Groundsman recognised at seminar

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Groundsman recognised at seminar: Westbury & District Cricket Club’s groundsman, Gordon Gill, was invited to join top groundsmen from across the country to speak about his experience at a seminar held last month. 

He was joined by Vic Demain (head groundsman at  Durham CCC), Karl McDermott (head groundsman at  MCC/Lords), Sean Williams (head groundsman at Gloucestershire CCC) and former Australian test batsman Marcus North at Durham CCC.

 Gordon spent two days at Durham County Cricket Club speaking to both paid and volunteer groundsmen from clubs all over the country about the experience he has gained over the years at Westbury & District Cricket Club, Bath Cricket Club and as an ECB pitch advisor. 

Gordon Gill said, “It was a very informative and enjoyable experience, it was great to share a platform with head groundsmen from prestigious stadiums such as Lords, Twickenham and Murrayfield  as well as from top venues such as Gloucestershire CCC and Durham CCC. 

“A very big thank you should go to Dennis/Sisis for sponsoring this annual event to get grassroots cricket groundsmen together to share their experience and knowledge.”

The club said, “As a club we are proud to know that Gordon is up there with the best groundsmen in the country and it is a pleasure for ex-players and current players to have played/play on pitches that Gordon has produced. If anyone has any questions about maintenance of a pitch and would like to learn, please do not hesitate to contact the club at www.westburyanddistrict cc.co.uk.”

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Bobcat innovation at Conexpo 2020

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Bobcat innovation at Conexpo 2020: Coming to the show with a bold vision to reinvent the industry and introduce more new products than ever before, Bobcat has a strong presence at this week’s Conexpo Exhibition in Las Vegas, USA, where more than 120,000 visitors are expected to visit what is one of the world’s largest construction equipment fairs.

On the Bobcat Stand Number N10001 in the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, a specially designed Innovation Stage is spotlighting the latest news and insights about Bobcat’s new products, innovations and vision for the future.

Bobcat innovation at Conexpo 2020

Bobcat innovation at Conexpo 2020

Electrifying Concept Machines

One of the highlights of the Bobcat stand at Conexpo is a trio of electric concept machines: the E17e, an electric/hydraulic excavator; the S70e, an electric/hydraulic loader and the T76e, an all-electric loader.

Bobcat electric prototype machines will be ideal for the indoor demolition market. With zero emissions and a durable lithium-ion battery, they will work just as hard as diesel models with fewer maintenance needs. The fully-electric concept machines have the potential to completely revolutionize the compact equipment industry. Bobcat plans to be the first to engineer an all-electric loader.

New Products for the EMEA Market

Alongside the concept machines, the new products on the Conexpo stand include R-series loaders, set to be launched in Europe later this year. Offering enhanced performance and comfort compared to their predecessors, the new R-Series loaders offer more comfort and less noise and feature a new one-piece cab design and a new LED lighting system for better visibility at night. More detailed, machine operation information is available through the new standard 5-inch and optional 7-inch touch screen displays.

All R-Series loaders feature new cast steel loader arms (20% stronger than the previous fabricated steel design). They also feature a redesigned cooling package in response to demand for higher capacity cooling.

In addition, all R-Series compact track loaders offer high stability thanks to the five-link torsion suspension now incorporated on all the track loader models in the range.

Bobcat MaxControl System

Another exciting Bobcat development at Conexpo is the Bobcat MaxControl system, which provides a new IOS(Apple) based plug and play remote control solution that uses a smartphone to control Bobcat loaders. With its similarity to gaming joysticks or an Xbox controller, MaxControl ensures operators have a tactile feel when remotely operating Bobcat loaders.

For operators using Bobcat MaxControl, it means that there is no need to get in and out of the machine to open gates, park the machine, load it on to a trailer or loading and dumping material. Bobcat MaxControl enables the operator to perform most tasks remotely, that would normally be carried out while sitting inside the machine. The system has been launched on a limited basis in North America and is being tested in the EMEA region.

Other New Developments for EMEA

Since inventing the compact equipment industry, Bobcat has consistently demonstrated its commitment to delivering the best products and services. As the company enters a stage of new product launches and advanced innovation, Bobcat will continue to be a driving force in the industry.

The Bobcat stand at Conexpo provides a great demonstration of the company’s ambition with a wide range of new products and pioneering technologies, that are currently only available for the USA market, but might be coming to the EMEA market in the future, including:

  • Small articulated loaders
  • R series 4-6t mini-excavators
  • E145 and E165 excavators
  • Machine IQ Wireless Communications
  • Features On Demand

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit www.bobcat.com

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Robyn the Record Breaker

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Robyn the Record Breaker: Robyn Vaughan, Customer Service Desk Administrator for Limagrain UK, has broken the British record after bench pressing an incredible 100kg (that’s the equivalent of 5 x 20 kg bags of Limagrain’s MM60 grass seed mixture!)

Robyn’s day job may well consist of advising and supporting Limagrain UK’s large amenity customer base but when the clock hits five o’clock, she steps into her other role as the Amateur British Powerlifting World Champion.

Robyn the Record Breaker

Robyn the Record Breaker

It all started four years ago when she joined her local gym to lose weight, meet new people and generally to keep fit. However, it wasn’t long before she realised that she was incredibly strong and her ability to lift heavy weights certainly didn’t go un-noticed.

Sean Blackburn, World, European and British Champion, took Robyn under his guidance and started training her at the Warriors gym in Barton Upon Humber. She quickly showed her potential and before long she was flipping 264kg tractor tyres and training four times a week specialising in bench pressing.

The training paid off and Robyn became Amateur British Powerlifting Union Bench Press Champion in May 2019, by bench pressing 92.5kg, and instantly qualified for the Amateur World Powerlifting Congress Bench Press Championships in Orlando, America.

Robyn conquered the World Championships in the States by picking up gold but determined as ever, she had her sights set on breaking even more records. Her next goal was to bench press an astonishing weight of 100kg.

Her training went up another level with Sean and a strict diet was put in place by her nutritionist Sophie Scott to ensure that she had the energy and strength needed to help her reach her goal.

On 15 February, at the Ultraflex in Rotherham, all eyes were on Robyn as she attempted her record-breaking lift. Her first attempt opened at 90kg, then went to 95kg which was her current record. Feeling confident after her two previous lifts she went fully focussed into the 100kg attempt. Unfazed by the large audience or the magnitude of the task Robyn powered her way glory.

By lifting the 100kg weight she set the new British record and is the only woman to lift 100kg in her age and weight category.

An incredible achievement, Robyn still wants more – the world record is 102.5kg so she is now back in the gym and training towards breaking that later this year.

Commenting on her success, Robyn said: “It is a huge achievement and something I had wanted to do for a very long time. It’s a very surreal feeling to be honest! One moment I’m breaking the British record and the next I’m back at work and down to business with Limagrain UK. I’m very happy because I love doing both!”

For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.lgseeds.co.uk/mm. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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Commending dealers who do more

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Commending dealers who do more: Reesink Turfcare recognised its dealers at its annual Aftermarket Dealer Awards ceremony, which was held in February.

Recognising an overall Dealer of the Year for ‘Excellence in Customer Support’ alongside Outstanding Performance in Service, Skills and Parts, the awards acknowledge the top performers in customer service across Reesink’s UK dealer network and are a huge achievement.

Commending dealers who do more

Commending dealers who do more

The much-coveted Dealer of the Year Award for Excellence in Customer Support is awarded to Lloyd Ltd. While Cheshire Turf Machinery in Stockport was awarded for Outstanding Service, Lloyd Ltd for Outstanding Skills and Revill Mowers in Gloucestershire for Outstanding Parts.

David Jackman, Reesink’s operations manager, says: “As a distributor, we are focussed on the way we communicate with our customers and the way we deal with customer support. It’s why we work closely with our dealers and delight in awarding those who do more to offer the very best in customer service.”

Reflecting on the win, groundcare service manager Glen McVittie at Lloyd Ltd, says: “Winning these awards is a real reflection of our team and their hard work. At Lloyd Ltd, we are committed to both investing in our staff to realise their full potential and offering our customers the best possible service and results. We are thrilled to have had that recognised by Reesink and to have come away with the top prize for Dealer of the Year and the award for Skills.”

Runners up in the categories are The Mowershop in Northamptonshire for Service, Oliver Landpower in Hertfordshire for Skills, RedTech Machinery in Coventry for Parts and Cheshire Turf Machinery for Excellence in Customer Support.

Reesink awards those dealers achieving the best scores in keeping with its Service Level Agreement (SLA), which benchmarks great customer service. Rated on quarterly Key Performance Indicators (KPI), within each of the three sections, the Dealer of the Year Award combines the KPI scores from all three.

David explains more about the scheme: “Over the years, we have continued to invest in our customer service and especially so in our after sales offering. One of the ways we showcase to our customers the quality of Reesink’s service is through our Service Level Agreement, which is adopted by all our Authorised Service and Dealer Locations. With this, customers can be sure that our excellent dealer network reflects Reesink’s core customer service standards, goals and considerations, and these awards are further proof of that.”

Mark Woodward, service director at Cheshire Turf Machinery, says: “By committing to following Reesink UK’s service level agreement, our service department has been elevated to the next level. To see the result of that acknowledged by winning the award for Service and finishing as the runner up for Dealer of the Year is extremely pleasing and a strong testament to the hard work of our after sales team.”

As a leading UK distributor of top turfcare brands, delivering excellence on all fronts, and particularly when it comes to customer service, is paramount to Reesink – and doing so with all its business partners is vital, concludes David: “Over the years, we have continued to invest in our customer service and especially so in our after sales offering and to see that represented by the dealers so brilliantly means we are achieving in our goal to keep on improving the overall experience for all our customers.”

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Quadraplay solves worm cast issues

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Quadraplay solves worm cast issues: The removal of Carbendazim from the groundcare market meant that St Albans School needed an alternative solution to combating worm casts and they found exactly what they were looking for in the SISIS Quadraplay.

Ian Smith, turf consultant for St Albans School, Woollam Trust Playing Fields, has long been tending to the outstanding facilities which includes 23 winter pitches for rugby and football, an all-weather hockey pitch and 8 cricket squares. The Woollam Groundstaff team have established a glowing reputation for producing the quality playing surfaces that play host to the school’s exceptional sporting teams.

Quadraplay solves worm cast issues

Quadraplay solves worm cast issues

Ever the perfectionist, Ian was concerned when they were unable to continue spraying the field with Carbendazim – a fungicide which deters worms from entering treated soil.

“Worm casting was starting to become a problem again after the loss of Carbendazim, so I started asking various groundstaff in the area their thoughts on finding a solution,” he said.

“Mark Rolph, who is now part of our team at Woollam’s, informed me how effective the SISIS Quadraplay had been for him at his previous job and in addition to this, Keith Kent former Head Groundsman at Twickenham Stadium also recommended it.

“We thought we’d give it a try and it has been absolutely brilliant for us.”

The SISIS Quadraplay multiple-purpose, single-pass maintenance incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers and brushes. The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundsmen.

Regular use of the SISIS Quadraplay combined with a top layer of sand dressing has worked wonders according to Ian.

Quadraplay solves worm cast issues

Quadraplay solves worm cast issues

“We had been encouraged to keep sand dressing our pitches, so every year 60 tons per pitch is applied and we have been doing this for past 20 years. This on top of sand amelioration during construction has led to a root zone that is a 70/30 sand soil mix. If it was just clay then it would seal in wet weather and would become unplayable for long periods.

“The sand dressing has stopped the surface from capping off and means that the worm casts now contain a lot of sand. This means that they are broken up and spread evenly by the slitter, spring tines and brush when the Quadraplay is used.

“I have been surprised at just how effective the Quadraplay has been – the surface levels are better than I was expecting, and the presentation is good. Considering the amount of rain we have had this year the pitches are not laid with water either and this is probably down to the Quadraplay keeping the surface nice and open.”

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 and 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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