Tag Archive for: Award

CPL’s Best Groundsman Award

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CPL’s Best Groundsman Award: The Hero Caribbean Premier League has created an award for the groundsman that has overseen the greatest improvement in the pitches at tournament venues since the league’s inception in 2013. The award will see the winning head groundsman being flown to New Zealand to work with world renowned pitch expert Mark Perham.

The winner will visit New Zealand for three weeks spending time in both Christchurch and Auckland to see how pitches in other countries are prepared. This is an amazing opportunity for professional development and further cements the Hero CPL’s commitment to improve pitches across the region.

Speaking about the award Mark Perham said: “I have been delighted to work with the groundsmen across the region to help improve the pitches in the Caribbean. This opportunity for the groundsman that has made the biggest improvement to the standard of wickets at their venue is just reward for a lot of hard work, but I would also like to extend my thanks to all the ground staff who have also put in a lot of hard graft over the years.”

Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of Hero CPL, said: “As a tournament we are firmly committed to playing our part in the improvement of cricketing infrastructure across the Caribbean and we are very pleased to have been involved in the improvement of pitches. This award is another example of CPL investing in the development of West Indies cricket.”

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Greenkeeping Award For Gregg Hood

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Greenkeeping Award For Gregg Hood: Trainee greenkeeper Gregg Hood has been crowned SRUC Elmwood’s annual John Deere HNC Student of the Year, after making a career change in is early 40s. Greg won the award, sponsored by John Deere and Scottish turf dealer Double A, for a conscientious and enthusiastic approach to his programme of studies during the 2017/2018 academic year.

Born and bred in Glasgow, Gregg had a successful career as a qualified accountant and then a mortgage broker before making the jump into greenkeeping at the age of 42. “It was one of those life changing decisions that I just had to make,” he says. “I had thought for a couple of years that it was time for a change. I’ve always loved my golf, and thought it was a great environment to work in. I was also interested in how golf courses are put together, how they’re looked after and made to look so good.

Greenkeeping Award For Gregg Hood

“My partner Lisa was very supportive, so I finally left work in June 2017 and applied to the SRUC, having been in contact with Elmwood’s greenkeeping coordinator Mike Clark for a year or so before that. We agreed that the HNC in Golf Course Management would be the best entry level course for me, combined with volunteering on a golf course to get some practical experience.”

That golf course turned out to be St Andrews Links, where Gregg started volunteering two days a week from September 2017, about two weeks after starting the course. “It’s been fantastic, and course manager Kevin Muir and his team couldn’t have been more helpful. Everyone’s been very happy to give me the benefit of their time and knowledge, so it’s been an absolutely brilliant opportunity.

“Going in I was obviously a little apprehensive about my age, but both Mike and Kevin said if you show a good attitude and you’re there to learn, then as long as you can do the work and be a part of the team, there are no issues. I haven’t given it another thought since.

“I’ve never been part of anything like this before, certainly not in accountancy, where there’s always that element of competition, even when you’re working in a team. The only competition on a golf course is to improve your skills and make yourself a better greenkeeper. People at St Andrews Links and the college are really impressive, and all round I’ve found it to be a very encouraging environment to work in – I’m still very excited by it all.

“I’m now a BIGGA member and contracted at St Andrews Links until November 2018, and if a permanent position became available then I’d definitely apply. If not then I might try a warm weather grass course abroad over the winter months. Ultimately I would like to hone my skills and get more experience, including tournaments at other courses.”

Course tutor Paul Miller, who is based at SRUC’s Elmwood campus in Cupar, Fife, adds: “Gregg’s decision to change career was made after a great deal of research, preparation and consideration of all the implications. This thoroughness of preparation soon became evident in his course work, which he produced most conscientiously and to a very high standard right from day one – his commitment to making the most of the learning opportunity was impressive.

“Quickly realising that he would also need to build up his practical skills and his industry networking, Gregg volunteered to work at St Andrews Links, again demonstrating his enthusiasm and willingness to learn in that environment as well as in the classroom. He also applied for and was successful in gaining an R&A Greenkeeping Scholarship through SRUC.

“Having also secured a seasonal position on St Andrews Links, Gregg’s development continues apace. We all look forward to watching his growth in the industry and the contribution that he will make to greenkeeping as his career progresses.”

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

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SCH Sponsor SALTEX Award

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SCH Sponsor SALTEX Award: SCH (Supplies) Ltd have proudly attended and exhibited at SALTEX for 33 years, and during this time the event has helped our company thrive. We feel that it’s time to give back to one of the main contributors of our success, and are doing so by sponsoring the Best Managed Artificial Surface award.

SCH has had its best year so far, and we’ve ramped up production to keep up with demand. Being a small company, every member of staff is important to keep production going at full pace. To fulfil our customer obligations at this exceptionally busy time, we’ve decide to keep our key members of staff on site to ensure products continue to reach customers without delay. It is due to this that we will not be keeping stand space at SALTEX this year. It’s been a difficult decision to make after 33 years, but we believe it to be the correct one.

SCH Sponsor SALTEX Award

SALTEX is the only show that SCH has a presence at, and it is very important to us because we do not employ any outside sales representation. The show is our main vehicle for speaking to people face to face and showcasing our products. It provides a focal point for the company and prompts us to consider the direction that the industry is taking, which in turn informs the decisions we make regarding the development of new machinery.

We’re delighted with the opportunity to sponsor the Best Managed Artificial Surface award, which allows us to continue our uninterrupted 33 years at SALTEX. It gives us all – especially managing director Andrew Rodwell – the chance to catch up with old friends and new, and we value the fact that we will be getting referrals all through the year as a direct result of SALTEX.

As manufacturers of both real and artificial pitch care machinery, the choice of award was an easy one to make, and we are delighted to sponsor this prestigious award. Despite not keeping stand space this year, we are delighted to give back to the event and to be involved.

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Andover Groundsman Wins Award

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Andover Groundsman Wins Award: A groundsman is celebrating receiving a national award, fending off competition from over 650 rivals across the country.

Now retired Andover Town FC groundsman Chris White is celebrating after winning the FA National Groundsman of the Year competition for the 2017/18 season.

The awards ceremony took place at St George’s Park National Football Centre, the home of the England squads.

Speaking after the presentation, Chris said: “I am very surprised, honoured and so proud to have won the award. It is true recognition of what can be achieved at a grass roots level on a tiny budget but with lots of time and care.

“I was very pleased to represent not only Andover Town but also the Sydenham’s Wessex League.

“Hopefully I’ve left a legacy on which the club can build and a ground that others can aspire too.”

Following his retirement from the Portway at the end of June this year, Chris joined the Ground Grading team of the Sydenham’s Wessex League which is responsible for monitoring ground standards across all clubs in that league.

Andover Town FC also received a financial reward for Chris’s efforts from competition sponsors, Budweiser.

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Edgar Street’s Award Winners

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Edgar Street’s Award Winners: Ben Bowen, head groundsman at Edgar Street, has received an accolade for his dedication and effort in keeping the pitch in pristine condition.

His ‘dedication and hard work’ saw Bowen and his Highground Maintenance team clinch third place in the Southern League Groundsman of the Year award last week.

The last 12 months has seen the pitch covered deep in snow, subject to a deluge of rain and starved of natural water during the summer months.

Despite this all of the club’s Southern league fixtures were played on their original planned dates last season.

However, it was the televised FA Cup home tie against Fleetwood Town which had St George’s Park talking during the presentation day.

“If they knew Herefordians they would know that if ever something major comes about we all chip in,” said Bowen who attended the awards alongside Ben Millward and Morgan Lewis.

“Every game there is pressure as every game is huge and everything evolves around the pitch. If we can’t get the game on everything else suffers including the revenue.

“But the Fleetwood match was panic stations on the Monday morning and I knew how big that game was for the club and the big revenue involved. “I was quite speechless by the number of volunteers when I got to Edgar Street I just thought ‘how have we done this?”

Bowen arrives on a matchday at 6am to mow the pitch and volunteers at the ground until 7pm at night in addition to his contracted work for the club.

The Edgar Street pitch is mowed three or four times a week and fertilised.

“I’m called head groundsman but have a team of boys behind me and the force of volunteers,” added Bowen.

“Throughout the match I watch the ball the whole game and keep a diary so on Monday morning I know what to do.

“I might need to cut the grass shorter or see an area that needs more watering. I have brought that down with me from league one and two and treat the pitch as that standard.

“I know what the Edgar Street pitch can do and how she can alter. At the moment it’s not right in my eyes with the drainage lines which is down to the weather and come October it will be a totally different pitch.

“When it goes right I can just sit back and monitor it but when the pitch goes wrong I can be a grumpy bugger and one slight bobble can do my head in.”

Bowen’s nephew is Hull City midfielder Jarrod Bowen and the groundsman feels he wants to help the club in return for the help they gave him.

“I personally want to stick my head on the line for manager Pete Beadle because of what he did for Jarrod as he didn’t have to,” added Bowen.

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