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Top Marks For Dennis Combo

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Top Marks For Dennis Combo: Ian Smith, turf consultant for St Albans School, Woollam Trust Playing Fields, uses a combination of the Dennis G860 cassette system and Razor fine turf mower to maintain the cricket pitches, and has seen excellent results from the machines.

The Woollham Trust Playing Fields are the largest development of their kind ever undertaken in a single phase in Europe. The school’s outstanding facilities include a huge pavilion, 22 winter pitches for rugby and football, an all-weather hockey pitch and 8 cricket squares. Not only is the magnificent 73 acre site shared with the Old Albanians Club but it is also the training base for Saracens Rugby Club.

Top Marks For Dennis Combo

“Standards are exceptionally high here at the school and we take our pitch preparations incredibly seriously,” said Ian. “You can imagine the situation if someone like Owen Farrell (England and Saracens rugby union player) was to turn an ankle on an uneven pitch. Of course it is great to have fabulous presentation but player safety is paramount here.”

The school boasts its own exceptional sporting teams and the cricket department, headed by former Essex CCC cricketer Mark Ilot, has always carried an excellent reputation, which is undoubtedly enhanced by the quality of the pitches.

In preparing the cricket pitches, Ian first of all uses the Dennis G860 which is the ideal machine for someone looking to complete a number of tasks with just one power unit. Featuring an interchangeable cassette system, users have the option of fitting different types of cassettes including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers, and slitters.

“The reason we purchased the G860 was because of its versatility and the fact that you can have all of the different cassettes for different maintenance needs,” said Ian. “We can use it for cutting the squares, cutting the outfields, but then we can also use it to scarify. For pre-season we have a cassette which has 1mm scarifying blades so we will use that at the start of the season to thin the square a little bit. We’ve also got the new spring tine rake cassette which we also use for cricket pitch preparation.

Excellent Results From Dennis Combo

“As the pitches are drying out we use the brush cassette to flick out a lot of the older dead grass, and generally to clean them up and make the grass stand up for when it is time to cut with the Razor.”

Superbly balanced and ideal for cricket pitches and other fine turf surfaces, the Razor features a 560mm (22in), 11 blade cutting cylinder for a perfect finish. An ultra-short wheelbase ensures easy manoeuvrability and excellent performance, even on undulating surfaces. The Dennis Razor encompasses the simple ‘no tools required’ click height adjusters for quick and easy operation, a feature which Ian is particularly fond of.

“The Razor is great because we are starting on turf that has been cut down to 12mm by the G860. With the click system of the Razor, it is very simple to change the height. Instead of having to go out with two separate mowers set at two different heights, like we were previously doing, you just use the one mower.

“In a matter of seconds we can go down from 12mm to 10mm and then you give it a couple of clicks and then you are down to 8mm and then a couple more clicks and you are down to 6mm, it’s as easy as that. No tools are required and any of the staff can use it without any problems whatsoever.

“The cutting cylinders on both mowers are as good, if not better, than anything I have used before.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

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Bayer Braced For Roundup Lawsuits

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Bayer Braced For Roundup Lawsuits: Industry analysts have warned that Bayer is bracing itself for thousands of future claims, after the successful lawsuit against Monsanto in California in August in which a jury ruled that a former groundskeeper’s cancer was caused by Roundup, and that the company knowingly withheld information about the carcinogenic properties of glyphosate.

German-based acquired Monsanto earlier this year for $63 billion and according to Reuters, the company faces years of legal activity with some 8,000 lawsuits currently being brought against Monsanto, much higher than the 5,200 cases previously disclosed by Bayer in June.

“The number of plaintiffs in both state and federal litigation is approximately 8,000 as of end-July. These numbers may rise or fall over time but our view is that the number is not indicative of the merits of the plaintiffs’ cases,” Bayer’s chief executive Werner Baumann admitted to analysts in a conference call.

The lawsuits are also pulling in food manufacturers, with General Mills having to remove a claim about the use of ‘100% natural whole grain oats’ in its Nature Valley brand cereal bars.

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SALTEX Debut For Net World Sports

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SALTEX Debut For Net World Sports: Net World Sports, an award-winning, sports and ground equipment retailer, will be heading to the NEC in October to exhibit at SALTEX for the very first time. During the event on October 31 and November 1, the Sunday Times Fast Track company will be showcasing a range of own-brand products, including their innovative Alu110 Football Goals, Wembley Line Marking Machines and Removable Ball Stop Net Systems.

Net World Sports is a leading retailer within the industry, offering more than 5,000 quality products, across 20 different sports, to customers in over 100 countries worldwide. From football goals which grace Premier League pitches to nets tough enough to withstand Freddie Flintoff’s shot, Net World Sports supply it all, along with state-of-the-art ground equipment.

SALTEX Debut For Net World Sports

With an award-winning Customer Care team available from 6am – midnight Monday to Friday as well as 9am – 5pm on weekends, Net World Sports can cater to all clubs, local authorities, schools and universities quickly and efficiently. The majority of products are stocked at their single 120,000 square foot warehouse in North Wales and available for next day delivery to the UK, one-day shipping to America and two-day shipping to Australia – a service that’s virtually unheard of in the world of big and bulky sports equipment.

Robbie Hayter, Specialist Sales and Development Lead at Net World Sports comments: “We’re very excited to be exhibiting at SALTEX for the first time this year and partnering with the show as lanyard sponsors. It marks a huge milestone in Net World Sports’ company history and we’re really looking forward to meeting the ground care professionals and learning more about their maintenance requirements to help develop their facilities in the future. Not to mention showcasing our top of the range, industry leading products to them.

“Real ingenuity, incredible skill and advanced manufacturing all play a part when it comes to creating our products. Whether you’re looking for training, playing or maintaining equipment, all of our products have proven performance and look at home in clubs and colleges across the country, from grassroots to Premier League level.”

Net World Sports’ extensive training and playing equipment covers a range of varying sports, from football and rugby to tennis, golf and cricket, whilst their ground equipment covers everything from line marking machines and paint, to portable and permanent team shelters, crowd barriers, boot wiper brushes and pitch dividers.

To date, the ecommerce company has supplied the likes of Manchester United’s AON Complex with exclusive FORZA football goals, Manchester City’s first team training pitch with custom made shelters, The All England Tennis Club and home of Wimbledon with tennis benches and Trent Bridge with custom batting cage nets.

Founded in 2009, Net World Sports has become renowned for its winning combination of quality products, unbeatable value for money and exceptional customer service. Last year, the UK’s number one football goal supplier was the only company to be featured in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100, Profit Track and SME Export Track league tables, placing 85th, 66th and 43rd respectively. The team also competed against eCommerce giants such as AO.com, Made.com and ASOS in this year’s Retail Week Awards, where they were awarded a ‘Mark of Excellence’ for their ongoing international sales success.

You can find Net World Sports at exhibitor stand C107.

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

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Made for Golf and Groundsmen

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Made for Golf and Groundsmen: From the tee to the green, from natural to synthetic sports pitches, as a greenkeeper or groundsman your primary aim will be perfection. Achieving this and maintaining your course and grounds to the highest possible standards requires specialist equipment you can trust. Machinery that gets the job done in the minimum time, is durable and affordable and above all, designed to specifically meet your needs. GKB Machines have been making a name for themselves with high praises from greenkeepers and groundsmen around the UK.

Seeding and surface aerating in one pass

Take the GKB Combiseeder for example. It offers a fast, efficient way of seeding and surface aerating with virtually no surface disturbance. Creating over 1500 holes per m² it provides accurate seed application at various rates to suit different seed mixes, with drag brushes to incorporate seed and topdressing. The Combiseeder can be used for overseeding and initial seeding and offers a fast and efficient way of seeding and surface aerating, with virtually no surface disturbance. There’s a large seed hopper with agitator brush and you get accurate seed distribution from all seed mixes. There are models from 1.2m to 2.1m and there are options of a multi spike cast ring roller or Cambridge roll cast ring roller.

Made for Golf and Groundsmen

Improve and maintain drainage with the GKB Sandfiller

Every professional knows scarifying and sand filling are the perfect combination to improve and maintain drainage on the course. The problem is, it can be a time-consuming task requiring dedicated equipment for each process. GKB have come up with the ideal solution, saving you time and expense and leaving you free to get on with other jobs.
GKB Sandfiller combines in one operation scarifying, removal and sand filling. Which means the operation can be carried out by one person, saving on time and cost. The principle of the Sandfiller is based on the much praised GKB Combinator. The slitting rotor utilises carbide scarifying blades that create wind in order to lift the removed material. The blades remove thatch to a depth of 4cm and the debris is immediately distributed to a sideways tipping container. Dried sand is instantly applied from the hopper to the trench the moment the scarifying is complete. The result is the area is once again available for use immediately.

Top dresser that’s always in fashion

When it comes to top dressing there’s a GKB machine that is just the job. The GKB SP100 has been developed on the back of the success of GKB’s trailed versions and to meet your needs with straightforward mounting onto turf trucks using a simple bolt-on system. Stand legs allow the SP100 to be quickly set up or removed. With its 1m3 hopper capacity the machine suits a variety of purposes, evenly distributing materials, such as sand and mulch with variable spread widths and depths. It’s easily fitted with electro-hydraulic controls and runs directly off the hydraulics of the chosen turf truck. Furthermore, the Sandspreader is available in four different designs which range from 1m3 to 4m3. While the SP100 is suitable for assembling on a turf truck: the ProGator, Truckster or Workman for example, other designs are provided with four pivoting balloon tires, for the perfect distribution of the weight on your golf course.

If you would like to know more about how GKB Machines can help improve and maintain your course or sports pitches a have a chat with Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617 or visit www.gkbmachines.com

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Plastic Pitch Blamed For Injury

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Plastic Pitch Blamed For Injury: It’s feared that Jamie Murphy will face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after twisting his knee in Rangers’ 3-1 Betfred Cup victory at Kilmarnock.

James Tavernier blamed Kilmarnock’s artificial surface for Jamie Murphy’s injury hell – while Rangers boss Steven Gerrard called for plastic pitches to be outlawed in the Premiership.

The Ibrox club fear Murphy is facing several months on the sidelines after twisting his knee in yesterdy’s 3-1 Betfred Cup win at Rugby Park.

Skipper Tavernier was furious as the surface claimed another teammate after former Ger Martyn Waghorn was crocked on the Ayrshire astroturf two seasons ago.

Tavernier said: “I guarantee you that Murphy wouldn’t have the injury if it had been a grass pitch. He planted his foot, got a wee nudge and then just felt something go.

“If that’s on grass that’s not going to happen. That is twice now I have been to this stadium when a player has suffered a bad injury.

“First it was Waggy and now it is Murphy. These astroturf pitches are always a hazard and are always going to cause injuries to any professional.”

 Gers boss Gerrard was reluctant to put the boot in to Killie – but he insisted plastic pitches have no place at the top level of the game.

He said: “My opinion is elite football and we’re dealing with elite footballers, who earn an awful lot of money, and I think for every club worldwide it’s safer to have a grass pitch.

“Other people might have a different opinion to that but I think if you ask any manager worldwide they’d all prefer grass and I do.

“It’s difficult for me to comment, we all know that plastic pitches they are not as safe as grass, that’s fact, that’s simple.

“But I’m not here to disrespect Kilmarnock and their playing facilities. I know that it’s a big help to Kilmarnock having a plastic pitch, it helps support the running of their football club.

“But my opinion is elite football shouldn’t have any plastic pitches.”

Gerrard revealed Murphy was gutted at the crock agony that has left his season in the balance and the Gers boss admitted the pitch is an issue after his club suffered a serious injury on the surface for a second time.

He said: “I think it will be one of those things that will be up for debate.

“We’ll have to wait and see. I think if you ask Jamie right now he’ll say it was a pitch incident.

“I don’t think it’s the first time Rangers have had that type of injury here, I think Martyn Waghorn suffered a couple of years back.

“I don’t want to dive in too quick, we’ll wait and see what the examinations say but we’re all fearing the worst.

“Jamie’s sad, he’s upset, I think he’s fearing the worst. We’re devastated. That’s the only downer for us, we’re going away on the back of a fantastic victory at a difficult place but it’s come at a cost because Jamie looks like he’ll be missing for quite a while.”

Gerrard admitted the Murphy blow put a dampner on his side’s impressive win as in-demand Alfredo Morelos struck a hat trick – and had another strike wrongly ruled out despite crossing the line.

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