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G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

October 6, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle: Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has said goodbye to its trusty 19-year-old Dennis cylinder mower and welcomed a new G860 as its replacement. “If you can have a mower that is 19 years old, and it still gives you that kind of cut and presentation – then just imagine what a […]

Symbio expands technical team

October 6, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Ellie Parry

Symbio expands technical team: Soil biology specialist Symbio has continued the expansion of its technical team with the appointment of Gary McKenna and Richard Sheppard. Gary is a former golf course manager and Symbio customer who is an active part of the greenkeeping community in Scotland. Educated at Elmwood College, he brings more than two […]

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

October 6, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Symbio expands technical team

October 6, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Ellie Parry

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G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

October 6, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle: Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has said goodbye to its trusty 19-year-old Dennis cylinder mower and welcomed a new G860 as its replacement.

“If you can have a mower that is 19 years old, and it still gives you that kind of cut and presentation – then just imagine what a newer model will do!”

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

Head Groundsman Dale Stephen admits that it did not take much to convince Scot Gardiner, the CEO to buy a new Dennis G860 – he simply had to look at the job his old one was doing. However, it could have been a quite different story and Dale admits that he was somewhat guilty of judging a book by its cover.

“When I first joined, I went into the tractor shed and looked at what machines and equipment I had to work with,” he said.

“There were only a handful of machines and there was this old Dennis G860 in the corner. The old groundsman at the time told me that it would be the best and most reliable mower, but I must admit, looking at how old it was, I thought he was joking.

“How wrong I was. From the first time I cut with it, I was hooked and wanted to use it all the time.”

Up until joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dale had been a greenkeeper for the entirety of his career. He claims that moving over to the football side of grounds management was always part of his plan and was delighted when he was given the opportunity at Caley Thistle five years ago. It did not take him long to adapt and since joining the club, the pitch at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium has frequently been held in high regard.

“People ask me how I produce a pitch like that,” said Dale. “But I think it can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it. If you do the basics and do them well, then you are giving yourself a good platform to have the best surface you can. The right products and the right equipment will certainly bring out the best of the pitch.”

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

That is where the Dennis G860 cylinder mower comes in. Relied upon at world class stadia and major tournaments, the G860 is one of the most renowned cylinder mowers in the grounds management industry. Lightweight at just 166kg it is incredibly easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to operate. The handlebar console houses the controls for the throttle, parking brake, roller drive and cutting cylinder drive.

The mower features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish on every occasion. The Dennis G860 also features an interchangeable cassette system to assist with a wide range of tasks such as including scarifying, verticutting, brushing, spiking, and slitting.

Dale has no doubt that his 19-year-old G860 could have continued cutting and preparing the pitch at the stadium but the perfectionist in him wanted a newer model. “I told the CEO (Scot Gardiner) that if we got a new G860 then it would be a good investment because it will more than likely outlast me!” he said.

Dale’s wish was granted, and it was not long before he was the proud owner of a shiny new Dennis G860.

“The main difference between the new one and the old one is that I have an 8 bladed cylinder now and I have really seen an improvement. The finish is second to none and the sward has really thickened since using it.

“It is nice and light so you can use it anytime of the year without worrying about putting weight on the pitch. In my opinion, it is the ultimate mower for matchday preparation.”

While his new G860 may well be his new go-to machine, Dale revealed that his old Dennis G860 will not be retiring just yet.

“The old G860 is now at the youth training centre, and it’s still going strong. I’m sure it will do just as good a job on those pitches as it has done for me.”

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

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Symbio expands technical team

October 6, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Ellie Parry

Symbio expands technical team: Soil biology specialist Symbio has continued the expansion of its technical team with the appointment of Gary McKenna and Richard Sheppard.

Gary is a former golf course manager and Symbio customer who is an active part of the greenkeeping community in Scotland. Educated at Elmwood College, he brings more than two decades of turf management and tournament experience to his new role providing technical support to customers in the North and East of Scotland.

Symbio expands technical team

Richard returns to the company as a result of his long-held passion for sustainable turfgrass management. A long-term advocate for a biological approach, he began his career in greenkeeping before completing qualifications in turf science and sportsground management and an Open University degree. Richard will be supporting a wide range of customers across Northern England.

Established in 1990 and now part of Origin Amenity Solutions, Symbio provides the correct combination of biology, chemistry and physics for fine grass growth with fewer chemicals and less disease, physical disruption, management time and cost. It was the first company to develop a range of industry-changing products, including Thatch Eater to convert thatch to plant food, mycorrhizal fungi to promote perennial grasses and in some cases more than halve fertiliser use; Liquid Aeration to oxygenate the rootzone, and compost teas to restore life to chemically-damaged and compacted rootzones.

Symbio Business Manager, Kerr Hunter, said: “I am delighted to have Gary and Richard at Origin Amenity Solutions and representing the Symbio brand. They have a wealth of experience and knowledge that benefits our customers and our business. As the use of biologicals and biostimulants grows, it is vital that we have the right people providing advice and support.”

Gary can be contacted on 07976 624241 and by email at gary.mckenna@symbio.co.uk. Follow him on Twitter @GarySymbio.

Richard is available on 07719 088308 and by email at richard.sheppard@symbio.co.uk. Follow him on Twitter @symbioRich.

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)

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

Symbio expands technical team

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

Symbio expands technical team

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle

G860 upgraded at Caley Thistle: Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has said goodbye to its trusty 19-year-old Dennis cylinder mower and welcomed a new G860 as its replacement.

Symbio expands technical team

Symbio expands technical team: Soil biology specialist Symbio has continued the expansion of its technical team with the appointment of Gary McKenna and Richard Sheppard.

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