Breadsall Priory Benefits from SISIS Rotorake TM1000

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Breadsall Priory Benefits from SISIS Rotorake TM1000: Nestled on the edge of the picturesque Peak District, Breadsall Priory Golf & Country Club spans 300 acres of pristine parkland. This renowned club boasts two distinct 18-hole golf courses, including the Championship Priory Course, alongside a putting green and driving range.

Maintaining such expansive and varied grounds is no small feat, and the SISIS Rotorake TM1000 has proven to be an invaluable asset.

Breadsall Priory Benefits from SISIS Rotorake TM1000

Breadsall Priory Benefits from SISIS Rotorake TM1000

Course Manager John Smith, who has dedicated 28 years to Breadsall Priory, originally started his career at the club as a mechanic. “I was born on a farm, and was born to be outside,” he reflects. Over the years, John has faced numerous challenges, especially with the club’s dual-course layout. “We have two very different courses which is great for membership.”

These differences require different maintenance strategies. “Having two different courses has its challenges, more and more so with climate change. We had 1.7 metres of rain in just over 15 months, which is unheard of,” John says. To address these challenges, the club relies heavily on specialised equipment like the SISIS Rotorake TM1000.

The Rotorake TM1000 is a tractor-mounted scarifier unit featuring a choice of five quick-release interchangeable reels designed to tackle thatch removal and control, improving water infiltration and reducing standing surface water. Its contra-rotating reel ensures a clean, consistent performance, while various blades cater to key tasks such as scarifying, linear aeration, verticutting, and brushing. The TM1000’s quick-release reel system and no-tool depth setting enable fast, simple adjustments, making it highly efficient for the team.

“The TM1000 is a great machine for us. We even scarify in November because it results in less disease due to greater airflow through the roots,” John notes. “We use it on greens, aprons, tees – we just change the reel from 2mm down to 1mm up to 3mm. The ability to do that quickly, along with its cleanliness and speed, really helps.

“Since using the machine, thatch levels have reduced by 15% over a 12-month period.”

John also praised the TM1000 for its reliability and ease of maintenance. “There’s no complicated electrics on it,” John points out. Its standard Cat. 1, 3-point linkage and optional hydraulic tipping kit further enhance its functionality.

“The best feature on the TM1000 is its cleanliness, the speed, and the fact you can use it anywhere, even if it’s raining. The ability to change the cassettes quickly and its power to do that make it fantastic,” John concludes.

With the SISIS Rotorake TM1000, Breadsall Priory Golf & Country Club continues to thrive, offering members and visitors alike a top-tier golfing experience amidst the beautiful Derbyshire landscape.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

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

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Redexim Verti-Top® sets the synthetic standard

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Redexim Verti-Top® sets the synthetic standard: A rise in demand for synthetic surface cleaning from schools and sports clubs has triggered the purchase of a Redexim Verti-Top® for contractors Cutting Edge GM.

The adaptability of this award-winning artificial cleaning system has facilitated the diversification of the services offered by the grounds maintenance outfit – with its ability to effectively decompact and clean a range of infill materials to leave a professional, play-ready finish.

Redexim Verti-Top® sets the synthetic standard

Redexim Verti-Top® sets the synthetic standard

The team of eight that make up Cutting Edge pride themselves on being passionate about sports surfaces, providing a range of services to keep natural and artificial turf surfaces around Teesside, North Yorkshire & County Durham in first-rate condition. To cope with an increasing number of enquiries for synthetic pitch cleaning, Director Josh Blackburn decided the time was right to invest in a new solution and quickly decided the Redexim Verti-Top® was the right machine for them. “Not only is the Verti-Top® quicker than our previous cleaner, the build quality is fantastic and the quality of finish is brilliant. This machine sets the standard for this process without a shadow of a doubt.”

Suited to most types of synthetic turf, the Verti-Top® effectively lifts and collects debris, while the oscillating sieve and vacuum system tackle even the tiniest of particles. The cleaned infill is then returned, leaving a safe, contamination and compaction-free surface, that looks good and plays well. Josh opted for the Verti-Top® 1200, with 1.2m working width, delivered in spring 2024 by local dealer Rickerby.

“The purchase and installation process was fantastic! Tom Alexander from Rickerby together with Redexim’s Allen Whellans, conducted full training with the team and demonstrated the various ways to set the unit up to get the very best results. There’s so much flexibility with this machine, including a range of sieve options, which means we can work with all types of infill material, including the newer, organic and natural infill types.”

He continues, “As soon as the cold and frosty conditions pass, we will be out with the Verti-Top® getting surfaces cleaned up and safe for the start of the new playing season. We had outstanding feedback from customers on the process last year and look forward to being able to grow this side of our business further with such a capable and versatile machine at our disposal.”

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GMA Industry Awards Kick Off #GroundsWeek

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GMA Industry Awards Kick Off #GroundsWeek: The GMA Industry Awards 2025 brought the grounds management community together for an unforgettable evening at Anfield Stadium, celebrating the exceptional achievements of professionals across the sector.

With #GroundsWeek just around the corner from 17-23 March, the awards also served as a reminder of the vital role grounds staff play in making sport possible.

GMA Industry Awards Kick Off #GroundsWeek

GMA Industry Awards Kick Off #GroundsWeek

Sky Sports presenter, Kyle Walker, led the night’s celebrations which showcased the very best in the industry, recognising those who go above and beyond to maintain world-class playing surfaces and green spaces.

A huge congratulations to all this year’s winners and finalists:

  • Young Groundsperson of the Year (Sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions)  
    • Thomas Heppell-Mooney – Lancaster University
  • Newcomer of the Year of the Year (Sponsored by ICL)   
    • Matthew Barr – Warwick Independent Schools Foundation
  • Volunteer Groundsperson or Team of the Year (Sponsored by Husqvarna)   
    • Tom Banks – Kirkoswald Football Club
  • Community Groundsperson or Team of the Year  
    • Stoneham Lane Football Complex
  • Environmental and Sustainability Impact Award (Sponsored by Syngenta) 
    • London Youth Sports Trust
  • Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson or Team of the Year  
    • Dean Gibbons – Wantage Bowling Club
  • Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year  
    • Stoneham Lane Football Complex
  • Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year  
    • York Racecourse
  • Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Infinicut)   
    • Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club
  • Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year  
    • Lancashire Cricket Club
  • Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year  
    • Leicester Tigers
  • Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Agronomic Services Ltd)    
    • Castleford Tigers
  • Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Reesink UK)   
    • Stockport County Football Club
  • Professional Football Grounds Team (Elite) of the Year (Sponsored by SGL)   
    • Liverpool Football Club
  • University/College Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Kubota UK Ltd)   
    • Lancaster University
  • Independent School Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by ISEKI UK & Ireland)    
    • Eton College
  • GMA Grounds Manager of the Year (Sponsored by DLF Seeds Ltd)  
    • William Rigg – Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club

The GMA would like to extend a special thank you to our platinum sponsor ISEKI UK & Ireland and award category sponsors, DLF Seeds Ltd, Syngenta, ICL, Agronomic Services, SGL, Husqvarna, Infinicut, Reesink Turfcare, Kubota UK and the National Governing Bodies of sport, whose support made this event possible.

This year’s charity partner, LFC Foundation, was at the heart of the evening, with guests generously donating to support its vital work in creating life-changing opportunities for young people within the local Liverpool postcodes of L4 and L5. Thank you to everyone who contributed, your generosity will make a genuine difference.

As we celebrate this year’s award winners, we also encourage the industry to continue raising awareness of the profession by getting involved in #GroundsWeek from 17-23 March. Our annual awareness campaign is all about championing the hard work of grounds staff, inspiring future talent and highlighting the crucial role they play in making sport possible.

The GMA Industry Awards continue to grow, and we’re already looking forward to what’s upcoming for 2026. Stay tuned for more updates and, in the meantime, keep an eye on our social channels for event highlights and winner interviews.

Thank you once again to all attendees, finalists, winners and sponsors, for such a brilliant evening of celebrating the grounds management industry.

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Rob White Joins Agrovista Amenity

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Rob White Joins Agrovista Amenity: Agrovista Amenity has strengthened its team with the appointment of Rob White as an Amenity Specialist. With 17 years of experience in greenkeeping, including a successful tenure as Head Greenkeeper at Wollaton Park Golf Club, Rob brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role.

Rob always felt his career would be in greenkeeping—until Agrovista Amenity came calling. “I was contacted and asked if I’d be interested in a phone call, and you never say no,” Rob explained. “It wasn’t something I had ever thought about before, but after speaking with Agrovista Amenity, I was really excited about the opportunity.”

Rob White Joins Agrovista Amenity

Rob White Joins Agrovista Amenity

The decision to join Agrovista Amenity was solidified after thorough research into the company’s reputation and values. “It seemed like a great business to work for,” Rob said. “From the interview stage, it was clear that the company provides fantastic support for its employees. Plus, it offers me a much better work-life balance, which is really important as I have young children.”

Rob will be Midlands-based and will manage an extensive and varied client portfolio. His responsibilities will cover a broad range of sectors, including universities, golf courses, and local councils. Initially, he has been focused on making connections and establishing relationships with clients. “My first priority has been reaching out to everyone to introduce myself,” he said. “Now, I’m in the process of arranging meetings and getting out to see people face-to-face.”

Having spent nearly two decades dedicated to the meticulous upkeep of golf courses, Rob is eager to bring his expertise to a wider audience. “When you’re working on a golf course, you’re putting all your efforts into helping one site reach its full potential. But in this role, I get the opportunity to help a lot of people across different sectors achieve their goals, which is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Away from work, Rob is actively involved in his local community. He serves as a parish councillor and dedicates time to coaching children’s rugby teams. A passionate sportsman, he enjoys playing both golf and rugby in his spare time.

As Rob embarks on this new chapter with Agrovista Amenity, he is eager to make a positive impact and support clients in optimising their turf management strategies. “I’m really looking forward to getting out and working with people to help them achieve the best possible results,” he said. “It’s an exciting opportunity, and I can’t wait to get started.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Work smarter not harder with Toro’s robotic mowers

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Work smarter not harder with Toro’s robotic mowers: Robotic mowing has arrived and with it comes the new generation of working smarter, not harder, thanks to Toro.

With the brand’s new range of robotic mowing solutions for the fairways and the roughs available through distributor Reesink Turfcare, customers can now focus on getting the job done consistently and efficiently and instead prioritise time and skill on the greens, tees, and bunkers.

Work smarter not harder with Toro's robotic mowers

Work smarter not harder with Toro’s robotic mowers

“The arrival of autonomous technology is what we’ve all been waiting for,” comments Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager, Reesink Turfcare. “And Toro’s vision of this delivers professional-quality results with minimal input required, solving the problem of reduced resources, labour shortages, and rising operational costs.”

All the products launching simultaneously – the Toro GeoLink Solutions Autonomous Fairway Mower, Turf Pro range of robot mowers and Range Pro ball picker – work on Real Time Kinematic (RTK) geo-positioning technology coming from a GPS based satellite system for ultra-precise navigation.

This functionality allows for areas to be mapped, setting invisible boundaries in which the machines can operate autonomously. When they reach the edge of the predefined work zone based on satellite positioning, they intelligently keep within it.

Operation is straight-forward: wireless monitoring and control of the units is through a computer or mobile phone where it is possible to customise working perimeters, no-go zones, mowing patterns, cutting height and transport paths.

No boundary wires are required, the mowers can mow a consistent pattern with minimal overlap and are accurate to two centimetres. The system can identify missed areas and will reroute the mower to cover them later.

Jon says: “These mowers free up your greenkeeping team to focus on the essential attentive care that the tees, greens, and bunkers require, while Toro technology carefully maintains the fairways and roughs, intelligently working with minimal input.”

The Toro GeoLink Solutions Autonomous Fairway Mower is a hybrid mower. It has a Kawasaki engine but steering, traction, lift and lowering of the cylinder units are electric. The mower still has a seat and a steering wheel; this is because it has both manual and autonomous modes. In manual it’ll operate just like a normal triplex so if the operator wants to move it to a new location that isn’t mapped yet or support a different area on the course, they can.

There are three fully robotic models in the Turf Pro range. There’s the choice of three or five cutting heads providing a cutting width of 63.3cm (25ins) in the Turf Pro 300 and 103.3cm (40.7ins) for the Turf Pro 500. They can mow up to 18.5 acres (75,000m2) and there’s a model for use on slopes of up to 24 degrees.

They are all-electric, self-charging and automatically return to the charging station. And through increased mowing frequency these mowers can purposefully remove less leaf tissue, producing shorter clippings and with adjustable mowing patterns can be utilised to achieve multiple aesthetics.

Jon concludes: “Toro developed this technology and these products in direct response to customer feedback and research. It was clear there was a changing mindset about what was needed regarding labour support, combatting increasing operational costs and how to approach mowing grass. This productive solution eases labour resource pains and provides operational cost savings with no change in Toro’s world-renowned cutting performance.”

To demo these new machines or talk to a Reesink representative about how this technology will boost productivity, visit Reesink Turfcare at reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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