Inside the Webb

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Inside the Webb: Scott MacCallum catches up with Geoff Webb, the IOG’s Chief Executive and the man who steered Saltex to its new Birmingham home.

With two successful editions of the new NEC Birmingham-based Saltex under his belt you would think that Geoff Webb would be relaxed heading into the third version of the new Saltex. Not a bit of it.

“No, the short answer is no.” Is Geoff’s response to the assumption that there must be less stress now than there was in the lead up two years ago.

“Knowing that the success or failure of the show rests heavily on your shoulders and that the responsibility lies with me means that I’d love the answer to be yes. But it is no.”

Inside the Webb

It is that sort of honesty and commitment to ensuring that each Show is an upgrade on the one before which means that Saltex is in very good hands.

The decision to move from its long-standing home at Royal Windsor Racecourse at the beginning of September each year to the NEC in Birmingham at the beginning of November, was not one taken lightly by the IOG Board but they also took the decision backed by evidence of a downturn in attendance at Windsor and an underlying feeling that perhaps the Show had run its course in that little corner of Berkshire.

“I do think that the move (to NEC Birmingham) has proven to be a wise decision and I also think that it has elevated the grounds care sector and given us a Show that people seem to like.

“It is in the middle of the country with good transport links, while the new date seems to have fitted in much better with visitors’ schedules. It must also be recognised that we are never going to keep everyone happy but I do think that the endorsement has been the size of the exhibition itself which has grown year on year and visitors are coming back.”

Outside of expansion in exhibitor and visitor numbers, identifying the success of a Show can be very much a subjective thing but, prior to moving success criteria were identified. Judging by the success of the first two editions most of those boxes must surely have been ticked?

“Very much so. In fact, we are ahead of expectation of where we are to be honest. But the key thing is never to be complacent. We work on the basis that we are driven by improvement so at the end of every Show we go through and analysis everything. We look at visitor returns, we look at exhibitor returns, we pick up on issues and try to find a way to improve on them. That’s the responsibility we have got.”

And it seems to be an effective strategy with the 2017 Saltex going to break through the 300 exhibitor barrier which represents a year on year improvement while we are anticipating something like a 15% growth in visitor numbers as well.”

So what other elements go towards a successful Show?

“It’s a whole host of things. I think it’s the feel of the Show. The judge and jury on whether we’ve got it right or wrong is the general public and their reaction, thanks to social media, can be pretty much immediate.

“The first thing for us, prior to moving to Birmingham, was to manage successfully the transformation of the Show, which, let’s not forget, had been outdoors for 33 years in a row. There were a number of doubters, while a lot of other people stayed on the fence and more can along to the Show out of curiosity in year one, less so in year two.”

With those doubters having to reappraise their views the new look Saltex is offering much on many fronts.

“We’ve added value with attractions and features not least the wealth of products and information you will see and pick up at the event. We’ve also got the Industry Awards which sold out last year and look like being a complete sell out before the event this year. That’s 800 people and an event of which we are immense proud.”

Having spent a great deal of time reviewing feedback for all the Saltex stakeholders what tweaks have been carried out to improve the Show experience?

“Our team manages the transition of people going to the event and we have ring fenced the car park charges so that’s not going to rise, which is happening at other Shows. We’ve also got that discounted for IOG members. We’ve also discounted ground travel costs to get to the NEC and if you go to the Virgin website. We are also working with the NEC about improving the catering and refreshment facilities,” explained Geoff.

“Those are the logistical aspects to the Show but there are other areas within who learn by experience and being at the event. For example if the first year every theatre was outdoor but one of the issues we had was noise – either presenting of listening. So for the second year we sound proofed, and closed off the rooms but then we got feedback that it took away some of the atmosphere. So this year we are opening the theatres up again but we’ve got wireless headphones which we will give to all the delegates so that they will be able to hear the speaker. People will turn up put on the headphones and listen to the presentation while the exhibition is going off around them.”

That’s a prime example of looking at something which was perceived to be a downside and finding a solution.

“We are also having our own Show TV channel for the first time as well and will be carrying out pnm the spot interviews. It will also be the second year of the College Cup which proved to be such a hit last year and we have more colleges involved this year. Added to that, and again for the first time, we have an Advice Clinic for those interested in career development which will be managed by Frank Newberry.”

One of the main selling points for the new location for Saltex was the opportunities it created to open the doors to many more people to get to the Show.

“A really good example of this is Paul Burgess who, everyone knows is at Real Madrid and last year he came to me and said ‘This is great, Geoff. I’ve flown in from Madrid on a direct flight, got off the plane and walked to my hotel within 10 minutes and five minutes after that I was in the Show.’

“We had representatives from 43 countries last year. Before that it was predominately a UK-based Show. I do believe that Saltex is probably the largest sports turf ground management Show anywhere in the world.”

Hearing what Saltex 2017 has in store for us I don’t know about you but I think Geoff is being a little too harsh on himself if he feels as stressed now as he did two years ago before the first NEC Birmingham-based Saltex.

I’m not telling you to sit back and relax but just give yourself a bit of credit for two very successful Shows and the knowledge that Show Three looks well set to continue a very positive trend for Saltex.

Whatever The Customer Wants

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Whatever the Customer Wants: That legendary American industrialist, Henry Ford, who brought automotive transportation to the masses, was famous for many things, among them one of the best known quotes of the 20th century.

The Model T Ford was the car which gave the American public the ability to travel and Henry’s quote was: “A customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.”

Whatever The Customer Wants

A Dutch industrialist from the 21st century, Leo van Loen, Managing Director Trilo, also has a quote: “A customer can have anything he wants.”

As simple as that.

Leo has introduced a new production strategy at the small but progressive, Trilo plant which has revolutionised the way in which the company operates which now offers a mind-numbing number of opportunities to its customers.

A customer can, indeed, have anything her or she wishes and, while choice can sometimes bring a myriad of headaches, in this instance it couldn’t be simpler.

The on-line configurator enables customers to go on line and create the exact machine they need, following a path through the options and preventing anything emerging from the end process which is not workable, or the most cost effective way in which to fulfil the task required.

With support, if required, from, in the UK, Support Managers Jon Proffit and Jeremy Vincent, the process could not be more simple.

“Ah”, I hear from those more used to the workings of the manufacturing sector, “but how long will you have to wait for your bespoke piece of equipment?”

Well, that’s the great thing. A computerised tracking system means that every phone call, from the initial tentative enquiry, through to “Yup, we’ve had a meeting and decided to order.” Is tracked and a percentage of the chances of the order coming through given from 10% through to 90% – there can always be a slip between cup and lip! – so preparations can be made for that order’s completion in the shortest possible time.

A one million euro restructuring of the plant is currently underway, and due to be completed by March. This will bring added benefits to and see increases in efficiency and bring the available working man hours up from 50,000 per annum to 60,000 per annum thus reducing lead times, for a new, built-to-spec machine, to just three weeks.

It has meant that Trilo no longer need to hold huge amounts of stock as, because every order or potential order, is on the system, they only hold, or produce, what they need to meet those orders.

Whatever The Customer Wants

This has also been made possible by the radical, and some may have said risky, decision made by Commercial Director, Peter van Mispelaar, to require payment in advance for the machines.

The rationale being that the machine has been built to a specification which is fit for a particular customer and unlikely to be perfect for another customer and therefore not as saleable. That new approach has been embraced by customers and meant that Trilo now doesn’t suffer from the cash flow issues which can impact upon so many business as they await payment to cover costs already incurred.

To the machines themselves. Well, they’re pretty good too. Trilo specialises in vacuum brushes and blowers which are just as at home in the urban roads and pavements of the city as the wide open and wooded parks and golf course.

The company was launched by Leo’s father and two uncles – hence Tri Lo – and Leo grew up working in the, at the time much smaller plant. With his future apparently mapped out he went to university to learn the business skills which would complement the engineering  capabilities provided by the rest of the family, including his own brother.

Just as he emerged from university armed with the skills to take Trilo to the next level the company was sold and rather than carry on as one of the family dynasty Leo continued to work for Trilo under the new ownership.

Ultimately Leo took the heart-breaking decision to leave the company which had been a part of his life for such a long time.

“When I closed the door behind me for the very last time I thought that was it. I would never be back,” explained Leo, as he hosted a group of UK-based trade press, recently.

However, some of the reasons that Leo felt uncomfortable working under the new management came to a head and Trilo went bust.

It was at that point that Leo and Peter put together a business proposition which saw them return to Trilo as the new owners and since then the company has not looked back.

Leo’s business acumen, coupled with his intense devotion to a company which is literally in his blood, it is making huge strides and its innovative manufacturing and sophisticated on-line systems are pointing to a very bright future for the company.

So while Leo may still be in Henry Ford’s shadow when it comes to coming up with memorable quotes, he is well ahead of the great man when it comes to giving the customer what he or she wants.

Laurence Gale Makes A Return Visit To The STRI

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Research at its Best: Laurence Gale popped up to Yorkshire to make a return visit to the STRI

It has been a few years since I last visited the STRI trials grounds, so it was pleasing and very rewarding to have the opportunity to attend one of the recent STRI Research open days last week and catch up with many of the world’s leading Agronomists and Sport Turf Professionals who work and help deliver a wide range of high profile sport surfaces. Laurence Gale Makes A Return Visit To The STRI

The STRI Group incorporates the following global businesses; STRI UK, STRI Australia, STRI China, SportsTurf Consultants (Melbourne), Aspire Sports Turf (Qatar), Landsafe International and SWD Systems.

Their specialist consultants provide quality, bespoke and cost ffective solutions for the design, construction and management of sports surfaces all around the world.

The STRI have successfully masterminded the installation of pitches used for the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championships and Olympic Games along with working with a varied list of clients that include The R&A, Wimbledon Championships, Sport England and the RFU.

In addition, The STRI manages multiple research projects and product trials each year, designed specifically to suit each individual sports surface.

The aim of the day was to invite a wide audience of Sports Turf Professionals to see some of the latest trials being undertaken at their trial grounds in Bingley.

Laurence Gale Makes A Return Visit To The STRI

The STRI works with a number of companies each year on Research & Development (R&D) projects for the sports turf industry and this year invited a selection of these companies to support this event

Taking part this year were Bayer, Farmura an Aquatrols Company, ICL, Sherriff Amenity, Stadia Pitch and Syngenta. With over 150 attendees, the event was spilt into seven work stations, enabling small groups to hear about the specific trials that where being undertaken.

Station A, gave us a glimpse into the future of pallatised stadium pitches, there have been a number of these systems around for many years, however, they were often prone to damage when being moved and quite a logistic problem time wise, taking several days to move in and out of the stadiums.

The STRI have been working very closely with STADIAPITCH for a number of years, looking at ways of developing a better pallatised system with the aim to turn non-match days into potential revenue generating events. This has only been made possible by designing and extensively researching key technologies to ensure a pitch can be moved and stored in under ten hours and when brought back into the stadium it is ready for play very quickly.

Station B was showing us a set of Bayer Cropscience trials with Dr Colin Mumford explaining the differences between a programmed preventative approach to disease control and a conventional approach, which often tends to rely on curative or early curative action.

Laurence Gale Makes A Return Visit To The STRI

Station C Demonstrated the versatility and innovation of Drone technologies now being embraced by the STRI with Sophie Vukelic their ecological consultant talking about the services they can offer clients in terms of course design, management and maintenance.

Station D Was led by ICL s Henry Bechelet Turf and Landscape – Technical Sales Manager UK & Ireland as always Henry delivered a passion presentation of the results of the nutrition trial undergoing at Bingley.

Station E saw Syngenta’s Technical Manager, Marcela Munoz, give an interesting insight to their seed trials being undertaken at Bingley.

Every seed counts when it comes to restoring playing surface quality on golf courses or getting stadium pitches established and stable for the new season. Typically there are now greater expectations for turf managers to achieve excellent turf surfaces, with shorter intervals in which to achieve it.

Station F showed Sherriff Amenities trial on a targeted approach to Disease control.

The objective of the Sherriff Amenity trial is to investigate the efficacy of using carefully selected non- fungicidal products; alone and in combination with Instrata Elite against the development of anthracnose disease.

The two non-fungicidal products where E2 Pro PhosRite and E-Gypsum Flo both shown to have beneficial effects on both plants and soil, the trail is to evaluate which combination of these products gives you the best resistance to anthracnose disease.

Station G Farmura and Aquatrols Company trials on the biodegration of organic matter and thatch using a novel enzyme system.

The objective of this two year trial is to determine the effect of the enzyme on thatch accumulation and reduction of soil water repellency alone or when co applied with an Aquatrols soil surfactant under environmental conditions typical of northern Europe.

 

Providing Consistent Conditions To The Best Show Jumping Arena In The World

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Edward Bunn is Facilities Manager at Hickstead, one of the most iconic show jumping arena in the world. Still a family-run business, Ed’s been tending to the showground since 1983. Having watched it grow from strength to strength, in 2011 he managed a £650k complete reconstruction of its international arena.

Providing Consistent Conditions To The Best Show Jumping Arena In The WorldEd says: “We’d admired the renovation work done by STRI at the RDS in Dublin – at the time recognised as one of the best grass arenas in the world. So we turned to them for help with a complete dig out, rebuild and re-drain. We’re susceptible to bad weather here, making for a soft, muddy course after heavy rain,” said Ed.

“That’s why international show jumping tends to be dominated by all-weather surfaces:  such as sand arenas… but we’ve been a grass course since 1960 and we wanted to keep it that way. So our challenge was: How do we provide consistent conditions, so riders get a level playing field even in torrential rain?”

The answer came from the STRI who pointed Ed in the direction of Barenbrug.

“The STRI recommended Barenbrug BAR SPRINT, which we used across the 1.8 hectare site. We’d considered turfing, but the cost was huge and we knew growing from seed would yield better results – if we had time and weather on our side. We did, and within three years, Hickstead got voted the best arena in the world by international riders.”

Last year, Ed looked at Barenbrug’s RPR (Regenerating Perennial Ryegrass) technology to assist with repairs. With only a month between summer events, he wanted to trial the unique cultivars, renowned for the determinate stolons that spread into surrounding areas, quickly filling gaps in sward.

“Last year, I spoke to Sam Horner, at Barenbrug, who agreed to create a one off special mix for us, featuring BAR SPRINT and RPR. Grass seed is a science that continually develops and I was curious to see what it could do for our autumn renovations and repairs.Providing Consistent Conditions To The Best Show Jumping Arena In The World

“We scarified the ring back, taking out 40 to 50%. Then carried out de-compaction work. When you’ve got a tonne of horse taking off and landing on the same spot, you get a lot of holes and compaction.  After that we overseeded with the newly developed BAR SPRINT RPR. Despite a dry autumn, it germinated within three to four days. It’s been our best renovation yet, with dense infilled gaps, and a lush carpet-like effect.  It’ll be interesting to see how it recovers from this summer’s shows. And, over the coming years, as the percentage of RPR builds up.”

The international arena runs just 16 days a year. However, the condition must be maintained to world-class standards, even when time is limited.

“Because of the short period between events, we pre-germinate the grass seed; putting it into hessian sacks and into water. We put it in on the Friday of an event, and it’s ready to use on the Monday.  Then we create a divot mix, using sand and soil, and we just go round and seed the patches.  It’s a real kick start for the grass,” explained Ed.

“We also fertilise a lot, and maintain and mow, but nothing special. BAR SPRINT RPR isn’t a fussy grass seed. It’s not delicate, but it still gives us the perfect look – essential when you’re on television and live-streaming on the internet – and under the scrutiny of millions of viewers. “

Transforming Greenock Morton FC

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Scott MacCallum catches up with Mark Farnell, Head Groundsman at Greenock Morton, a man used to making the most of what he has got.

Transforming Greenock Morton FC

There is groundsmanship going on all around us at every time of day, or year, and at so many locations that it would render your Sat Nav hoarse should you set out to visit every one.

Issues are being identified, solutions uncovered with the nett result that more often than not the best result, given the circumstances, and budget, are achieved. The word budget is key here as, outside of a select few venues, money is tight and a groundsman uses his wits to bring about what he or she desires.

One such is Mark Farrell, Head Groundsman at Scottish Championship Club Greenock Morton FC, who, through an excellent working relationship with Richard Haywood, of Campey Turfcare, had his pitch Koroed in exchange for hosting an industry open day.

Mark had work carried out on his pitch which would otherwise have stretched his budget to breaking point while Campey had the opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of their Koro machine. In addition 70 groundsmen and women saw first hand how a pitch can be transformed in a remarkably short space of time.

“I know Richard very well and we agreed that it would be great to put on an event in Scotland and I told him that Morton’s pitch would be available to use and that it would also help us as we’re not a big club,” explained Mark.

Greenock Morton came within a successful play-off campaign of reaching the Scottish Premiership last season. Defeat to Dundee United, in the semi-finals, ending what had been a remarkable season of over-achievement for a club which had only been promoted from the 1st Division the previous year. In fact they had identified their ambitions for the year as Championship survival.

However, by Mark’s own admission, home ground Cappielow, just a few hundred metres from the banks of the Clyde, boasts the type of pitch which is not generally seen at the likes of Parkhead, Pittodrie or Ibrox.

“What we have is about as close as you could get to a council pitch in a professional football club – we have a great deal of play and the construction is not what it would be at other clubs,” explained Mark, a Mancunian, who has been Head Man at Cappielow since 2005.

“It is soil based, and that’s not changed since we started playing at the ground in 1874, and we have no drainage or irrigation. All the sand we’ve applied over the years has worked its way into the soil structure.”

But Mark doesn’t get the opportunity to nurse his pitch through a season, as there are three teams which call Cappielow home – Morton’s First Team, Morton’s Reserve Team and the Celtic Development Squad, who travel down from Glasgow to play in Greenock. “If we count only the main matches, last season we had 53 games on the pitch and that doesn’t take into consideration the community and corporate games which are also played. It’s close to 100 games a season.”

With the priority Morton’s first team games it is a real battle against the tide as Mark can often face a game on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

“The main problem is getting onto the pitch to do what we need to do, and do it when the conditions are right. I often find that if we’ve had a game on the Monday it will rain all day Tuesday and then a game on Wednesday and you only have time to prepare for that and not to any time to do anything other than that.”

Transforming Greenock Morton FC

Ah, the rain. Coming from Manchester Mark thought he knew all about rain. He was about to learn more. The west of Scotland does experience more than its fair share of rain with locals joking that webbed feet are an obvious give-away for anyone coming from the area.

“We used to go on about Manchester being wet but it’s wet up here, I can tell you. Last year was one of the best we’ve had recently in terms of rainfall but the year before we had over 1000mm in just four months. In the December we had 388mm alone.”

The Campey day afforded Mark the opportunity to get some work done on the pitch which would not otherwise happen. “I have a lot of poa – a lot of good poa – but the plan was to try and get some more rye grass into the surface so what we did was take off about 70% of the top surface, because the soil here is good, and leave about 30% of the strong plant. We’d never done it before and while it’s not a bad surface here, it’s never going to be one of the top pitches in Scotland as it’s overused, with no drainage and no irrigation.

“What we were looking for is a satisfactory surface for the year which will play ok,” said Mark, who added that Morton’s Manager, Jim Duffy, is happy to leave him to get on with his work and never questions or complains.

“He knows the game, been around a long time and he knows what I’m like with the pitch and leaves me to it.”

With a background in golf Mark, worked at two of the most prestigious clubs in the country, The Oxfordshire, under David Gower, and Loch Lomond, under Ken Seims, as well as at Myerscough College. So he has a strong knowledge of the grass plant and soil structure and he brings that to bear at Cappielow.

“What I’ve learned is that you have to be tough on the plant. You’ve got to be brutal on the plant to make it strong and really scarify heavily. If you just chuck on your feed the plant will just sit on the surface happy as Larry and play poorly.

“You have to leather the plant to make it strong and to work on a soil based pitch because otherwise you won’t get any root stabilisation. It is just down to proper hard core groundsmanship.”

And that’s mechanical, not chemical.

“We don’t spray for anything here. We just use cultural methods and because no two sites are the same what we do here won’t be the same as would happen anywhere else.”

It took Mark around four years to become really familiar with his pitch and understand how it worked.

“When you’ve got a surface that you use from one year to the next you do get to know where the water gathers or the dry areas are, and generally how it operates. I do get organic build up from one year to the next and I’ve got keep on top of that, but I speak with a lot of guys at the bigger clubs and they work completely differently. They are able to feed, cut, feed, cut, feed, strip out and start again so they don’t really need to know their pitch to the same extent.”

If Mark is jealous of those at bigger more glamorous clubs he certainly doesn’t show it and he has embraced his Scottish and Greenock way of life mixing with fans – he is one himself – opposition fans as well as fellow groundsmen and greenkeepers.

However, he did get a taste of life at one of the game’s giants recently when his long time friend, Paul Burgess, invited him over to Madrid to look at his facility at the Bernabeu and take in the El Classico between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“The pressure I’m under is completely different to the pressure Paul is under. They want perfection and Paul has to deliver.”

Mark has been able to introduce one of the game’s newer innovations to Cappielow however, but not quite on the same scale as those in Madrid.

Transforming Greenock Morton FC

“I’ve got a small lighting rig for next year – 12 lamps – and it does the trick. With so many games the goal mouth areas take a pounding so the lighting rig enables me to focus on that and bring them back as much as we can.”

Mark sees the rigs as one of the key tools that have arrived in recently years, along with the DESSO pitch, but it is the synthetic pitch revolution in Scottish football which concerns Mark and their influence on his adopted country’s progress as a football nation.

“Not far off half of the 42 clubs in Scotland are now playing on artificial pitches and that has arisen for financial and not footballing reasons. If it was purely to do with first team football and providing a surface for fans to come and watch their team it would be played on grass. If Scotland continues to fail to qualify for tournaments the number of artificial pitches at our clubs may well be a reason for that. They are not going to help improve talent at a nation level,” explained Mark.

Mark is looking forward to the new season, one in which Morton are looking to build on the success of last season and they will be doing so on a pitch which is as good as can be achieved given the resources at his disposal – and the relationship built between Mark and Richard at Campey’s.

A perfect example of proper hard core groundsmanship.