Tag Archive for: National

AgriArgo Appoint National Sales Director

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AgriArgo Appoint National Sales Director: Farm and groundscare tractor distributor AgriArgo UK & Ireland has expanded its management team with the new appointment of Ben Agar as Sales Director.

He joins the company based in Harworth, South Yorkshire from the UK office of a French manufacturer of light construction machinery. But before that he worked for 20 years at a global farm equipment company, half of which was spent in area sales and national marketing roles within the UK.

AgriArgo Appoint National Sales Director

Ray Spinks, AgriArgo managing director, said: “Ben comes to us with a great deal of valuable experience working across multiple farm equipment brands. He brings a fresh pair of eyes to the challenges we face in selling our products in an intensely competitive market.”

AgriArgo is the distributor of Landini and McCormick farm tractors in the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying the machines to farmers, contractors and other rural enterprises through a network of independent local dealers.

The company’s dealers also handle Valpadana turf and groundscare four-wheel drive tractors, with all products supported by a technical services team and a parts operation that holds several million pounds worth of replacement parts to support dealers’ own stock.

Ben Agar said of his appointment: “Although I enjoyed the stimulus of working in the construction equipment market, which was new territory for me, my heart remains in agriculture and I’m genuinely excited at getting stuck into the farm machinery scene once more.

“My impression is that today’s modern Landini and McCormick tractors are underestimated in some respects; their features, performance, build quality and reliability are up there with the best, so I’m looking forward to working with AgriArgo’s dealers and area sales managers to bring these very positive characteristics to the attention of end users.”

When not encouraging farmers to get more Landini, McCormick and Valpadana tractors working on British and Irish farms, Ben enjoys time at home in Kenilworth, Warwickshire with his wife and two children, and in his role as an inspector with the Special Constabulary providing support to the local Roads Policing team.

OARS PS Used At Le Golf National

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OARS PS Used At Le Golf National: AQUA-AID EU’s OARS Penetrating Surfactant (OARS PS) has been extensively used at Le Golf National as the club in Paris gets ready for the 2018 HNA Open de France and the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Golf courses and estates manager, Alejandro Reyes, was appointed to his position in 2013 and was tasked with creating a Ryder Cup landscape using the 7,331 yards of The Albatros course, and extensive product testing was carried out to find the best programme possible.

OARS PS Used At Le Golf National

Following recommendations from those within the industry Alejandro was supplied by his local dealer Jacques Laborier of Celtic France and tested the OARS PS for himself and has been using it ever since as part of a programme that had the course in spectacular championship condition through 2017.

“I first heard about OARS PS in Spain, but I didn’t use it until I came to Le Golf National,” Alejandro said. “I’d had good feedback about OARS PS from different colleagues and had quite few telling me to test it because it was working very well for them.

“With OARS PS we saw a reduction in dry patches and what I really liked the most was that I had the feeling, and still have the feeling, that it works and the water moves better throughout the profile, and for me, that’s the key.

“We use it every other week all around the course. We have two kinds of tank mix with a pure foliar, so we have all the package we need to give to the plant. Then on the alternate weeks to that, we are spraying an irrigated mix where we are using bio stimulants that we are mixing with the OARS PS.

“We have very little issues with dry spot on the course now but if we do we’ll use OARS Pellets for hand watering to fix local dry spots.

“We’ve been testing many different products and 2017 was the last year for us to test anything, and it was a very good year for us when it came to maintaining the golf course. We were very happy with the condition, and how it was looking at the end of September was awesome. I have the confidence that we had found the winning formula and we need to stay with it, to maintain continuity of the condition of the course. We had a great 2017 HNA Open de France and really within this year it’s just about replicating those standards.”

OARS PS is a combination of the university researched, field proven and patented organic acid redistribution system, OARS, and multi-branched penetrant chemistry. OARS PS controls soil water repellency while providing uniform soil moisture for a longer period of time, providing a firm, fast surface.

The OARS pellets used at Le Golf National to combat localised dry spots work as a corrective approach and remove the build-up of organic acids that coat the surface of sand particles, which cause water repellence and localised dry spot conditions.

For AQUA-AID EU managing director Hans de Kort, having the opportunity to work with Alejandro alongside distributors Celtic France is a fantastic chance to see OARS PS in use.

“It is great to have professionals like Alejandro in the industry,” he said. “When it comes to products like surfactants you have to be able to judge it on its functionality, and Alejandro has done that with great success.

“We are very proud to support the green-keeping staff at Le Golf National in the lead up to this year’s golf events and like all golf fans we look forward to watching the 2018 Ryder Cup in September.”

Whilst Le Golf National, owned by the French Golf Federation, is no stranger to hosting major tournaments with 25 French Opens already played on the course since 1991, the scale of the Ryder Cup challenge is massive. The regular team of 30 increases to 80 for a French Open but for the Ryder Cup it will grow to 180 with the full support of Official Ryder Cup Supplier Ransomes Jacobson.

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Golf For National Heroes

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Golf For National Heroes: Huxley Golf has completed its third project for Help for Heroes: a large putting green at the charity’s Northern Recovery Centre at Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. The project comes after two similar successful projects which were conducted for the charity’s Recovery Centres at Tedworth House, Wiltshire and at Chavasse VC House, Essex.

The new facility will be used by short stay, day visitors and guests to Phoenix House who take part in activities and courses to help them get back out doing what they enjoy most. Beneficiaries are encouraged to develop their own recovery programme under the guidance of specialist staff and may involve participation in sporting activities and guidance on health and wellbeing.

Golf For National Heroes

The putting green was officially opened at a ceremony on 18 January 2018 by Bernie Broad (left), Invictus Team GB Captain, and Peter Scrivener (right), Wasps Legends Trustee of Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation which kindly funded the project.

In extremely wintry conditions, the all-weather course was certainly put to the test on the day and proved that nothing can stand in the way of a good game of golf!

Speaking at the event, Bernie Broad said that sport and activities outdoors were vital to a healthy life style. He said: “I was introduced to golf whilst going through my recovery and it was such an enabler for me. It gave me such a challenge and reason to get out of bed some mornings. The putting green in Catterick, kindly funded by the Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation, will enable individuals to get outside and do something out of the ordinary, clear their minds and just breathe in the fresh air. Good putting is also key to good golf and a low handicap!”

The new putting green has pride of place at the entrance to the Recovery Centre, providing an aesthetically pleasing and welcoming – yet low maintenance – focal point on arrival at Phoenix House. The kidney-shaped six-hole green, created using the market-leading Huxley Golf Premier Nylon Putting Turf, measures approximately 76 sq. yards in total. To complete the project, a 35mm fringe surround was laid using Huxley Golf Leisure Turf.

Paul Chester, General Manager at Huxley Golf said: “This was an interesting project in terms of its design. The original idea was to position the new putting green on a hilly grassed area but, working in partnership with the management team, we concluded that the site was too steep. Our solution was to convert a disused bowls court. The result not only looks fantastic but importantly, it is easy for all visitors to access, regardless of injury. We’re extremely proud to have created a golf facility at three out of four Help for Heroes Recovery Centres.”

Help for Heroes Head of Recovery North, David McNeill, said the new creation would improve golfing skills and help the beneficiaries in other areas. He said: “The putting green is brilliant and a fantastic resource. It will encourage people to challenge themselves through golf, whether as an individual or in a group. I look forward to seeing those we support staying out late into the summer nights, enjoying themselves and improving their golfing skills.”

Peter Scrivener, Trustee of Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation, added that he hoped the new addition to the Recovery Centre would allow past and present servicemen and women to take their minds off their injuries. He added: “The putting green is a space where they can have some time alone and develop a new skill. When they come here they might be completely new to the experience, but it just gives them somewhere to go, give themselves peace and just enjoy themselves. We are delighted to support this, it is very humbling.”

For more information, visit: www.huxleygolf.com

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Racecourse Groundstaff Recognised By National Award

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Racecourse Groundstaff Recognised By Receiving National Award: Groundstaff at Warwick Racecourse are celebrating after winning the Jumps category in the Racecourse Association’s (RCA) Racecourse Groundstaff Awards 2017.

The judges, made up of an industry-wide panel including representatives from the RCA, Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and National Trainers Federation (NTF), recognised the outstanding achievements of the groundstaff throughout the 2016/17 season.

The Jockey Club racecourse became an all-jumps track in 2014 with a five-year plan to become one of the UK’s leading small jumps courses.

Judges said: “The effort and expertise required to integrate the flat course into the chase course at Warwick helps them stand out in this category and this outstanding achievement will benefit the course hugely in years to come.

“As well as investment in equipment through the replacement of six furlongs of running rail, they have shown a commitment to people which is above and beyond what is required.”

Meanwhile Jane Hadley, clerk of the course at Warwick, said she is proud of the achievements of Warwick’s groundstaff this year.

She said: “Led by head groundsman Guy Woodward, the team managed an ambitious drainage and levelling project last summer, and then coped with the resulting reduced track width through the 2016/17 season, without losing a fixture.

“They produced the racing surface in such good condition that we were even able to accommodate a transferred fixture in the spring.

“Through this year they have worked further on the integration of the old flat track, and can now provide a surface with three running lines over fences and up to eight running lines over hurdles, ensuring that we provide optimum conditions throughout the season.

“Their efforts have been appreciated and applauded by our trainers and jockeys, and this recognition from the RCA is very well-deserved.”

Warwick Racecourse was also a finalist for the Community and Corporate and Social Responsibility Award at the RCA Showcase Awards 2017 for its work on the St Mary’s Lands Masterplan.

It was in recognition of being at the forefront of developing a plan to manage, enhance and promote the common land that is home to Warwick Racecourse and other community assets.

A new entrance to Warwick Racecourse and the common land is currently being created, marking the first step of the masterplan.

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Makita’s New Factory Service Centre & Academy Has National Role

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Makita’s New Factory Service Centre & Training Academy In Glasgow Has A National Role: Makita UK has opened their first regional Factory Service Centre (FSC) & Training Academy in Glasgow’s Govan commercial district to support the rapidly expanding market penetration of Britain’s number 1 professional power tool range in Scotland and Northern England.  Whilst this new facility is already providing a valuable regional role the FSC has already been awarded the national responsibility for the secure environment of servicing Makita’s comprehensive range of dust extraction machines.

To carry out maintenance or repair functions on an extractor approved for use with Class L, M or H dust particulates, the repair facility must protect both the technician working on the machine as well as the workshop environment from dust contamination should material escape from the extractor.  The FSC facility will now handle all dust extraction servicing for the brand right across the UK.

Makita's New Factory Service Centre & Academy Has National Role

Commercial Photography by Ian Arthur

“The protection of our staff is paramount and that is why we have made this substantial investment,” says Norman Dodds, Manager of Service & Training at the Glasgow FSC.

The Factory Service Centre & Training Academy covers nearly 1000m³ on South Street in the G14 area and delivers technical repairs and maintenance services for the full range of Makita products, including all mains and cordless construction machines, and the rapidly expanding range of grounds care tools, including petrol engine products.

Training is a cornerstone of Makita’s marketing success ensuring that both authorised distributors and operators are fully conversant with the power tools, how to obtain the best performance from the machines and how to maintain them for efficiency and productivity.  Makita offers a full itinerary of training courses covering the extensive product range.  A key course: The Correct and Safe Use of Handheld Power Tools is a City & Guilds accredited course which offers either a user certificate or instructor certificate upon successful completion of the course.

The theory element of courses is held in a lecture theatre, followed by the essential hands-on practical work which is carried out in specially adapted and fully equipped training workshops.  Courses, including Health & Safety related and Correct Use, are of 1 – 2 days duration.  Any CITB certificated courses, which may include a combination of in-house and on-site training, relate to Abrasive Wheel training; an instructor’s course or user course.  Gas Nailer user training, chainsaw cross cutting and service courses, are also available.

“We are receiving a very warm welcome from all sectors of the power tool industry in this part of the world,” reports Norman Dodds. “I foresee that we will need to increase our staff and in particular our training personnel as demand grows from both employers and operators who can now benefit from this convenient location.”

For more news and product information about Makita UK please visit www.makitauk.com.  Follow us on Twitter @MakitaUK, Facebook.com/makitauk and google.com/+makitauk

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