JCB lends a hand

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JCB lends a hand: JCB has answered a call from the University Hospitals of North Midlands for donations of vital supplies of personal protective equipment during the current Coronavirus crisis.

More than 8,000 pairs of gloves and a large quantity of face masks have been gifted to the hospital as it gears up for an influx of patients in the coming weeks.

JCB lends a hand

JCB lends a hand

They were donated by the JCB World Parts Centre at Uttoxeter, which continues to provide service, technical and spare parts back up to customers including farmers maintaining the food supply chain, contractors providing JCB generators to NHS hospitals and hirers keeping crucial utility services intact.

JCB Parts and Service Managing Director Ian Sayers said: “We are delighted to support our fantastic NHS and the Royal Stoke Hospital by donating much needed gloves and masks. They are doing an amazing job and we are pleased to be able to help.”

JCB donated the equipment after a former employee who now works at the Royal Stoke University Hospital got in touch.

Paul Bytheway, Chief Operating Officer at UHNM, said: “We have been delighted at the response from local businesses across Staffordshire who are really pulling together in this crisis and grateful to JCB for their generous donation.”

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Vandals damage golf club

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Vandals damage golf club: Vandals have damaged the course at a north-east golf club.

Vehicles were driven on to the site at Oldmeldrum Golf Club on Thursday night, leaving tyre tracks on the grass.

It’s not the first time the course has been targeted. Last year parts of the site had to be closed following a similar incident.

Mitch Good, greens convener at the club, said a passerby told him about the damage.

He said: “It happened in June last year, but the damage was more extensive then.

“They haven’t spun the wheels on the green like they did last time, but they drove the car over it.

“These idiots are out doing this and we’re supposed to be on a Covid-19 lockdown.”

Mitch said he felt he had to report the crime to the police.

He said: “I felt reluctant obviously, because of the climate of Covid-19.”

He added a new fence would now be installed to help protect the area.

He said: “The greenkeeper will go over it but if we don’t get much heat this year, or we get frost, the grass won’t grow.

“We had put boulders in place, but obviously not enough to stop cars getting in.

“To be effective, we need to spend money and put a fence all around the road area.”

Sergeant Niall Mullen, from the Peterhead police office, said: “We can confirm that officers have received a report of vandalism to Oldmeldrum Golf Course.

“This is believed to have taken place overnight between Thursday and Friday.

“Inquiries are at an early stage and anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 101.”

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Askam rugby club’s NHS gesture

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Askam rugby club’s NHS gesture: Askam Rugby League Club have gone above and beyond to show their appreciation for the NHS. 

Groundsmen took advantage of the suspended season to say thank you to local healthcare workers.

Lines have been painted on the club’s pitch with ‘NHS’ printed inside a large heart.

The club posted on Twitter: “Showing our support for the brilliant work done by the @NHSuk
#StayAtHome #StaySafe”

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Precision Microbes appoint Gary Robertson

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Precision Microbes appoint Gary Robertson: Precision Microbes has appointed Gary Robertson as their new technical sales director for the United Kingdom.

Gary has held various positions during his 25-years in the turf industry including golf course manager, groundsman at a Premier League club, working in Bulgaria as a construction and grow-in manager and more recently as technical sales manager at Consolidate Turf.

In his new role, he will be overseeing the expansion and development of Precision Microbes products in the UK amenity sector. The range of products is already popular in Europe with football teams in Spain’s La Liga and Germany’s Bundesliga, and expanding on this success within the English winter sports and golf market is a target for Gary.

Precision Microbes produce blends of up to 60 different microorganisms that can benefit the plant in different ways. These blends focus on the behaviour and benefits of microorganisms on the plant and the growing medium which it lives in.

Gary’s arrival at the company has unfortunately coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, with this in mind, a greater level of sensitivity has been adopted regarding a lower key introduction.  He feels that the products Precision Microbes offer can assist turf managers who may be disrupted or feel short of renovation time as a result of the uncertainty over the re-opening of golf facilities or the resumption of this season and beginning of the 2020/21 season.

Gary explained: “I’m confident Precision Microbes are set up to have a beneficial impact on the UK turf market because they offer a diverse and evolving product range, particularly with the growing demand for alternatives to chemical products.

“Regardless of the green space that you manage, turf issues are generally the same across the board to a lesser or greater extent. The golf establishment continues to adjust with changing landscapes and environments in order to strive for their own individual perfect playing surfaces. Spring and Autumn renovations often take place under less than ideal climatic conditions. This can result in prolonged surface disruption and slow recovery leading to frustrations. It is certainly well documented that oxygen within the profile is a necessity, and incorporating Precision Microbes as part of your primary maintenance programme will supplement this process.

“Our products have been successful at football clubs in Europe, and we’ve seen excellent results not only during renovations but as part of a continued maintenance programme.  Given the current circumstances, these products could be used on pitches to naturally reduce the organic matter without putting them out of action for any length of time.

“Modern pitch surfaces such as Hybrid stitched, carpet systems or even the older stabilised systems have quite specific renovation and maintenance requirements.  Our organic range will complement existing practices and potentially alleviate some of the issues resulting through the inability to turn the surface over.”

Strong Grass Hybrid is a blend of beneficial microorganisms that colonise the leaves, plant crown, rootzone and rhizosphere. Their main objective is to promote strong, healthy root growth and to breakdown organic matter and fertilisers so that they can be easily taken in by the plant. It contains extra beneficial microorganisms that eliminate black layer, and pathogens that infect plants, help keep the plant healthy, thereby helping it fight off pests and infections. It can be applied by spraying directly onto the surface or through the irrigation during a normal cycle.

For further information contact: gary@precisionmicrobes.com

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College Cup winners prepare Clásico pitch

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College Cup winners prepare Clásico pitch: After winning the 2019 SALTEX College Cup, four students from Myerscough College recently enjoyed an unforgettable experience at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium.

The annual SALTEX College Cup, sponsored by Toro and Reesink Turfcare, is a student-led sports turf challenge – an academic test of turf management knowledge for student competitors who are enrolled at a college on a relevant course of study.

College Cup winners prepare Clásico pitch

College Cup winners prepare Clásico pitch

Myerscough College, located in Bilsborrow, Preston, entered a team into the competition solely consisting of apprentices. Scott Danter (Warwick School), Ashley Hill (Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Ryan Harrison and Nick George (both from Leicester City Football Club) are all currently studying Level 2 or Level 3 sportsturf apprenticeships.

The competition consisted of paper-based multiple choice and short answer questions on turf management, plus a case study which required a more in-depth written answer. The students were also presented with live test samples in which they had to identify potential threats to the health of turf.

Myerscough College proved victorious and saw off competition from Askham Bryan, CAFRE, Bridgwater and Capel Manor to win the trophy. The Myerscough team was then presented with a prize that money can’t buy – a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Real Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium, where they would get the opportunity to learn from Paul Burgess, Madrid’s director of grounds and environment.

As part of the prize the four students enjoyed an invaluable groundscare work experience placement in the run up to one of the biggest domestic fixtures in world football, El Clásico, between Real Madrid and Barcelona. During their weekend visit the group enjoyed a full, behind-the-scenes experience of just what it takes to prepare the playing surface for such a prestigious fixture, and even got the golden opportunity to be part of the team that maintains the Bernabéu’s hallowed turf.

It was an experience that will live long in the memory according to student Ashley Hill: “This was a real honour,” he said. “Seeing in detail what the grounds team do at the training ground and at the stadium was inspirational. Mowing the pitch at the Bernabéu was the icing on the cake.”

Ryan Harrison believes that opportunity to learn from Paul Burgess has helped to improve his skill set and will enhance his prospects in the grounds management industry: “Paul and the team were brilliant with us all and I learnt so much. Helping to prepare the pitch for the El Clasico was a real privilege and I am going home a better groundsperson.”

The Bernabéu tour follows three extraordinary SALTEX College Cup prizes in previous years. In 2017 the winning students were part of the Wembley grounds team at the FA Cup Final and the following year the winners enjoyed an unforgettable experience of helping with pitch preparations at the 2018 Six Nations Championships at BT Murrayfield Stadium. Last year saw the winning College win a behind the scenes tour at The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), Wimbledon in which the students received an in-depth look at court preparations the week before The Championships 2019 took place.

The SALTEX College Cup continues to go from strength to strength and Dan Prest, head of technical and learning at the Institute of Groundsmanship, believes it is a fantastic platform to encourage and inspire the younger generation.

“This competition is all about raising standards in our industry. Young people should see this opportunity as a viable career option and that there is a progressive career path for them to follow,” he said.

All colleges interested in participating in the 2020 SALTEX College Cup should email Dan Prest at dprest@iog.org for more details.

SALTEX 2020 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on 4 and 5 November.

For more information visit www.iogsaltex.com

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX

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