RainBird promotion for Alastair Higgs

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RainBird promotion for Alastair Higgs: Alastair Higgs has been promoted to the role of Europe Service Manager. In this new position, working from Rain Bird Europe’s office in France, Alastair’s responsibilities will include developing and driving forward service activities for Rain Bird across Europe.

Beginning his career as a greenkeeper at Calcot Park in 2000, Alastair joined American Golf UK in 2004, before becoming Head Greenkeeper at Donnington Valley Golf Club, and then Course Manager at Windlesham Golf Club. Joining Rain Bird in 2016 as a Golf Sales Specialist, he became Golf District Manager for the UK, Ireland and Iceland in 2018, managing and promoting the distribution of Rain Bird Golf products and services through trusted partners, providing support and guidance about best practice to end users.

RainBird promotion for Alastair Higgs

RainBird promotion for Alastair Higgs

Alastair comments:

“My new role widens my remit significantly and covers the full spectrum of Rain Bird products over a much larger geographical territory. Having been involved with golf throughout my career to date, it’s a welcome change to be dealing with a range of new sectors from agriculture to residential. It also allows me to manage and guide our team of talented service engineers and support the network of approved service providers to deliver after sale Global Service Plans, installation start-up, training, software and on-site services.

As our focus is increasingly software-centric, remote and on-site support is becoming much more important, not only for new installations but also throughout the lifetime of Rain Bird systems. An enhanced service offering puts customers in full control and gives them complete peace of mind, enabling them to maximise efficiency of central control and cloud-based technologies and gain all the benefits that these offer.”

“I am delighted to announce Alastair’s promotion” says Richard Nelson, Global Sales and Service Manager. “Alastair has in-depth knowledge of our irrigation technologies and with his vision and drive, will take us forward in this exciting new period for the Rain Bird European service team.”

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Polaris support Sporting & Sportrap Championships

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Polaris support Sporting & Sportrap Championships: Polaris Off Road Vehicles continues its partnership with the prestigious UK shooting ground, E.J. Churchills, by supporting the 2021 CPSA World English Sporting and Sportrap Championships that took place last week.

Running from Monday 5th July to Sunday 11th July, this was the sixth time that E.J. Churchill had hosted the World Championships, which attracts competitors from all over the world. Polaris UK supported E.J. Churchill by supplying a number of vehicles to help with event logistics, including the Ranger XP 1000 Crew, General 4-seater model, Ranger 1000, Ranger Diesel and the electric Ranger EV, in addition to the existing fleet in operation across the grounds.

Polaris support Sporting & Sportrap Championships

Polaris support Sporting & Sportrap Championships

Known as the most prestigious clay pigeon shooting ground in England, and the largest, spanning over 35-acres, the award-winning E.J. Churchills Shooting Ground is built upon a century of heritage and excellence. The grounds are located just outside of London on the wider West Wycombe Estate; a 5,000-acre estate that is home to the Dashwood family and has been since 1698. With the grand English estate of West Wycombe as a backdrop for the event, competitors enjoyed the traditional British experience surrounded by the beautiful English countryside.

Polaris off-road vehicles have been in operation across the estate for over ten years, with a number of Polaris Ranger models being used for ground management, maintenance and VIP guest logistics. For E.J. Churchill, it comes down to reliability, and for the World Championships specifically, E.J. Churchill needed to ensure their vehicles did not let them down across such an important event.

Rob Fenwick, Managing Director of E.J. Churchill Shooting Ground, said: “The World Championships are always a huge deal for us at E.J. Churchills, and it’s really important that we have complete confidence in our kit to ensure everything runs smoothly – it’s vital to a successful event. In our opinion, the Polaris vehicles do just about every job with complete ease; it’s a seriously hard-working tool that’s never let us down since we started using them ten years ago.”

The 2021 CPSA World English Sporting and Sportrap Championships alternate between the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) in England and the National Sporting Clays Association (NCSA) in the USA each year. The World English Sporting Championships consisted of 200 targets, shot over two days. There was a 25-target Super Final, where the top six shooters competed for the title. The World Sportrap Championships is a 100-target competition shot across the course of the week. In addition to the two world championships, a preliminary English Sporting course and a FITASC Sporting course also took place during the event.

Watch the ninth episode of RANGER Stories to see how E.J. Churchills Shooting Ground uses their Polaris Ranger vehicles on the Polaris Off-Road International YouTube channel here.

For more information on E.J. Churchills and the World Championships, please visit https://www.ejchurchill.com/

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Record breaking sports turf health across UK

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Record breaking sports turf health across UK: The results of the May and June 2021 Grass Health Watch are now out. Mike Heisig from FairWay Awards comments on the latest changes in sports turf health up and down the country.

“Following an amazing sports turf health recovery on our indicator sports clubs during April, the results for May continued to be good reading for the industry and the results for June nothing short of amazing.

Record breaking sports turf health across UK

Record breaking sports turf health across UK

2021 grass health breaks the records:

  1. At a national level sports turf health in May increased by a further 3% equalling the record set in May 2019.
  2. Sports turf health levels did not drop in June as would be expected from historical data. The means that this June sports turf health was at record breaking levels.

Mike adds: “At a regional level, some sport turf sites in East Anglia, The Midlands and the South achieved health levels over 90%, with one golf course reaching 99%. Someone is doing a fantastic job out there and deserves a medal! From a grass health perspective the sector started at a particularly low point in January, but 2021 is turning out to be record breaking year.”

Looking Ahead

“Most sports grass health/vitality should have peaked in May/June. Historical data tells us is that in June/July health and vitality of sports turf will start to dip. However today we are looking at sports turf levels that breaking new ground. The potential is clearly there for greenkeepers to work with. Can there be more surprises, its only grass after all – or is it? ”

Think that you can do better?

Register for a free 3-month trial of satellite biomass data for your club at:  https://fairwayawards.com/your-free-precision-sport-turf-trial/ and send your best results of 2020 to Mike-Heisig@btconnect.com

Get the benefits of the Precision Sports Turf Revolution:

  • Spot grass health problems before they are visible
  • Save money on inputs where they are not required
  • Apply inputs according the needs of the grass
  • Make better environmental decisions

Regular updates on grass health through 2021 at www.fairwayawards.com or follow @FairWayAwards on twitter

Join the Sports Turf Revolution contact Mike Heisig: Mike-Heisig@btconnect.com

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Makita expands XGT 40VMAX

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Makita expands XGT 40VMAX: Leading power tool manufacturer Makita has expanded its outdoor power equipment range with a selection of new XGT 40VMax machines – including the UR002G 40VMax Brushless Brush Cutter and UH004G, UH005G, UH006G and UH007G 40VMax Brushless Hedge Trimmers.

Makita understands that when it comes to working outdoors in the unpredictable British weather, professional landscapers and groundskeepers need a variety of reliable, powerful machines.  With its XGT 40VMax range, professionals are equipped with the power and performance to make outdoor projects even easier and achieve top results quickly and efficiently.

Makita expands XGT 40VMAX

Makita expands XGT 40VMAX

UR002G XGT 40VMax Brush Cutter

The UR002G Brush Cutter includes three speed settings and can deliver output up to 6,500rpm for maximum productivity. Makita’s innovative Automatic Torque Drive Technology (ADT) works to change the cutting speed according to the load conditions, so users can trust that the machine is always working at its optimum. What’s more, the UR002G has Active Feedback Sensing Technology (AFT) that shuts down the tool if the rotation speed suddenly slows to prevent kickback and protect the user. For ease of use, the UR002G features a reverse switch to easily remove any material that gets stuck in the blade.

The UR002G is also compatible with Makita’s PDC01 and PDC1200 backpack batteries, so users can extend machine run time and reduce downtime to maximise time on site. The UR002G is also compatible with a selection of nylon heads and blades depending on the task.

XGT 40VMax Hedge Trimmers

The new UH004G and UH005G Hedge Trimmers deliver a no-load speed of up to 5,000rpm and feature an asymmetric, double sided, curved, sharp-edged blade for easy trimming. The curved teeth reduce friction resistance to suppress energy loss and extend run time. What’s more, the inclined tooth edge enables the blade to easily catch, firmly hold and sharply cut twigs or thin branches up to 23.5mm for maximum efficiency.

Completing the new hedge trimmer collection, the UH006G and UH007G have been designed for trimming overgrown hedges and thick branches thanks to the non-curved, sharp-edged blade. These machines can cut thicker branches up to 25mm in diameter and are ideal for rough cutting.

For improved user safety all of the new hedge trimmers are low vibration machines and for comfort, include a rubberised soft grip. The UH004G, UH005G, UH006G and UH007G all also feature a reverse switch to easily free the blade when jammed in thick branches.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “As with all XGT 40VMax machines, the UR002G, UH004G, UH005G, UH006G and UH007G are designed to deliver the high output and durability professionals need for regular, heavy-duty use on site. All machines in our XGT range have an IPX4 rating, which means that they are splash and shower proof and protected against water ingress – which is ideal for those working outside in unpredictable weather.”

To find out more about Makita and its range of 40VMax and 80VMax XGT products, please visit: www.makitauk.com

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Toro to exhibit at SAGE

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Toro to exhibit at SAGE: Toro, a global leader in turf and landscape maintenance solutions, will be showcasing its extensive range of landscape contractor and siteworks equipment at this year’s brand-new summer grounds maintenance exhibition, SAGE.

Held at The Three Counties Showground in Malvern, from 27th – 29th July 2021, SAGE is set to be the UK’s biggest outdoor show for the sports and grounds maintenance industry. Across the three days, the event will welcome an abundance of visitors from across the sector, including green-keeping, grounds maintenance, landscaping, colleges, local authorities and premiership grounds.

Toro to exhibit at SAGE

Toro to exhibit at SAGE

Together with its long-standing customer Revill Mowers, Toro will be showcasing the lithium ion battery-powered e-Dingo® 500 wheeled compact utility loader, which allows contractors and construction professionals to enjoy all the benefits and power of a standard compact utility loader with no fuel costs and zero engine exhaust emissions.

A host of robust and reliable commercial lawn mowers will also be showcased, such as the productivity-saving Zero Turn mowers which offer stability, with their low centre of gravity, as well as enhanced comfort thanks to the MyRide® suspension system. Professional stand-on mowers, which offer exceptional operator visibility, a smaller footprint – saving valuable trailer space – multi-season flexibility and a foldable operator platform that converts to a walk-behind, will complete the line-up.

Toro’s Sales Manager Matthew Coleman, comments: “We are excited to be exhibiting at this year’s first-ever SAGE expo as this is a welcome and important opportunity for us to get our products directly into the hands of our customers so they can experience the quality and excellence of our range for themselves.

“With such a vast space at The Three Counties Showground, we will be able to offer visitors the chance to try out our mowers, with live demonstrations and experiences which are designed to showcase exactly why we are market leaders in such a competitive field. Anyone thinking of coming to see us at SAGE should register their interest as soon as possible.”

Attendees to the show will be able to find Toro on stands 13 & 13D.

Anyone wanting to attend SAGE 2021 should register now at: https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Default.aspx?FormRef=SAG70Visitor

Following registration, a bar coded name entry badge will be issued.

For more information, visit toro.com.

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