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Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

October 4, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers: A newly installed Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK, is part of a long-term plan to help futureproof Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, according to Head Groundsman Ed Mowe. With a CV boasting positions at Leicester City Football Club, England FA’s St George’s Park and now […]

Barenbrug changes the game

October 4, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Maisie Jonas

Barenbrug changes the game: Varieties Barzico and Barbasten, already first and second on the 2022 BSPB/STRI Sports Ryegrass list, is available commercially in Barenbrug’s 2022 Elite Sport blend. These varieties are the result of many years of breeding and trials in the UK and abroad. Calling the winter sports range a ‘Game Changer’ for top football and rugby stadiums, Luke […]

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

October 4, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Barenbrug changes the game

October 4, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Maisie Jonas

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Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

October 4, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers: A newly installed Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK, is part of a long-term plan to help futureproof Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, according to Head Groundsman Ed Mowe.

With a CV boasting positions at Leicester City Football Club, England FA’s St George’s Park and now Leicester City Tigers, it is safe to say that Ed knows how to produce a high-quality sports pitch. He has been with the Tigers for six years and he now believes that the time has come to look to the future.

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

“The old surface was coming towards the end of its life span, and we are going to be hosting more games soon because we’ve got a Leicester Tigers Women’s team, who will be playing their home games here. So, this year, we had a new pitch constructed and we also saw an opportunity to replace all our irrigation sprinkler heads. The previous heads were old, and we were trying to replace them as they were breaking, so it just made sense to start fresh.

“Ultimately, we want to futureproof the stadium and the pitch, so it can be in the best possible shape moving forwards.”

The pitch construction was carried out by Premier Turf who worked with Prime Irrigation. It was decided that the pitch would benefit from a mixture of Hunter TTS-885 and I-80 rotors, which were supplied by KAR UK – the leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK.

The 885 rotor belongs to the Hunter TTS-800 portfolio and provides maximum uniformity and longevity. The high-torque gear drives are the strongest in the industry, so the challenges of reclaimed water use, or poor water quality are mitigated.

The TTS-885 also benefits from Hunter’s patented TTS (Total-Top-Service) technology which allows for every serviceable element of the rotor to be accessed through the top.

Mechanical and electrical, big and small, you can get to every component without disturbing the playing surface. That means there’s no more digging, no more unsightly scars, and more importantly, one less item on a busy turf manager’s schedule. Other notable features of the TTS-885 include true full-circle and adjustable part-circle (60° to 360°), exclusive PressurePort™ nozzle technology, and a radius of 11.3 to 28.7 m.

Meanwhile the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 m. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides TTS via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring.

To accompany the rotors Ed opted for the mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform and the Roam remote – which eliminates the need to go back and forth to the sprinkler controller. This connectivity allows you to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notifications of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

“This year really has proved just how important a good irrigation system is,” said Ed. “The rotors provide us with excellent coverage, and they are not as prone to drift. Previously we were getting a lot of drift off the old heads. They are incredibly easy to use and maintain – you can simply pull them out and there is no digging involved. You don’t have to take them apart to alter the arcs. I’ve not had any issues with them at all and they perform excellently.

“The Centralus and the Roam remote have also been of huge benefit,” continued Ed. “It is all connected to the internet so I can easily sort out the various irrigation programmes. Having this flexibility has saved us thousands of pounds too because, if for example, I have set a programme and we get a big downpour of rain then I can simply switch it off. Also, in this respect we can target specific areas on the pitch. We just keep the remote in our pockets and if we see a dry patch or the manager wants a certain area watered, we can switch it on with the press of a button.

“Overall, I’m really impressed – and the irrigation system is absolutely helping to futureproof the pitch. It has helped to keep the moisture levels up for the grass to grow and the whole package just works for us.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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

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Barenbrug changes the game

October 4, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Maisie Jonas

Barenbrug changes the game: Varieties Barzico and Barbasten, already first and second on the 2022 BSPB/STRI Sports Ryegrass list, is available commercially in Barenbrug’s 2022 Elite Sport blend. These varieties are the result of many years of breeding and trials in the UK and abroad.

Calling the winter sports range a ‘Game Changer’ for top football and rugby stadiums, Luke Hunt, Barenbrug’s Product Manager says “We have broken the mould for 2022 with the very top performing grasses bred by us for premium sport stadiums, pitches and courses, and produced in the UK. Grounds managers now have a brand-new choice in a field where many different products have contained the same varieties”.

Barenbrug changes the game

The Elite Sport blend is complemented in Barenbrug’s winter sport range with RPR Sport, a highly researched blend of four hard-wearing perennial ryegrasses, including Barlibro Regenerating Perennial Ryegrass (RPR). The range also contains Multi Sport, with a focus on through-the-year performance and sustainability, and SOS for emergency mid-season turf repair in cool temperatures.

Barenbrug’s premium sports range is in wide use at Premier League stadiums, top-ranked golf courses and tennis courts, as well as local clubs and schools. Ipswich Town FC is one of many football clubs who has had the game changed by the winter sport varieties. Ben Connell (ITFC) began trials five years ago with Barenbrug bred grass varieties on the training grounds and academy pitches. Since then, he has overseen their introduction into the stadium pitch. “One advantage of working with a seed breeder,” Ben says, “is to be able to follow the development of new grass varieties and work with the breeder to see how products can work best for our pitches. So for us, Barenbrugs winter sport varieties are top of the table”.

Specialising entirely on developing innovative UK grass seed solutions, Barenbrug UK is now recognised as the leading grass seed breeder and grower in the UK. As part of the wider Barenbrug Group, grass experts since 1904, their worldwide research and plant genetics network includes dedicated UK trials of amenity varieties and mixtures, providing a solid testing ground while drawing on knowledge and expertise from across the globe.

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.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

Barenbrug changes the game

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

Barenbrug changes the game

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers: A newly installed Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK, is part of a long-term plan to help futureproof Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, according to Head Groundsman Ed Mowe.

Barenbrug changes the game

Barenbrug changes the game: Varieties Barzico and Barbasten, already first and second on the 2022 BSPB/STRI Sports Ryegrass list, is available commercially in Barenbrug’s 2022 Elite Sport blend. These varieties are the result of many years of breeding and trials in the UK and abroad.

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