STRI Group appoints new directors

/in , /by

STRI Group appoints new directors: Following a period of strong growth, STRI Group is delighted to announce the appointment of two new company directors to its board.

Head of consultancy, Richard Stuttard, and head of business development, Andrew Brooker have been promoted as STRI directors from 3 August 2020. Both will continue to manage their existing departments.

STRI Group appoints new directors

STRI Group appoints new directors

Richard will lead the Group’s interests in delivering design, build and project management services to major sports projects across the globe.

Andrew will be instrumental in ensuring STRI continues to grow globally, inside and outside the sports sector, through developing strategic acquisition and investment opportunities.

Commenting on the appointments, STRI chief executive officer, Mark Godfrey, said: “STRI has continued to grow as a business and it was the right time to expand our board. Richard and Andrew have been important senior figures at STRI for a number of years and are helping drive change and growth across new markets.”

Richard said: “It’s an exciting time for STRI. Our consultancy department has grown quickly in the last two years and we are now delivering a premium end-to-end service to new and existing clients. Our planning, design, construction and operation model is going from strength to strength and I look forward to continuing to support its growth.”

Andrew added: “STRI is expanding its operations locally and internationally, developing strategic relationships and commercial partnerships for customer and company benefit. STRI is committed to continuous expansion of our range of innovative and sustainable solutions so that our customers receive greatest value.”

For more information contact:
STRI’s marketing and communications team on +44 (0)1274 565131 or email info@strigroup.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement

/in , /by

Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement: Following the announcement from Aquatrols HQ in the US earlier this year, the Exclusive Global Agreement now becomes a tangible reality as Aquatrols Europe prepares to make these proven turf products available to the UK market.

Aquatrols and Redox Turf announced a global exclusive strategic agreement in January 2020 which made Aquatrols the sole distributor of Redox’s premier turf products. This expands the Aquatrols offering, with a range of highly effective, differentiated nutritional products that are complementary to the existing wetting agent line.

Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement

Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement

Aquatrols and Redox Turf are bringing together two of the strongest brands in turf to enhance the resources focused on the Turf Rx line of products. While Aquatrols is now the exclusive distributor, the products that are currently somewhat unknown to the European market remain the same products that greenkeepers throughout the US have come to trust.

Redox CEO, Darin Moon, had this to say of the agreement, “Soil moisture management and soil nutrition are intrinsically linked, so joining forces with the most trusted brands in the wetting agent space is a move that seemed natural for our business.  We are eager to be able to offer turf customers easy access to our products through Aquatrols who will provide global support through their sales and technical team.”

Currently in his third year as Aquatrols President and CEO, Matthew Foster, says that this agreement is one that will strategically help Aquatrols continue to expand their presence in the global golf market.

 “This agreement gives us the ability to offer turf managers the nutritional components of a maintenance program from a trusted brand within the industry, in conjunction with our current water management products. By bringing our areas of expertise together, we will be able to better serve our customers in a way that is more holistic for their course.”

About Aquatrols

More than 60 years ago, Aquatrols introduced the world’s first commercially available soil wetting agent.  Since creating an entirely new product category to address water management challenges and opportunities, the company has remained a top innovator and producer of high-performance soil surfactants and related technologies. Their advanced product suite optimises soil-water-plant interactions in agricultural, professional turfgrass and horticultural industries in more than 40 countries. Headquartered in southern New Jersey, Aquatrols also has offices in the United Kingdom and conducts business on six continents.

About Redox Turf

Redox Turf is a specialty nutrient company that focuses on innovative plant growth technology that maximises efficiency, uptake & performance. Through proprietary bio-nutrient complexing, chelation, micro-encapsulation and a production process incorporating both chemistry and biotechnology, Redox offers solutions that are some of the most efficient in the industry.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

BIGGA BTME cancelled for 2021

/in , , /by

BIGGA cancelled for 2021: The turf industry’s premier annual gathering, the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), will not take place in January 2021 as anticipated, with an alternative ‘festival of turf’ planned for summer 2021.

The event’s organisers, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, has cancelled the popular trade exhibition due to the ongoing uncertainty relating to the coronavirus pandemic, having prioritised the health and wellbeing of its members, exhibitors, staff and other attendees.

BIGGA cancelled for 2021

BIGGA cancelled for 2021

The decision was taken following consultation with members of the association and regular dialogue with representatives of the Harrogate Convention Centre and other major stakeholders. It was agreed the hosting of a gathering of turf professionals from across the globe would create an unacceptable risk of infection, potentially putting lives at risk.

BIGGA’s world-leading education programme, Continue to Learn, is held alongside BTME each year and will still take place during January 2021, albeit as an online event and with an altered timetable designed to reflect the new digital platform. A full programme of speakers will enable BIGGA members to access the world class education they have come to expect from the comfort of home or at their place of employment.

The announcement of an alternative event in summer 2021 will enable BIGGA to explore options for hosting the event outdoors, which current understanding of the infectious disease indicates will make for a safe event and will allow improved social distancing measures to be implemented. It is hoped that many of the exhibitors who had signed up for BTME 2021 will support this cost-effective event and BIGGA will be liaising with exhibitors over the coming weeks to discuss the opportunities it presents.

The Harrogate Convention Centre, home to BTME since its inauguration as the European Turf Management Exhibition (ETME) in 1989, has been utilised as an NHS Nightingale Hospital since the peak of the outbreak in April and BIGGA is incredibly proud to be associated with a venue that has been transformed to enable the treatment of COVID-19 patients, should the need arise.

However, the alteration of dates will require a new venue to be found and discussions are underway with potential event hosts. Details will be released in due course.

It is anticipated that BTME will return to the Harrogate Convention Centre in January 2022.

BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves across our industry and BIGGA members have worked admirably in difficult circumstances to enable the continuing success of the facilities they maintain. The work they are doing in a safe and socially-distanced manner is admirable and has undoubtedly led to an increased confidence in golf as a safe pastime during these uncertain times.

“With member health and wellbeing being BIGGA’s absolute priority, it was immediately clear that to invite thousands of turf professionals from across the globe to attend an exhibition during a season when there is anticipated to be an increased risk of disease transmission would be negligent and expose attendees to undue risk.

“BIGGA considers it important to host an annual event and BTME plays a vital role in the calendar year for the turf industry. BTME is an opportunity to come together to celebrate the achievements of the previous year, while building new contacts and looking forward to the future. We feel it is important to retain this community spirit where possible, especially considering the hardships we have all faced, and so we are exploring the possibility of hosting a safe and accessible alternative event in summer 2021. I’m excited about the possibilities presented by this and am confident our new ‘festival of turf’ will be as exciting and influential as ever.”

BIGGA Head of Member Development Sami Strutt is responsible for the organisation of Continue to Learn, working with members to develop an engaging and relevant education programme each year.

Sami said: “Although the association will have no physical presence in Harrogate during January, we will be hosting Continue to Learn as a digital event and I’m certain the spirit of Harrogate week will be as strong as ever before.

“We have engaged with BIGGA members through our annual Members’ Choice survey and are in the process of building an incredible series of online learning that will enable BIGGA members to continue their professional development, wherever in the world they may be.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

J Premier Pitch delivers reliability

/in , /by

J Premier Pitch delivers reliability: With over 13 seasons of experience using Johnsons Sports Seeds J Premier Pitch mixture, Head Groundsman at Cardiff City FC Liam James confidently conducted his renovation during the lockdown period, without doubt that the pitch would be match-fit when play resumed.

In use at the Cardiff City Stadium, together with two of their other sites, the rapid establishment of J Premier Pitch has delivered a pitch that meets the Bluebirds requirements for both play quality and aesthetic appeal.

J Premier Pitch delivers reliability

J Premier Pitch delivers reliability

Under Liam’s remit is the Desso pitch at the main club stadium, another full size Desso and fibre-sand surface at the Cardiff International Sports Campus – home to U18’s, U23’s and Cardiff City FC Women – along with two further Desso GrassMaster systems at one of the club’s training grounds. Helping Liam with the maintenance is a team of six groundsmen, and Hewitt Sportsturf, who conduct the end of season renovations. “Our programme is thoroughly tried and tested, with Johnsons already firmly in place when I joined the club. All of these years later and we wouldn’t use anything other than J Premier Pitch across our sites, for both our renovations and routine overseeding.”

“With this mixture, we achieve a surface that retains good colour, consistency and deep roots – giving us the all-important wear tolerance. When the season re-started following the lockdown, fixtures were taking place thick and fast, putting the newly established pitch through its paces. Following our well-timed renovation, it delivered fantastic sward density and coverage.”

Like a lot of stadia, Liam struggles with shade, with some areas receiving no natural sunlight even in the peak of summer. “J Premier Pitch tolerates that really well, along with giving us great resistance to disease which means our single fungicide application is more for preventative purposes than anything else.” For a bit of additional winter strength, Liam’s regional DLF Technical Manager Ian Barnett suggested incorporating Johnsons J 4Turf into their cold season overseeding programme. Containing DLF’s 4Turf tetraploid perennial ryegrass, J 4Turf delivers rapid establishment under soil temperatures as low as 3oc for enhanced disease resistance and strength through the cooler conditions.

Liam concludes, “Getting us through the challenges we face with weather, disease and now big increases in wear, we’re fortunate that we have proven programme that we know we can rely on.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver

/in , , /by

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver: Michael Watson, Turf Manager at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, claims that his two recently purchased Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers are saving the grounds team an incredible four hours of maintenance work compared to the previous mowers they were using.

The Forsyth Barr Stadium is New Zealand’s largest and most versatile events arena. Sitting proudly as an innovative Dunedin icon, it hosts a wide variety of sports, concerts, events and conferences.

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver

Dunedin Venues Management is the company responsible for the upkeep and operations of the stadium and Michael oversees the maintenance of the pitch.

Since the stadium’s opening in 2011, the number of events taking place on the pitch has rapidly increased. With an old set of rotary mowers, Michael felt that it was time to invest in something new to keep the turf clean and healthy and to help combat such heavy usage.

“We used to have two small rotary mowers, but they took such a long time as they were small and slow,” he said. “The machines didn’t pick up much debris either and perhaps worst of all they did not have a roller on them.

“I felt that we needed something bigger which would pick up debris more effectively after training and certain events while maintaining a visually appealing field.”

With this in mind Michael began his research and was recommended the Dennis PRO 34R by Power-Turf – a Dennis and SISIS dealer in New Zealand. It immediately caught Michael’s attention.

“I know that Dennis supplies some of the world’s best turf maintenance machinery for many different sports and maintenance tasks,” he said. “I had also seen the Dennis G860 cylinder mower in action, so I was keen to find out more.”

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

Many operators of the PRO 34R have praised the size and speed of the machines, claiming that they save a huge amount of time and resources.

“The time saving efficiency was a huge part of the decision to get these mowers,” said Michael. “They cut mowing hours down from 7 individual hours to between 2.5 and 3 hours so we therefore now save about 4 individual hours when using these mowers.

“Everything just works so well together on the PRO 34R. Starting at the front with the brush, through to the two rotary blades and the smooth rear roller.

“With the huge amount and wide range of events experienced on the Forsyth Barr Stadium field, having a machine to pick up debris quickly and effectively while maintaining a visually appealing pitch was crucial. Due to the busy events calendar with sports training sessions/events most weeks throughout the year and televised games from February until October, keeping the pitch clean from organic material with this machinery is a significant bonus.

“The ability to use them on game days shows how good these mowers are, considering the cut is from a rotary blade instead of your typical cylinder cut. The roller on the back also leaves a nice visual appearance on the turf.”

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

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.