a tractor range suitable for its customers’ needs and TYM fit the criteria. Not only does the partnership see our plans realised in continuing to grow the dealer network, but it also fulfils KJ Stoneham’s plan to offer the choice of a reliable tractor to its customers.”

Jason Heard, owner of KJ Stoneman, which boasts 71 years in the business, says: “A TYM tractor takes everything in its stride. Fitted with world leading Perkins and Mitsubishi power units and incorporating the highest build quality, TYM provides quality and value for money in one unbeatable package. Plus, its performance matches its appearance, both of which will be very appealing to our customers.”

Reesink Turfcare introduced the TYM brand to the UK almost seven years ago and it’s been very well received by the market in the time since. Scott says: “Brand development has been progressive and the dealer network across the country is increasing as TYM is recognised for the quality, reliability and versatility it offers. We are delighted to welcome K J Stoneman to the ever growing TYM dealer network and look forward to working with them.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Sherriff To Distribute Turf Improver

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Sherriff To Distribute Turf Improver: Sherriff Amenity is delighted to announce that it is now the exclusive distributor in the UK of Carbon Gold’s Enriched Biochar Turf Improver.

Carbon Gold’s aim is to increase soil fertility and improve turf health through the use of biochar-based products and projects. Its blends are approved by the Soil Association for organic growing and are certified by the FSC®. This important alliance significantly widens Carbon Gold’s market reach and improves the availability of enriched biochar to the UK sports turf industry.

Sherriff To Distribute Turf Improver

Biochar is a highly porous, high carbon form of charcoal used to improve soil nutrition, growing conditions and turf health. It is made from untreated waste woody biomass that has been charred at a low temperature with a restricted supply of oxygen, a process called pyrolysis.

Biochar improves the physical nature of soils by increasing their water holding capacity and improving aeration, lessening the risk of drought and waterlogging. It also improves the cation exchange capacity of the soil, influencing its ability to hold onto essential nutrients.

Thanks to its microscopic honeycomb-like structure, biochar provides the perfect habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms – such as mycorrhizal fungi and actinomycetes bacteria – to flourish, encouraging increased root growth and plant vitality.

Carbon Gold’s Turf Improver enriches biochar with optimum levels of beneficial fungi, bacteria and trace minerals for optimum soil and sward health. Where prevention rather than cure is key, adding enriched biochar to soil provides the foundation on which to build resilient, attractive, playable turf, as recent sports turf trials have shown.

The growing popularity of enriched biochar in the professional and amenity turf sectors signifies a positive shift to a more biological approach, as part of a wider movement away from harmful chemical inputs and towards soil health.

Turf Improver is available immediately from Sherriff Amenity.

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

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A Rigby Taylor Cover-Up

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A Rigby Taylor Cover-Up: Following the marking out of lines on pitches, training grids and the application of coloured sponsor logos on or around the perimeter of grass surfaces, a fast cover up or concealment is often required when the surface is required for another purpose.

New Green-Out paint is an advanced technology green paint from Rigby Taylor that has been developed especially to cover up existing surface markings. An application of Green-Out will cover and conceal white lines and coloured stencilled logos, however unlike a traditional green paint it blends in better with the natural grass surfaces.

A Rigby Taylor Cover-Up

Two formulations are available

Impact Green-Out is a ready-to-use formulation for use on natural grass surfaces and applied through a spray marker such as an iGO.

Duraline Green-Out is also for use on natural grass surfaces and applied through a transfer wheel marker up to a 5:1 dilution rate.

A Rigby Taylor Cover-Up

Both formulations are easy to use and available in 10L drums.

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

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Wessex Joins Forces With RFU

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Wessex Joins Forces With RFU: Wessex International, one of Britain’s leaders in groundcare equipment, has become a partner in Rugby Groundsmen Connected.

The rugby club pitch maintenance equipment package, devised by the Rugby Football Union’s head groundsman, Keith Kent, is the RFU’s easy access, two-way communication network between the RFU and rugby union groundsmen. Working with trusted industry partners, Keith’s package is designed to meet the needs of rugby union clubs aiming to deliver a high quality pitch maintenance programme. Part of this includes the Wessex ProLine CRX-180 combination mower, with castoring wheels at the front and a full width roller on the rear for a precision stripe. The award winning CRX is very easy to maintain and is suited to compact tractors from 20hp such as the Iseki TM3265, which is also offered as part of the package.

“We’re delighted to be partners and have our CRX MultiCut chosen to be part of the programme,” says Pete Farndell, Wessex International’s Marketing Manager, “being part of Rugby Groundsmen Connected is a wonderful opportunity to get close to grass roots and the rugby groundsmen. The CRX has proved itself worthy at many RFU clubs and grounds across the UK. This is an excellent opportunity to let people know of its capabilities.”

Wessex Joins Forces With RFU

What’s different about the Wessex CRX MultiCut is that it is effectively three mowers in one: roller mower, finishing mower and combination mower. As a finishing mower, with its high blade tip speed it’s in a different league for cut quality, while maintaining increased manoeuvrability in awkward areas. In its role as a combination mower it is ideally suited to front mounting on a compact tractor, with the castoring wheels reducing scuffing and the rear roller leaving the prestigious striped effect on the turf.

Everything the RFU does related to pitch maintenance now comes under the banner of Rugby Groundsmen Connected and Wessex International are proud to be a part of the RFU initiative to provide information and advice to groundsmen, with special offers, a 3 year warranty and exclusive benefits to members.

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Beating The Stresses Of Sports

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Beating The Stresses Of Sports: Natural turf for sports is enjoyable to play on when effectively looked after but this relies on the health of the grass being well maintained to prevent ‘stressed grass’. This occurs when the growing conditions become difficult and results in poor sports turf with ‘bottom’ in the grass and sparse ‘thin’ grass with lots of earth on show. Grass, like most plants require light and heat from the sun, carbon dioxide and oxygen from the atmosphere and structure, water and nutrients from the soil. If any of these components is compromised, the grass plant will suffer and may not recover from the stress of play.

It is helpful if managing sports turf to understand the science behind the design and maintenance of natural sports turf which requires some specialist knowledge of soils, drainage and agronomy.

Beating The Stresses Of Sports

Amino acids are the foundational building blocks for plant growth. Even though plants have the capacity to biosynthesize all the amino acids that they require from nitrogen, carbon oxygen and hydrogen, the process is quite complex and energy consuming. Application of amino acids contained in Sward-booster allows the plant to save energy on this process during critical growth stages. Sward-booster takes plant nutrition beyond conventional fertilisers by combining a unique, powerful package of 19 essential amino-acids, humic acid complex, seaweed and major and minor nutrients from organic and inorganic sources. Sward-booster facilitates maximum utilisation of nutrients, water, CO2 and light to maximise growth efficiently. Sward-booster is ideal for feeding or aiding stressed grass on sports pitches, racecourses, lawns & other grassed areas.

A full sports turf maintenance plan produced by a competent agronomist consultant is essential & they need to consider the following points; frequency of mowing, aeration, irrigation, seeding, use of fertiliser and weed/pest control.

Regular mowing is fundamental to the maintenance of surface quality. Frequency of mowing will depend on the time of year and will vary according to the location of the site. Irrigation may be required to aid grass growth during dry periods & the use of a wetting agent may also be beneficial.

Fertilisation is important to aid growth and recovery, as well as to maintain good presentation. It must be applied at the optimum rate and at appropriate times. It’s best to determine this with a detailed soil analysis and expert advice on this from a qualified agronomist.

Full grass cover is essential to prevent weed invasion so regular seeding is necessary to repair damaged and weakened areas of turf. Ongoing preventive measures are required to protect the playing surface from pest damage and weeds.

Performance Quality Standards (PQS) provide a benchmark for assessing the efficacy of maintenance operations in terms of achieving and maintaining the quality and performance of natural turf sports surfaces. If you would like any more information or a free appraisal please contact Agrigem.

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

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Swansea Happy With Johnsons

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Swansea Happy With Johnsons: Liberty Stadium Swansea, the premier sports venue in south west Wales, is home to Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys regional rugby team. Although being sceptical, head groundsman Dan Kirton, made the switch to Johnsons Sports Seed in 2015 and now admits that it would take “something seriously special” to make them use anything else! Between Johnsons Premier Pitch and J 4Turf mixtures, the team have achieved fantastic year-round results year on year.

“We had heard and read so many good things about the range that for our renovations in 2015 we gave it a go,” explained Dan. As a multi-sport venue, Dan, and his team of three, face a variety of challenges when it comes to managing the pitch. “We have on average 30 football and 20 rugby games a season, with sometimes just a single day turnaround between matches. Renovation can also be hectic – the concert schedule will determine how long we have to get the pitch match fit. To stand any chance of good results we need mixtures that germinate quickly.”

Swansea Happy With Johnsons

Because of their unique requirements, DLF’s Ian Barnett suggested using a combination of Johnsons J Premier Pitch during summer, and for the colder months, Johnsons J 4Turf. “If we have a rugby game on the Friday night, we’ll clean the pitch up and put J Premier Pitch down and by the following week we’re getting germination – you can’t ask for better than that!”. J Premier Pitch is the UK’s No.1 sports turf renovation mixture, containing Europe’s highest rated cultivars to deliver a sward with exceptional wear tolerance, density and rapid recovery under heavy wear. J 4Turf tetraploid rye ensures rapid establishment even under low soil temperatures making it ideal for autumn and winter overseeding.

“This year we have a concert on the 7th July giving us just three weeks for renovation before the first game of the new season. If we have any chance of getting the seed through in time we’ll definitely be continuing with our Johnsons Seed programme; it’s easily the best seed we’ve ever used and, backed up with support and advice from Ian, means we haven’t looked back since.”

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

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