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Lingfield Park Racecourse Benefits from Avant 860i

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Lingfield Park Racecourse Benefits from Avant 860i: Lingfield Park Racecourse has recently experienced the remarkable versatility of the Avant 860i loader after winning a six-month loan at the Grounds Management Association (GMA) Awards.

The Avant loader was awarded to the racecourse after they were named the Professional Racecourse Grounds Team of the Year, a category sponsored by Avant Tecno UK.

Lingfield Park Racecourse Benefits from Avant 860i

Lingfield Park Racecourse Benefits from Avant 860i

Jon Harris, Estate Manager at Lingfield Park, and his team are responsible for ensuring the vast grounds remain in pristine condition all year round. Its diverse facilities include a turf and all-weather racecourse, an 18-hole golf course, and a hotel with extensive gardens. With a dedicated team of 20, Jon’s job covers everything outside the buildings on the estate, from the racecourse to the golf course and hotel gardens.

“The Avant 860i has made an incredible difference to how we work here,” Jon explains. “It’s a fantastic machine, capable of handling almost any task we throw at it. The ability to use a single machine for a wide variety of jobs has been a huge benefit, allowing us to be more efficient and freeing up time for other tasks across the estate.”

The Avant 860i is the flagship model in the Avant 800 series and has proven to be an invaluable asset at Lingfield Park. Powered by a 57-hp engine, the Avant 860i boasts an impressive 3.5m lift height and a lift capacity of 1,900kg, making it perfect for heavy-duty lifting and clearing tasks. Its powerful auxiliary hydraulics (80 L/min) and robust design allow it to handle tough jobs with ease, such as lifting stone pallets, clearing scrubland, and handling a wide range of attachments. Despite its impressive power, the Avant 860i’s compact size allows it to operate in tight spaces and sensitive areas without causing damage to the ground.

“The sheer power and lift capacity of the Avant 860i is impressive,” Jon says. “We’ve used it for a variety of tasks, from moving heavy materials to clearing scrubland, and it handles everything effortlessly. The ability to swap attachments quickly has been a massive time-saver. We’ve been able to go from a flail mower to pallet forks in just a matter of minutes. This is something you can’t do with a tractor, which might take 20 to 30 minutes to change attachments.”

Some of the key attachments Jon and his team have used during their six-month loan include the Pallet Forks, HD Bucket, Bucket Broom, Flail Mower, and the Fence Post Mower.

“The flail mower attachment has been a real standout for us,” Jon says. “It’s incredibly robust and has cleared scrubland down to nothing, allowing new grass to grow through. The results have been impressive. The team has also found the Bucket Broom invaluable for cleaning up tarmac and other hard surfaces around the estate.”

Jon values the machine’s versatility and how it can handle multiple tasks with one operator. “We’ve found the Avant to be really effective in situations where we need a single operator to handle multiple jobs. It has freed up our team to focus on other work, while still getting a variety of tasks completed.”

Another standout feature of the Avant 860i is its ability to access all parts of Lingfield Park, thanks to its compact size and turf tyres. “The turf tyres on the Avant make it so easy to get anywhere on site without leaving ruts or causing damage to the surfaces,” Jon explains.

“This is particularly important here at Lingfield Park, as we manage such a large estate with various types of terrain. The Avant is perfect for navigating all of it, whether it’s the racecourse or the golf course.”

Jon’s enthusiasm for the Avant 860i is clear, and he and his team are already looking forward to having one on-site permanently. “The Avant 860i is going to be missed by all of us when our loan period ends,” Jon says. “We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have used it. For any estate manager, particularly those managing large, diverse sites like ours, the Avant is a must-have.”

Lingfield Park’s experience with the Avant 860i loader has been overwhelmingly positive, and the team is eager to continue reaping the benefits of such a versatile and powerful machine. For Jon and his team, the Avant 860i has proven to be an invaluable tool for maintaining the expansive and varied estate at Lingfield Park Racecourse.

For more information, please visit www.avanttecno.com/uk

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Wildflower from DLF helps Celtic Manor

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Wildflower from DLF helps Celtic Manor: It’s been a great start to 2025 for the team at Celtic Manor who, following the introduction of numerous new sustainability initiatives, have received GEO certification on The Twenty Ten Course.

Part of the overall project saw the establishment of new wildflower areas to bring much-needed food and habitat for pollinators and other insects, along with high visual impact for players and staff alike – all achieved using mixtures from the DLF ColourBoost collection.

Wildflower from DLF helps Celtic Manor

Wildflower from DLF helps Celtic Manor

Overseeing the conservation projects across all three Championship courses is Environment and Ecology Stewardship Manager Gary Connell, who has been at the resort for over 25 years. Having worked in head greenkeeping roles on both sites, he is well placed to develop and diversify both the habitat and native wildlife in this new role. “We’ve always supported a broad range of insects, birds and other fauna here at Celtic Manor but, like most golf clubs, we recognise we can do more” Gary says. “Working closely with local wildlife groups we have added more bird and bat boxes, introduced bug hotels and even established our own resident honeybees! Introducing wildflowers promised to further support the success of these initiatives as well as bring visual interest to lesser managed areas of the site.”

With little prior wildflower experience, Gary consulted with DLF Regional Technical Manager Ian Barnett on the best and most suitable mixtures for the project. “Our resort and land provide almost limitless opportunities for wildflowers, but we wanted to focus our efforts on a few areas which could be sustainably implemented, maintained and monitored. Ian identified an area near the main entrance and recommended Floral Carpet from the ColourBoost range.”

Floral Carpet is one of nine ColourBoost mixtures, each designed to bring maximum visual impact by incorporating both wild flower and garden flowering species. For situations where final growing height is important Floral Carpet is ideal, using lower growing season annuals to provide rich blooms throughout the season.

“Our objectives were to bring high impact colour at the resort entrance, provide invaluable insect habitat and a source of pollen and nectar, and I’m pleased to say we achieved all three. We saw a wide array of flowers which attracted honeybees, butterflies and some different moth species. We then let the seed heads drop and supplemented this with some additional seeding with ColourBoost Carnival which should result in earlier flowering in the spring. We also did some ‘seed bombs’ in areas including an embankment in The Twenty Ten car park to boost presentation.”

While mother nature hasn’t necessarily been on side for all of the club’s projects, Gary is optimistic on the potential in the coming year. “We sowed some DLF ProFlora 3 & 6 on the Roman Road course which will complement the existing native grasses and flowers we have on the 15th fairway and behind the 14th green. The rain dampened its full potential during the summer however we were all pleasantly surprised to see this surviving into the winter, which bodes well for what we can expect come the spring.” He concludes, “This work will continue as we work towards GEO certification for the Roman Road and Montgomery courses, collectively known as The Championship courses, to our recent successes on The Twenty Ten.”

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New Evopac from Syngenta

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New Evopac from Syngenta: Greenkeepers and turf managers in the UK and Ireland will be among the world’s first to experience the innovative new Syngenta Evopac packaging this season. The Evopac makes spraying operations simpler and safer, while also being fully compatible with closed transfer systems (CTS) using the easyconnect coupling.

On display for the first time at BTME in Harrogate (21 – 23 January 2025), Evopac and easyconnect offers ease of handling packaging, accurate measuring and fast sprayer filling essential for timely turf applications. The new packaging will start to arrive with turf managers from January 2025, and introduced across the company’s range of liquid products over coming months.

New Evopac from Syngenta

New Evopac from Syngenta

Designed in close collaboration with practical sprayer operators in the UK, the Evopac includes a range of features for ease of handling and safe use. It has significant advances for use with conventional measure and pour sprayer filling, as well as the new CTS technology.

The ergonomic pack includes handles that are designed to rotate for left or right-handed operators, as well as being large enough to work easily when wearing protective gloves. The handle design enables operators to easily remove packs from the box, as well as to carry multiple packs.

A translucent pack allows operators to clearly see the contents, along with graduations of measurements marked upàdown and downàup – to show remaining contents when pouring manually, or when using upside down on a CTS dispenser to measure part packs. The pack also means operators can visually check that the container has rinsed fully.

When used in conjunction with a CTS – as will increasingly become the norm for operators – products can be transferred direct into the sprayer without the need to open or pour the container manually, thereby eliminating the risk of associated spills or any operator exposure.

The symmetrical Evopac design is balanced and stable when mounted on the CTS. It also facilitates more efficient automatic container rinsing that ensures all the product ends up in the tank and working on the turf, as well as creating clean packaging for 100% recycling. The easyconnect caps on the Evopac are made from the same material as the bottle, so can be left on to drain and recycle together.

Introducing the Evopac, Sarah Hughes, Syngenta Turf Business Mangers for the UK & Ireland, said: “Evopac plays a key role in Syngenta’s sustainability responsibilities, as well as providing a better experience for customers.

“Turf protection products can have risks associated with them when it comes to their handling and useage. Evopac and closed transfer systems are an important step in mitigating those risks for operators, customers’ businesses and the environment.”

Leading sprayer operator, Iain Robertson, added: “The features of the Evopac we’re most excited about is the translucent pack, so you can see what’s in the can and check the rinsing after use. The fact that the labels aren’t wrapped all around the can, so you can see the graduations. Plus, you can invert the pack and the graduations still work in both orientations for how much is in there.

“The new caps are fantastic too, as you can either use it as a conventional lid by unscrewing it, or with the CTS unit. No foils, it’s Syngenta standard, but love that. The handles are rigid enough to feel safe lifting them, but pliable enough to fold out of the way. Little grips on the bottom make it easy to handle when you’ve got your PPE on.

“When you use the Evopac in practice, you realise that all the little wish lists as an operator have been ticked. The whole package makes it safer and easier for everyone to use.”

Evopac will become the standard packaging for all Syngenta liquid products for turf supplied in 1, 3, 5 and 10 litre packs.

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Improved Golf Course Performance Solutions from METOS UK

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Improved Golf Course Performance Solutions from METOS UK: METOS UK introduces a new turf management and business performance solution for golf courses at BTME on 21-23 January 2025.

David Whattoff, Managing Director of METOS UK, says: “We’re delighted to bring a new end-to-end solution to golf courses looking to improve course management and profitability.

Improved Golf Course Performance Solutions from METOS UK

Improved Golf Course Performance Solutions from METOS UK

“With market-leading course management software Punctus, combined with a new GIS mapping tool, our Pessl environmental sensors, and the ability to integrate advanced robotic solutions such as Kress mowers, course owners and managers will now have the tools at their fingertips to enhance course playability and improve their bottom line,” David explains.

Punctus is now available to UK golf courses exclusively through METOS UK. Combined, these solutions bring compound improvements in turf care, course management, sustainability, and business profitability, through improving turf health and maintenance efficiency; reducing chemical usage and environmental impact; remotely monitoring and optimising irrigation and energy use; effectively managing people and machinery; and enhancing data-driven decision-making across the business.

“As the market leader in cloud-based greenkeeping software in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Punctus brings it’s 20 years of experience to UK course managers, alongside a range of hardware solutions from Pessl that work together to give a bigger picture of course health and business performance.” says David.

“The benefits are extensive, with data helping to inform decisions on water usage, fertilisation, and overall course management through real-time environmental monitoring, customisable alerts for irrigation or maintenance tasks, and integration with precision equipment such as environmental sensors and robotic mowers,” David explains.

“We’re already seeing the benefits where courses are investing in remote sensors for turf management, including soil moisture monitoring at depth, which provides a more accurate picture of drainage across different soil types and green constructions than traditional irrigation sensors,” says David.

Integrated Pessl sensors provide real-time environmental and soil moisture data that can be tracked over time, and a new GIS mapping tool provides a visual representation of drainage and water use across the course, which can help improve course management, irrigation planning, and improvements.

Course owners and managers can learn more about Punctus and the customisable management solutions available, by visiting the METOS UK stand 174, in Hall 1.

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Sustainable seed solutions from DLF

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Sustainable seed solutions from DLF: 2025 sees an exciting shake up in the sustainable seed solutions available from DLF and visitors to stand 126 at BTME 2025 can be some of the first the find out what’s new.

Among the changes is the exciting introduction of Sybille – a new slender creeping red fescue cultivar, bringing its No.1 ranking for close mown turf to a number of mixtures across the updated Johnsons Sports Seed lineup. Also new is an expanded Ultrafine Rye range which promises fast establishment, high wear tolerance and aesthetic quality for the golf and bowls market.

Sustainable seed solutions from DLF

Sustainable seed solutions from DLF

In their pursuit for ever-improved sustainability, DLF have introduced Sybille slender creeping red fescue. With its high density and disease tolerance, Sybille helps to supress unwanted weeds and diseases, reducing the need for pesticides. Not just a good choice for the environment and your budget, Sybille features fine leaves and beautiful summer colour making it a top-class variety for low mown areas delivered with high visual quality.

Also of significant interest for turf managers is the expanded range of Johnsons Sports Seed Ultrafine Perennial Ryegrass (PRG) mixtures. Building on the success of J Ultrafine Rye 100, DLF has introduced additional 25% and 50% formulations to provide turf managers with versatile, sustainable options for golf and bowling greens. The incredibly high wear tolerance, bolstered by the exceptionally fine leaf and high shoot density of Duranova, also makes the Ultrafine PRG range ideal high-traffic areas like tees, fairways, pathways, tennis courts and cricket outfields.

Stand 126 is the place to learn more about other developments across the DLF portfolio, such as the increased UK wildflower production to support demand and the growth of their ProFlora and ColourBoost ranges which are ideal for increasing biodiversity and colour on the golf course. It is also where you can have your say in shaping seed mixtures of the future by taking part in DLF’s Disease Watch Programme. DLF are actively seeking feedback and insights on the types and severity of diseases you are witnessing to develop future research, trials and breeding programmes. Those that share their experiences are not only helping to improve the performance of seed mixtures of the future, they can also win some excellent prizes in the process.

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