Tag Archive for: London

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

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Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium: Last year a Hunter Industries irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK, was installed at the iconic London Stadium. After seeing a number of benefits, Head Groundsman James Williams wanted to extend the Hunter system to other areas of the stadium.

The former Swansea and Liberty Stadium groundsman has certainly made an impression in London since he took the job in 2016. James’ work has been widely praised by his peers, and also by players and managers. By his own admission he is addicted to his profession.

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

“I think every head groundsman has a bit of an obsession with their pitch,” he said. “The lads are always asking why I’m messaging them even when I’m on holiday but I have cameras all around the pitch which I view on my phone and I’m forever spotting things. It’s difficult to switch off.”

James now has even greater control over the pitch when it comes to irrigation – so much so that he can even manage it from his own home or wherever he may be.

“We’ve got probes in the pitch which give me a lot of readings such as moisture, the humidity in the stadium, the temperature and a lot more. Every morning I get an email with a report telling me what the moisture levels are from three different depths. If I see that the moisture has dropped below 10% then I’ll turn the irrigation system on through my phone.”

This advantage has all been made possible thanks to a newly installed Hunter Industries irrigation system. Last year James felt that he was not getting the best out of the previous irrigation system and the pitch wasn’t getting the water it needed. After getting in touch with KAR UK, the UK’s leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment, a new Hunter system was installed. The system included eight of the most technologically advanced commercial rotors on the market – the all-new I-80’s.

Engineered for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 meters. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides total top serviceability (TTS) via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance.

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

Hunter hits the mark at the London Stadium

“I was instantly impressed with how good they were,” said James. “The service from KAR UK was also excellent and was part of the reason why I decided to go ahead and replace the outfield and pitch surrounds with the new Hunter TTS-885’s with no-bounce covers and turf cups.”

The new Hunter TTS-800 rotors provide maximum uniformity and longevity as they use the same gear drive and nozzles as the I-80’s. The high-torque gear drives are the strongest in the industry, so the challenges of reclaimed water use or poor water quality are mitigated. An extra-large, fast-access flange compartment comfortably accommodates wire connections and other components.

James and his team are now able to control the system both to the pitch and the outfields through the mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform. This provides highly secure, comprehensive cloud-based control and monitoring features to the new ACC2 controller at the stadium. The connectivity allows users to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notification of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

It is a technologically advanced system, yet incredibly user friendly – something which James felt was important.

“The one thing that stands out the most for me is that this system is very simple to use and that was essential. I needed something that the whole team could use – not just myself.

“I’m very impressed with the whole system. There is a reason that more and more stadiums are switching over to Hunter.

“The service and support from KAR UK has again been fantastic.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Husqvarna Automower® at the Tower of London

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Husqvarna Automower® at the Tower of London: Husqvarna Automower® has been tasked with a very special assignment, keeping the lawns at the Tower of London in tip top condition.

As reported this week in the Evening Standard, Husqvarna Automower® has been deployed at the Tower of London to ensure the capital’s oldest lawns are well maintained as we head in to spring.

Husqvarna Automower® at the Tower of London

Husqvarna Automower® at the Tower of London

The first battery powered machine was installed last year, and due to its success, its fleet was expanded earlier this year to include three new residents.

Purchased by The Tower of London’s Ground’s maintenance contractor, Ground Control, two Husqvarna Automower® have been installed on the lawns surrounding the castle moat, and will be deployed each morning, come rain or shine.

Husqvarna Automower® 535 AWD has also been installed on the lawn of the White Tower and will work throughout the night to avoid disturbing the resident ravens. The AI-enabled robotic mower has been designed with all-wheel drive and can manage rough terrain and slopes with an incline of up to 70%.

Made in the UK, the robotic mowers will replace the ride-on diesel mowers previously used by Ground Control.

They will provide head gardener, David Williams, with a more environmentally friendly way of keeping the prestigious lawns in outstanding condition and contributes to Ground Control’s Green strategy of 50% of all of hand tools being battery operated by 2025.

They also produce less noise than regular mowers and have the ability to work day or night, rain or shine. The machines are environmentally friendly and are controlled via the Husqvarna Fleet Services and Connect app.

Husqvarna UK Professional Manager, Kevin Ashmore said: “It’s fantastic for us to showcase Husqvarna Automower® at such a prestigious and prominent attraction in our country’s capital. Lee Squires, David and his team will see huge benefits from the installation, not only environmental but in time saving, allowing his team to spend their time on other tasks.”

To mark the installation, the Tower of London has challenged followers to name their new resident. To put your suggestion forward, visit the Tower of London’s Twitter page.  

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Hunter I-80 impresses at London Stadium

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Hunter I-80 impresses at London Stadium: James Williams, Head Groundsman at the London Stadium, has praised the simplicity and efficiency of the new Hunter I-80 rotary sprinklers which were supplied by KAR UK.

Originally built to host London 2012, the Olympic Stadium, as it was formerly called, is now known as the London Stadium and is home to West Ham United FC – but that’s not all. The stadium also hosts UK athletics and concerts and has been a venue for the Rugby World Cup, The Race of Champions, Major League Baseball and the RFL Four Nations.

Hunter I-80 impresses at London Stadium

James, who started in the industry as an apprentice at Swansea FC, is now the man responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the pitch at arguably one of the most iconic stadia in the UK.

With a team of five, the young groundsman does a stellar job in keeping the pitch in immaculate condition despite the heavy usage but, ever the perfectionist, James is continuously looking at improvements he can make to raise the bar even higher. Therefore, when he felt that he wasn’t getting the best out of the previous irrigation system, he knew that it was time for a change.

James looked to see what was available on the market and it wasn’t long before a meeting with KAR UK was arranged. KAR is the UK’s leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment, and after admitting that he was hugely impressed with everything the company showed him, James’ attentions soon turned to a new Hunter Industries irrigation system which included the most technologically advanced commercial rotor on the market – the all-new I-80.

Engineered for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 meters. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides total top serviceability (TTS) via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance – something which James is particularly impressed with.

“It is just so simple – you can take off the turf caps and grow them in in a shed or under a light and then you can just put them straight back on. Even cleaning them is so much easier because you just whip them out like a normal sprinkler instead of having to dig them all out every time.”

James had eight I-80 rotors installed in the pitch and his system is further complimented by the ACC2 controller which is ideal for delivering advanced water management to meet the demands of large-scale commercial projects and the Roam remote – which eliminates the need to go back and forth to the sprinkler controller.

“This new Hunter system is so modern and advanced and the remote is brilliant,” he continued. “In the click of a button you can change the times of the sprinklers, so for instance, on a match-day we can water at half time as and when required.

“The ACC2 controller is also easy to use and that is what I wanted. I didn’t want it to be too technical because I want all of my staff to be able to use it as well as myself.”

James reported that the manager and players are pleased with the new system and he went further in explaining how he uses it in the run up to match-days.

“Obviously a lot of it is dependent on weather, but we tend to give the pitch around 8mm of water on a Thursday or a Friday to prepare the surface for a game. We will then give it a top up before kick-off and then again at half-time if it is required.

“I see it similar to the way you would build a sandcastle. If you use wet sand to build a sandcastle then it will hold it all together and you’ll have a good castle. If you use dry sand then it will just all fall out. It’s exactly the same with a football pitch – keep it wet and it will stay nice and firm and hold together.”

Hunter Industries is distributed in the UK by KAR UK. For more information, please visit www.karuk.com or www.hunterindustries.com.

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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London Golf Club And Club Car Celebrate 20-Years

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London Golf Club And Club Car Celebrate 20-Years: London Golf Club, host venue of the 2019 Staysure PGA Senior Championship and a European Tour Destination, has celebrated its 20-year relationship with Club Car by taking delivery of a new high-spec fleet of golf vehicles. 

The fleet of 50 Tempo golf cars supplied by Club Car, a brand of Ingersoll Rand and Official Supplier to The European Tour, features the market-leading connectivity solution, Visage, which formed an important part of London Golf Club’s decision to renew.

London Golf Club And Club Car Celebrate 20-Years

This ‘connected’ GPS Fleet Management platform boasts unique features that helps support maintenance of the club’s two pristine Jack Nicklaus designed courses, provides guests the greatest range of in-car services on the market, and offers specific options that support the venue’s valuable corporate golf revenue stream.

Stephen Follett, CEO of London Golf Club, commented: “We pride ourselves on our ability to offer both members and guests an unrivalled level of service and attention-to-detail, and we therefore need to work with suppliers that mirror these standards.

“Having partnered with Club Car for the past 20 years, we trust the brand and have every confidence in the performance and reliability of the golf cars.”

He continued: “London Golf Club hosts a substantial number of corporate and professional events, and the integrated Visage system enables us to tailor the in-car screens with company logos, contact details and so on, which further enhances the customer experience and supports this important branch of our business.”

The newly installed fleet of Club Car vehicles marks the sixth that local dealer, Bradshaw, has delivered to London Golf Club over the duration of the 20-year relationship.

Kevin Hart, Director of Golf Sales EMEA at Club Car, added: “London Golf Club is one of Europe’s leading golf destinations and is a fantastic example of a venue completely in tune with its customers’ wants and needs.“We are honoured to have been the chosen supplier for the past 20 years, and we look forward to continuing this long-term relationship.”

London Golf Club, the first club to feature within the European Tour Destination network of world class venues, has impeccable tournament credentials, having held European Tour events in the form of the 2008 and 2009 European Opens and most recently the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship in 2018 and 2019.

For more information about London Golf Club, visit: https://www.londongolf.co.uk

For more information about Club Car, visit: https://www.clubcar.com

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Tennis A Priority In London Transformation

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Tennis A Priority In London Transformation: A long term masterplan is set to take place in a London borough, and the redevelopment of Tennis courts is the top priority.

The London Borough of Hounslow’s planning committee approved Gunnersbury 2026 in January 2016 to unlock the potential of sports facilities at Gunnersbury Park – with tennis courts the first priority and a new indoor community sports hub.

Tennis A Priority In London Transformation

Essex-based ETC Sports Surfaces has completed the eight outdoor tennis courts with floodlights, while the sports hub is scheduled to open in summer 2019.

ETC worked alongside Zaun Ltd, who manufactured and supplied 414m of 3m high Duo6 Advantage tennis sports fencing with six single leaf gates and two divider fences with a central 3.5 m wide walkway between courts.

Zaun’s Advantage tennis court fencing system can withstand heavy use with a 42.85mm x 200mm twin wire mesh pattern that won’t let balls through yet allows a great view of on-court action.

It offers better whole-life value than chain-link fencing, which is easily cut with pliers for unauthorised use, and deforms quickly when people lean against it.

Ten grass football and rugby pitches, four cricket pitches and two full-size 3G artificial grass pitches with floodlights are also planned.

Gunnersbury Park, jointly owned by Hounslow and Ealing councils, features one Grade I listed and one Grade II listed Georgian mansions, as well as many historical buildings all set within the stunning community park.

The site is undergoing major transformation since the councils secured two grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2014 to overhaul the museum and make major improvements to the park landscape.

The aim of the project is to transform Gunnersbury Park into a sustainable, high quality public space that serves the local community.  The plans include the creation of a diverse mix of culture, heritage, events, sports and recreational activity to add to a rich history that the councils want to preserve.

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