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J Sustain Fairway starts futureproofing fairways

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J Sustain Fairway starts futureproofing fairways: Maintaining top-quality fairways on the rugged west coast of Wales has always been a challenge at Cardigan Golf Club.

With shallow soils averaging just 3-4” over bedrock, achieving strong turf establishment has tested the greenkeeping team for many years – particularly in 2025 with close to no rainfall for many months. That’s why the outstanding results have come as even more of a surprise for Course Manager Stuart Adams, who now wants to shout the benefits of Johnsons J Sustain Fairway from the rooftops!

J Sustain Fairway starts futureproofing fairways

J Sustain Fairway starts futureproofing fairways

“Traditionally, our shallow, sandy soils made it difficult for anything to get a good hold” Stuart explains. “We went back to basics and looked at what was native on the fairways and found that Hard and Sheeps Fescue seemed to cope with our links condition, and for the last few years we’ve been using a bespoke ‘Cardigan mix’ from DLF containing 25-30% Hard Fescue. When Johnsons launched J Sustain Fairway with 40% Hard Fescue in early 2025, the switch was a no-brainer.”

Despite a challenging year weather-wise, the results of the inaugural overseeding operation were so impressive Stuart was quick to share the news with his DLF Regional Technical Manager Ian Barnett. “As soon as the rain returned in September, the strike rate was simply incredible – I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was the best establishment I’ve seen from any mix in the last six or seven years.”

Blending 40% Hard Fescue with 15% Sheeps Fescue and other top performing Slender Creeping, Strong Creeping and Chewing Fescue cultivars, J Sustain Fairway from the Johnsons Sports Seed range is a high-performance, fine-turf fairway formulation equipped to withstand the environmental challenges of the future. Ideal for links and heathland venues, it delivers a natural tolerance to a broad range of turf stresses and requires less nutrient, water and chemical inputs to thrive.

“It’s tough, resilient and perfect for coping with hotter, drier summers and wetter winters which is critical for futureproofing our course” he adds. Beyond resilience and rapid establishment, Stuart has also noticed unexpected benefits. “We used to suffer with leatherjackets and pecking damage but haven’t seen that this year. It could be that the toughness of the Hard Fescue roots is making it harder for pests to get through.”

Due to the lack of irrigation on their fairways, Cardigan’s overseeding programme is fixed to the autumn, with J Sustain Fairway already firmly in their maintenance for 2026.

“When something doesn’t work, everyone is quick to point it out” he notes. “But when something works as well as this, it should be shouted from the rooftops!”

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J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice

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J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice: One of the UK’s most prominent sports pitch contractors has praised J 4Turf 50 from the Johnsons Sports Seed range for the pivotal role it plays in the renovations of a range of turf surfaces.

White Horse Contractors note the versatility of the 50/50 tetraploid and perennial ryegrass blend, which has delivered reliable results and season-long performance at facilities across the country.

J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice

J 4Turf 50 proves the versatile choice

Known for more than six decades of expertise and trusted by venues across the sporting spectrum, White Horse offer the full range of specialist design, construction, drainage and maintenance services. Chris Last joined White Horse as Technical Manager just over a year ago and brought his relationship with Johnsons Sports Seed – and firm belief in the DLF 4turf® tetraploid variety – with him! “I had used J 4Turf in my previous role and had the opportunity to experience the benefits they bring to winter sports pitches first-hand” he explains. “It wasn’t long before the White Horse team saw this for themselves and quickly had the confidence to employ J 4Turf 50 in a number of our projects.”

With the ever-increasing pressure on turf managers to produce top quality surfaces suitable for year-round play, DLF’s unique 4turf® tetraploid ryegrass provides the solution for the sports turf market. With exceptional disease resistance, superior drought tolerance and reduced requirements for water and fertiliser, 4turf® mixtures are the sustainable choice and are available in 25, 50 and 100% formulations within the Johnsons Sports Seed range.

“We have found J 4Turf 50 to be an incredibly versatile seed that we can use across many sports and on sites with different Sport England pitch constructions. It has demonstrated fantastic drought tolerance during challenging periods of weather and has reliably created a strong sward that establishes quickly whether in a stadium environment, training ground, polo field or school sports field.”

Chris adds, “In addition, deep rooting was evident on all of the sites we used the mixture on during the summer of 2024, which is even more important when it comes to establishing a sward on a primary or secondary drainage line.”

With the positive experience of last season under their belt, it’s full steam ahead for Chris and the team as they prepare for another busy year ahead. “As a contractor, working at some of the country’s finest stadia and sports clubs, it’s incredibly important that we use materials that are reliable and are going to perform exactly as they say on the tin. 4turf has always done exactly that for me, and J 4Turf 50 has taken that to the next level in terms of versatility and high performance.”

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C J Ashby Forestry bowled over by Aspen Fuel

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C J Ashby Forestry bowled over by Aspen Fuel: Working in proud partnership with J S Wright & Sons, C J Ashby Forestry are contract felling and harvesting the willow which goes into making around 75% of the world’s cricket bats.

Powering the operation for the last 15 years is Aspen Fuel, which owner Colin Ashby says provides the clean, convenience they look for across their suite of two and four-stroke equipment.

C J Ashby Forestry bowled over by Aspen Fuel

C J Ashby Forestry bowled over by Aspen Fuel

Colin is the fourth generation of the family to take the helm and leads a team of 17 operatives nationwide looking after all stages of the willow production – from procuring and planting the trees, through to harvesting and hauling. “Our journey with Aspen began 15 years ago when we started experiencing a number of issues with our petrol-powered chainsaws” he explains. “I was working on a farm at the time, and the farmer suggested the source of the problem was the fuel. Later that day I picked up a copy of a forestry magazine and started reading about Aspen Fuel and the rest, as they say, is history!”

“We purchased a few cans to give it a try and we’ve been using it ever since – starting with Aspen-2 initially in our handheld tools and then moving onto the Aspen-4 for our larger bits of equipment such as the mechanical arbor.”

“It’s easy to store, cleaner to use and provides a healthier environment for the operator to work in.” He explains, “Very often, we’re working in densely populated woodland and/or in very close proximity to our equipment. As soon as we started using Aspen Fuel, all of the headaches and sore throats you just became accustomed to stopped, immediately.”

Virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents, Aspen alkylate petrol is much less harmful that pump unleaded. By removing these ingredients, operators can breathe clean air, contributing to a healthier and cleaner working environment. The omission of ethanol also makes Aspen better for engine health, providing maximum performance while simultaneously extending equipment life and reliability.

“Chainsaws which may have lasted 12 months previously, now give us three years of reliable performance. Across the board, I’d say since we switched to Aspen our hand tools are lasting twice as long and our maintenance and repair bills have halved” Colin adds.

The team also enjoy the convenience angle that comes with being an Aspen customer. “We can order what we need easily, and it’s delivered to our site in a mixture of cans and drums just a couple of days later. It eliminates trips to the forecourt and makes it easy to ensure that each team has the necessary quantity and type of fuel on board. Aspen-2 being pre-mixed also takes away the need to mix on-site, reducing spillages and giving us peace of mind that we’re getting the right mix every time.”

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J & R appointed Powerland dealers

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J & R appointed Powerland dealers: BOSS ORV is pleased to announce the appointment of J & R Agricultural Engineering Ltd. as Powerland dealers. Based in the Looe area of South East Cornwall, J & R were appointed in April 2024 as dealers for the BOSS distributed Corvus Off-Road Vehicles.

The dealer has over thirty years in the industry as a tractor and machinery sales and repair business, latterly incorporating ATV and UTV sales and service. They will now add the Powerland Tachyon all-electric ATV to their line-up.

J & R appointed Powerland dealers

J & R appointed Powerland dealers

“It is a natural extension for Jonathan Philp and the J&R team to sell Powerland,” says Neil Everett, BOSS ORV’s National Sales Manager. “They will provide coverage across Cornwall and South Devon for this exciting new electric ATV.”

The Tachyon is claimed to be one of the fastest ATVs in the world. It offers all the benefits of conventional off-road utility vehicles while ensuring no damage to the environment. The manufacturer says they have the aim of inspiring more companies to fundamentally change the way they operate for a more sustainable future. The Tachyon is a fully electric (Li-ion) road-legal ATV with tractor homologation. Direct drive hub motors help the vehicle achieve up to 50hp and 210Nm of torque at each wheel. Features include a vehicle diagnostic app, 12v lighter socket, 5v USB socket and 4×4/4×2 driving modes.

“We’re very pleased to be appointed as Powerland dealers,” says J&R’s Jonathan Philp. “The Tachyon allows us to offer our customers a real environmentally friendly alternative to fuel-powered ATVs.”

For more information on Powerland you can call 01785 561046 E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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E J Churchill takes on the Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic

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E J Churchill takes on the Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic: The prestigious shooting grounds, E J Churchill, situated on the West Wycombe Estate of the Dashwood family, has recently added the Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic to its fleet of vehicles.

Built upon a century of heritage and excellence, E.J. Churchill is one of the finest gunmakers in the world. Today, they are the largest British-owned gunmaker, celebrated for crafting bespoke guns that seamlessly blend cutting-edge innovation with the timeless attributes of traditional craftsmanship, ensuring unrivalled reliability, quality, and elegance.

E J Churchill takes on the Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic

E J Churchill takes on the Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic

The 125-year-old British-owned company took on Polaris Rangers over a decade ago to help manage the most prestigious clay pigeon shooting ground in England. Spanning over 35 acres, E J Churchill needed a fleet of versatile vehicles that could be used to facilitate the general day-to-day management of all client sporting needs. Now in 2024, they have expanded this fleet to include the all-electric RANGER XP Kinetic.

Just like its combustion engine counterparts, the RANGER XP Kinetic is responsible for ensuring the shooting grounds are in tip-top condition and ready for various shoots E J Churchill hosts throughout the year. This includes restocking, servicing, and moving circa 300 promatic traps, all made easier by the Kinetic’s industry-leading instantaneous torque and impressive towing capacity.

The Ranger XP offers silent operation while at work, preserving the serenity of the shooting grounds while ensuring the groundskeepers can tend to the estate.

Rob Fenwick, Managing Director of E.J. Churchill Group Ltd, said: “For E.J. Churchill, it comes down to reliability, as our groundskeepers need a vehicle that can serve them day in and day out to keep things running smoothly. Polaris vehicles have continued to provide this to us for over 10 years.”

In addition to its role on the E J Churchills shooting grounds, the Ranger XP Kinetic has been lending a helping hand to the wider West Wycombe Estate, checking on the estate and clearing the grounds to ensure they are ready for shooting. With varying terrain across the whole estate, the Ranger XP Kinetic has proved more than capable.

James Norfolk, Head Gamekeeper, said: “It is the first electric vehicle that I have been impressed by. It’s a very agile, quiet machine that is ideal for looking after the estate. The strength of the machine with its instant acceleration is great for those more challenging tasks.

“The areas of the wider estate are open to the public, so it’s been great to be able to go about the day without disturbing the serene beauty of the grounds.”

Pushing the industry forward, the Ranger XP Kinetic is available in UK dealerships in both Premium and Ultimate trims. The Premium trim has a 14.9kWh battery offering up to a 45-mile range, whereas the Ultimate has a battery capacity of 29.8 kWh with a higher estimated range of 80 miles. Both models deliver unparalleled power and quick acceleration thanks to the 110-horsepower all-electric powertrain and 140lb-ft. of instantaneous torque. With an industry-leading towing capacity of 1,134kg and a payload capacity of 680kg, the Ranger XP Kinetic sets a new standard for off-road vehicles.

For more information on the Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic visit www.polarisbritain.com.

For further information, please contact us or call the Polaris UK Press Office on +44 (0) 1525 270 100.

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