Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

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Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC: Bromley Cricket Club recently raised enough funds to purchase a much-needed new Hunter Irrigation system from KAR UK.

Founded in 1820, Bromley Cricket Club is one of the leading cricket clubs in Kent, with a long, successful, and proud tradition. As well as boasting four senior sides, the club is focused on promoting youth cricket and has approximately 500 youth players ranging from 4 – 18 years old.

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

As you can imagine, a lot of cricket is played at the club’s ground and David Wilson, cricket committee member and director of the main sports club, explained exactly why an irrigation system was needed.

“We have a very low, shallow, subbase of soil and the consequence of that, from our point of view is that in particularly hot periods in the height of summer, without any rain, the pitch would turn into a desert. It would turn to straw, become very hard and any undulations would become quite dangerous.

“Rainfall is becoming less and less reliable,” continued David. “We felt that we were getting to a point where a period of say 6 weeks, would make the outfield non-playable.”

Bromley Cricket club commissioned a topographical survey and a feasibility study, which stressed the importance of an irrigation system. The board began to raise funds in various ways, and it eventually reached its target at Bromley Cricket Club’s bi-centenary dinner celebrations which took place at The Oval.

The project went to tender, and Prime Irrigation was selected as the chosen contractor to install a Hunter Irrigation system from KAR UK. The system included 25 of the most technologically advanced commercial rotors on the market – the 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.

The I-80’s were installed strategically around the outfield while 6 TTS-885’s were installed on the square.

The 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.

Bromley Cricket Club also purchased the Roam remote which means operators never have to walk back and forth to stop and start irrigation. Furthermore, the club will soon be benefiting from the mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform. This provides highly secure, comprehensive cloud-based control and monitoring features which 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.

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

“I like the fact that Trevor, our Groundsman, will soon be able to wake up in the morning, if needed, and operate the system from his phone all the way from his house in Whitstable!” added David.

“I have been around the club cricket world for about 45 years, and I can’t think of another club that has a system like this, certainly not to this scale,” he continued. “We have a lot of competitors in this area, so we want the best possible surface for people to play on. I’m very impressed with this irrigation kit and now that we have water, I am confident that this pitch will soon be of a first-class standard.”

Commenting on the project, Alan Williams, Sales Director for Prime Irrigation, said: “It has been great to be a part of this project and the system is going to make a big difference. The Roam remote is incredibly easy to use, and the operator can select various programmes; they now have the flexibility to water certain areas and can have different run times.

“We’ve got a very good relationship with KAR UK,” he continued. “They are a good group to work with, very knowledgeable, always helpful in the office and we get a lot a lot of our products from them.”

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.

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Jon Lewis joins Price Turfcare

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Jon Lewis joins Price Turfcare: Jon Lewis, one of the premier groundscare equipment salesman in the West Midlands, has joined Price Turfcare, in a regional sales management role. Price Turfcare are the UK distributor of the Ventrac all-terrain compact tractor and associated attachments.

Jon has enjoyed a successful 22-year career in the groundscare industry, starting as an operator mowing grass for grounds maintenance contractor Smart Cut, before moving into his first sales role with Parks & Grounds Machinery. He later joined TH White, operating out of their Redditch depot, where he spent five years as area sales manager before joining Lely (now Reesink). After a successful nine years selling Toro products, he moved on to John Deere dealer Farols, again in an area sales management role, before making his latest move to join Rupert Price and the UK Ventrac operation.

Jon Lewis joins Price Turfcare

Jon Lewis joins Price Turfcare

“I have nothing but praise and respect for Rupert for the way in which in he has bought the Ventrac product to market here in the UK. I have supported him since he launched the business because of his integrity; he simply does right by the customer, they always come first.

“He leads a small but flexible group of people and thoroughly deserves the success he has achieved. To have sold a significant number of machines in the UK from a standing start in 2017 is some achievement, especially when you take into account two years of Covid.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge, but also to the opportunities it brings; this is an incredibly versatile machine with a range of attachments that work brilliantly and has so many applications across multiple sectors of the outdoor industry.”

Rupert Price added,

“I’m delighted to have secured Jon’s services and welcome him aboard; he is very well known, not only across the West Midlands, but also throughout the industry. He’s a larger-than-life character and a shrewd businessman who knows this industry inside out! We recently returned from the SAGE event where he slotted into the team perfectly. I have no doubt that he will be a great asset as we grow the business.”

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John Deere announces dealer expansions

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John Deere announces dealer expansions: John Deere has announced that three of its dealerships will expand to support the company’s agricultural customers across the West Midlands and mid-Wales.

Charlies Groundcare and Machinery, FAROL LTD and Tallis Amos Group LTD (TAG), will all take on new territories to offer full sales, service, and parts support to farmers and contractors within the region.

John Deere announces dealer expansions

John Deere announces dealer expansions

The move will ensure a seamless transition for John Deere customers who have been served by Rea Valley Tractors LTD (RVT) for the past 38 years. The partnership with RVT will continue until 31 October 2022.

Charlies Groundcare and Machinery – which will rebrand to Charlies Ag & Turf as a result of the change – is based at Coed y Dinas, Welshpool, and already supplies John Deere golf and turf products. The company will now add John Deere’s agricultural portfolio to its business, supporting customers west of Shrewsbury and across mid-Wales through a purpose-built agriculture facility at its Welshpool site.

FAROL will grow its business to supply and support customers in Staffordshire and Derbyshire, while TAG will represent the brand in Shropshire, east of Shrewsbury. Both businesses have already begun actively searching for premises to set up new, local dealerships, demonstrating their commitment to agricultural customers in the region.

Each business will communicate its own plans separately in the near future.

Brian D’Arcy, Agricultural Division Sales Manager, said: “Ensuring that the highest possible level of service and support continues for our customers is the main priority, and we are pleased to have been able to appoint three dealers who will quickly establish themselves in their new areas of responsibility.

“TAG, FAROL, and Charlies, are well established, successful businesses which have served John Deere customers extremely well, so I am confident that the high level of service will continue across the West Midlands and mid-Wales.

“We are grateful for the excellent partnership John Deere and RVT has maintained for the past 38 years and are thankful to the entire team at RVT for its dedication in serving our customers.”

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Dennis G860 – King of the Kassam

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Dennis G860 – King of the Kassam: The Dennis G860 has ‘everything you need’ in a cylinder mower according to Kieron Jennings – Head Groundsman at Oxford United FC.

Kieron, who is employed by Grasstek and oversees the maintenance of the pitches at Oxford United FC’s Bangkok Glass Training Centre and the Kassam Stadium, felt the time was right to purchase a new cylinder mower. Somewhat of a turf perfectionist and a huge fan of the beautiful game, he revealed exactly why.

Dennis G860 - King of the Kassam

Dennis G860 – King of the Kassam

“Ultimately we wanted a better quality of cut,” he said. “We needed a mower which was going to give us a lot more definition. The first team like to play real football; fast one-touch football, and therefore the objective was to get that leaf down and as tight to the plant as we possibly could. We felt we could achieve this best with the Dennis G860.”

Kieron came to this conclusion after various cylinder mowers were demonstrated at the Kassam Stadium. As someone who highly values the team around him, Kieron was also keen to gauge feedback during the demonstrations.

“We’ve got a trainee that has never used a cylinder mower, but with supervision he jumped straight on the G860’s with no problem at all – he enjoyed every minute of using it.”

Lightweight at just 166kg the Dennis G860 is indeed incredibly easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to operate. Furthermore, the handlebar console houses the controls for the throttle, parking brake, roller drive and cutting cylinder drive.

As one of the most renowned cylinder mowers in the grounds management industry, the Dennis G860 features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish on every occasion.

“The quality of cut is second to none and it gives us a precise cut each and every time,” added Kieron. “We didn’t quite get that with our last mowers so I’m glad we switched.

“The manager has never once complained about the pitch – in fact he is always complimenting it.”

Dennis G860 - King of the Kassam

Dennis G860 – King of the Kassam

Aside from providing a perfect finish, the G860 also features an interchangeable cassette system to assist with a wide range of tasks such as scarifying, verticutting, brushing, spiking, and slitting. Kieron revealed how some of the cassettes play a part in his maintenance programme.

“As you’d expect, we use the cutting cylinders a lot – perhaps once or twice a day throughout the week. The brush is used to clean the top surface out and we’ll use the verticutter cassette to cut into our laterals, to thin the grass out and to take any Poa out.

In the winter we’ll rely on this cassette maybe two or three times a month because it helps with how the ball moves across the pitch in terms of the speed and the bounce.”

Kieron purchased two Dennis G860’s and he would have no hesitation in recommending them.

“They are very good machines; they are built well, and the durability is fantastic,” he said. “The G860’s have helped us get to where we want to be, and they are above anything else on the market.

“I can confidently say that if you are thinking of changing your cylinder mower, then get a G860 because it has got absolutely everything you need.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

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

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ISEKI raises the game for village club

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ISEKI raises the game for village club: An ISEKI compact tractor is helping to raise the standard of football pitches for a local village club, based in Northamptonshire.

Deanshanger Colts & Girls were established in the summer of 1989. The club has approximately 260 children aged 6-15 and features adult teams as well. The teams play their home games at Deanshanger playing fields where there are five pitches.

ISEKI raises the game for village club

ISEKI raises the game for village club

Mark Pether is the man responsible for maintaining the pitches and he revealed how a much-needed Football Foundation grant finally enabled them to purchase their own maintenance equipment.

“Over the years we have never had our own equipment, and this has been a bit of an issue,” he said. “It was decided 12 months ago that we would use the Football Foundation grant and look to invest in some equipment to take care of the pitches.

“When we started looking for the equipment, we reached out to a local dealer called RT Machinery. We explained what our situation was and what we were trying to achieve, and they suggested the ISEKI TM3267.”

The ISEKI TM3267 compact tractor is a versatile 25hp diesel compact tractor with a F8/R8 mechanical transmission. The ISO-mounted operator’s platform combined with ergonomically positioned controls ensures operator comfort during extended working periods. The 3-point linkage has a lift capacity of 600kg or 800kg when fitted with the high-capacity lift kit.

It also features, as standard, a rear-PTO, two double acting valves, mid-PTO, two double-acting auxiliary valves, weight frame and a choice of AG or Turf tyres. The TM3267 is available with an optional front loader.

Further benefits include:

  • Excellent performance coupled with high efficiency
  • ISO mounted operator platform for reduced noise and vibration
  • Power: 18.9 kW (25.3 hp)
  • Drive System: Mechanical or HST

Mark, who uses the TM3267 at least twice a week, explained the impact it has already made at Deanshanger playing fields.

“We’ve been using it for 12 months and the quality shines through this ISEKI machine,” he said. “Never have there been any issues and it starts first time every time.

“It is powerful, and flexible enough to give us options to use all the equipment across the pitches. The size of the TM3267 is also very beneficial. We are quite confined here in terms of space at Deanshanger, but we can easily lock it away in our own container.”

Mark was also quick to praise the service he receives from ISEKI dealer RT Machinery.

“The guys at RT Machinery have been absolutely fantastic. When they delivered the ISEKI machine, they gave us a full brief on how to use the machinery and they are always there to support us if ever we need them.

“I would recommend the ISEKI TM3267 to anybody,” he continued. “In fact, I have already been recommending it to quite a few local clubs nearby.”

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