Tag Archive for: Record

JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record

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JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record: JCB’s annual Christmas Toy Appeal is set to deliver a sackful of festive cheer to children in Staffordshire and Wrexham thanks to a record number of gift donations.

The appeal got under way in November with the installation of 14 collections points at JCB plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Wrexham. Today it was revealed that a total of 1,242 gifts had been donated as George Burton, aged five, and brother Henry, aged three, handed over the final two toys for the appeal to JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford in the reception at JCB’s World HQ at Rocester where all the presents are assembled.

JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record

JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record

Now the gifts are being handed over to the NSPCC, the Stoke-on-Trent Hubb Foundation and Wrexham-based Yellow and Blue charity, for distribution to children at Christmas. As well as huge support from JCB employees, the GMB Union also donated £1,250 to buy toys, the JCB Academy raised £300 for the purchase of gifts and IT specialists Cap Gemini donated 40 toys.

Lord Bamford said today: “When it comes to supporting a good cause, JCB employees are second to none. Every single one of the gifts donated will make a difference to a child this Christmas and it is heart-warming to see that everyone has given so generously.”

Adam Yates, Chief Operating Officer of the Hubb Foundation, said: “I can’t thank everyone at JCB enough for what they have done. I can say without any doubt that The JCB Christmas Toy Appeal really does make Christmas so much brighter for many hundreds of children in Staffordshire. I saw that for myself last year, which is why we are so grateful for every single gift which is donated.”

Rachael Holdcroft, NSPCC Strategic Service Manager (Together for Childhood, Stoke), said: “It is so heart-warming to see more than 1,200 gifts which have been donated to the JCB Christmas Toy Appeal because I know just what an impact this will have on the children this Christmas. I know that this year has been difficult for so many, so it really is incredible to know that even though times are tough, people still care about children and want to do their bit to ensure that all children receive a gift at Christmastime.”

Employees at JCB’s plants in Rocester, Uttoxeter, Cheadle, Hixon, Foston and Wrexham all took part in the appeal, helping beat last year’s donation total of 1,000 gifts.

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FairWays Foundation receives record applications

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FairWays Foundation receives record applications: Founded in 2019 and currently in its 4th grant cycle, The FairWays Foundation has received a record number of applications and is now in the process of reviewing the 48 projects that qualified for Grant Committee consideration.

Projects undergo and stringent review process throughout the summer, with board approvals taking place in September. All successful grantees will be announced in October.

FairWays Foundation receives record applications

FairWays Foundation receives record applications

In 2022, The FairWays Foundation completed its third grant cycle, bringing the total funding to $441,791 since its inception with 29 projects supported across the USA, Canada and UK. It is anticipated that total funding will surpass the $600,000 mark this year.

Greg Lovell, President of The FairWays Foundation said, “We are extremely happy with this year’s grant applications. The quality and variety of projects is amazing. We have a record number of applications from a record number of countries and access to a record dollar amount to award.”

The FairWays Foundation is a stand-alone 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting conservation and stewardship within the turf industry and beyond. The foundation supports conservation-based projects both big and small by granting funds to successful applicants globally.

To view more information about all the projects that have been supported in our previous funding cycles, click here.

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Record numbers ahead of BTME

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Record numbers ahead of BTME: The BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) doesn’t kick off until tomorrow (Tuesday 24 January), but the 2023 edition of the influential event has already broken multiple attendance records.

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) organises and hosts the annual trade show and education conference at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire. BTME 2023 takes place this week (24 to 26 January) and is the first time the event has returned to its regular January timing since prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Record numbers ahead of BTME

Record numbers ahead of BTME

With 24 hours to go until the doors of the convention centre open, BIGGA has reported that 4,930 attendees have pre-registered for BTME, marking a significant increase on previous years. The previous record was set in 2019, when 3,344 visitors pre-registered to attend.

This number includes 900 registrations from exhibitors themselves, who play a vital role in the success of the event.

The number of pre-registrations also does not tell the full story, with visitors able to sign up for the show upon arrival at the Harrogate Convention Centre. In previous years pre-registration has accounted for around 50% of the total attendees and so BIGGA is confident that this year’s event will be among its most successful ever.

Alongside BTME, BIGGA also hosts Continue to Learn and this too has seen incredible numbers. With 1,055 tickets sold, this year’s programme will provide more education hours than ever before across the various education formats, which includes a two-day conference and full and half-day classes. Free-to-attend seminars are also taking place during Tuesday and Wednesday and no pre-registration is required for these.

Continue to Learn brings together speakers from a wide range of disciplines to provide practical learning, management advice and other topics that this year include mindfulness, leadership, personal health and wellbeing.

BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “The BTME pre-registration and Continue to Learn booking numbers are cause for celebration for everyone across the BIGGA community. BTME plays a significant role in setting the agenda for the coming year for the association and our members and we’re delighted that so many people continue to support us in this way.

“It’s clear that for our members and supporters, BTME is the event they enjoy, in the timing and the location that they want, and we’re delighted to be able to offer that to them once again. Where else can you meet the hosts of this year’s Ryder Cup and various other major championships alongside people discussing a sustainable future for the game or providing solutions and opportunities for every golf club in the country?

“BTME is a wonderful event and I’m incredibly excited to discover what this week holds. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the event as we couldn’t do it without you.”

For more information about BTME 2023, visit www.btme.org.uk

Throughout BTME, people are encouraged to discuss the show on social media using the hashtag #BTME2023.

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ISEKI record year ready for restructure

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ISEKI record year ready for restructure: ISEKI UK & Ireland has reported continuous growth and is set for another successful year in 2022 with huge and consistent headway made in the market place year on year.

David Withers the Managing Director commented; “We estimate that at year end the market size for our products will be slightly down compared to last year in terms of units shipped whereas we will have shipped around 10% more units than we did in 2021, which was at that time our best year ever.  We would like to thank our dealers and customers for your help in growing our market share and being part of our success!”

ISEKI record year ready for restructure

ISEKI record year ready for restructure

As the business continues to expand it has been necessary to look at the organisation structures and make sure that the business is strong and ready for the bright future ahead. As such ISEKI UK & Ireland are creating a new position of Sales Director within the ISEKI business, the Sales Managers Phil Self, John Clifford and Andrew Donnachie will report in to this position as will Graham Hooper the Commercial Manager and our new demonstrator. Additionally the Sales Director will be directly responsible for export business outside of UK and Ireland, giving more support and focus to dealer partners in these important regions.

David Withers explains further; “Alan Prickett will take up the new position of Sales Director, reporting to me. A lot of people within the turf industry will know Alan, be aware of his long history within the sector and will no doubt welcome working with him again. Phil Self who was focused on the ADDAX and Raymo electric range will now sell all products including ISEKI and will take over Alan’s Dealership area covering North Wales, Midlands, East and North England. John and Andrew will continue with their roles but adding responsibility for Raymo and ADDAX to their sales portfolios in their areas.  We believe that this will strengthen our position, allow for further growth and expansion and look forward to what 2023 brings.”

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Pitch management amid record temperatures

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Pitch management amid record temperatures: Notts County’s head groundsman Matt Hallam has shared how his team have coped in the unprecedented temperatures with the new Meadow Lane pitch set to be used for the first time next week against Nottingham Forest.

Read the full article from Nottingham Post here

Pitch management amid record temperatures

Pitch management amid record temperatures

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Bourne to Ride and ISEKI’s world record

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Bourne to Ride and ISEKI’s world record: Bourne to Ride Charity challenge has beaten the previous record for driving from Lands End to John O Groats on a ride on mower from Iseki.

Travelling at a maximum of 12mph for 880 miles, for 20 hours per day, Bourne to Garden founder, Colin North, driving the ISEKI SF544 ride on mower, has beaten the previous record of 5 days 8 hours from Lands End to John O Groats in 4 days 6 hours and 9 minutes.

Bourne to Ride and ISEKI's world record

Bourne to Ride and ISEKI’s world record

The team including a support van and overnight driver, plus Phil Self as ISEKI technical support, received amazing local and national support on the way and a boost to the fundraising. Colin, Managing Director of Bourne to Garden says “most drivers gave us the thumbs up and giving us friendly toots as they over took us”. During this gruelling journey Colin has stopped for refreshments and showers, battled heavy rain, wrapped up in a duvet to handle sitting and driving in the cold nights. “The toughest part was probably the mosquitoes in Scotland, waves of them hitting my face!” He wrapped up and used goggles to protect himself again. “We also had a loose wheel nut and puncture on the way but were able to sort these on the road side without too many delays”. This exciting tough fundraiser has caught the interest and endorsement from local and national media including Radio 1 & 2. The team have been putting out ‘at the moment’ pictures and video to encourage support and donations locally and nationally.

David Withers from ISEKI UK adds; “It’s been so exciting this week, tracking the guys on the mower, waking up each morning seeing where they have got up to. All the photos and videos they have been sharing from the route has been brilliant, some amazing scenery and some interesting weather at times!  It has been a real team effort to enable this to go ahead with ourselves and Bourne to Garden Ltd.  The machine has performed without any problems whatsoever, we just had one puncture in the whole 876 miles.

Bourne to Ride and ISEKI's world record

Bourne to Ride and ISEKI’s world record

We have donated some money for the charities chosen by Bourne to Garden Ltd and please, if you can, donate something to the three charities they would be incredibly grateful.  All are worthy causes and every penny of the money donated is going straight to the charities….We are Guinness World Record holders!”

To Donate please click https://gofund.me/2e8249e6

For More information about the route go to https://www.iseki.co.uk/bourne-to-ride-iseki-world-record-attempt/

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Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

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Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt: Working on ride-on mowers is part of the job for Colin North, owner of Bourne to Garden, a grounds maintenance business based in Kent, UK.

However, it wasn’t until a friend mentioned the current world record attempt for the fastest journey from Lands End to John O’Groats on a ride-on mower that he suddenly thought what a great challenge it would be to try and beat this whilst raising money for charity, after all he has plenty of experience driving them all day!

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

Bourne to ride ISEKI world record attempt

Colin explains further; “We are aiming to beat the current world record of 5 days, 8 hours and 36 minutes, completed by Andy Maxfield on the 30 July 2017.  We will be driving an ISEKI SF5 ride-on mower that has been kindly donated and supported by ISEKI UK, aiming for up to 20 hours driving each day.  All this, whilst most importantly for us, raising money for three charities that are close to our heart’s; Motor Neurone Disease Association, Kenward Trust who help those struggling with alcohol or drug addiction and The Masonic Charitable Foundation, with the target to raise £30,000 to be split equally between each of the charities.”

Starting off at Lands End on Monday 27th June they will be avoiding the motorways and traveling through the counties listed below in order to reach their final destination of John O’Groats, whilst hopefully beating the current World Record:

World Record attempt route:

  • Cornwall
  • Devon
  • Somerset
  • Gloucestershire
  • Worcestershire
  • Shropshire
  • Cheshire
  • Merseyside
  • Lancashire
  • Cumbria
  • Dumfriesshire
  • Lanarkshire
  • West Lothian
  • Stirlingshire
  • Perthshire
  • Inverness-shire
  • Ross & Cromarty
  • Sutherland
  • Caithness

“We can’t wait to get started, there is a lot of preparation involved and we could not have done this without the support of ISEKI UK who will be travelling with us all the way too.  We look forward to seeing people out on route, don’t forget to give us a beep and a wave!  Between ourselves and ISEKI UK we will be doing regular updates on social media, interviews on TV and local radio coverage throughout the journey so please keep a listen out for us.”

David Withers from ISEKI UK adds; “It is great that a customer of ours has chosen one of our mowers to attempt this world record!  We are so excited to support them on this challenge and look forward to supporting them throughout the journey then being with them at John O’Groats at the end of the race to celebrate their achievement!”

As part of the world record attempt stipulations, independent witness signatures and photos are required along the way, so keep a look out on ISEKI’s social media for details of where they will be on route and follow the tracker.   Encouragement along the journey and coming out to wave them past will no doubt be appreciated to help keep the morale high on what will be an extremely long, testing and tiring journey.

Details of how to donate can be found at www.bournetogarden.com.

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Record year for ISEKI UK

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Record year for ISEKI UK: ISEKI UK & Ireland today announced further investments in the business to support the record sales levels achieved in 2021.

Commenting on the continuous year on year achievement David Withers, Managing Director added; “2021 was a strange year with COVID and the Global Supply Chain issues but despite some of the challenges ISEKI UK & Ireland had an amazing year with sales rocketing up and Market share increasing as more and more people see the significant benefits of investing in ISEKI products.”

Record year for ISEKI UK

Record year for ISEKI UK

“To support the on-going growth we have also purchased a second lorry and hired Simon Grove to support higher levels of deliveries and an increased demand for demonstrations across the UK.  As the business continues to expand we need to ensure we are supporting our dealers and customers to the same if not higher standard than what we have before, making sure we offer the best product, pre purchase and aftersales support.”

David added further; “As we look to the future we see opportunities to continue this growth trajectory and are optimistic that in 2022 we can get close to our original target of having doubled ISEKI sales over a 5 year period.”

“People are responding positively to our ‘can-do’ attitude, increased dealer network and the excellence of the ISEKI product range. It is great fun to be part of a team that is winning in the marketplace and growing strongly, these new investments will help us maintain our winning ways!”

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Record breaking sports turf health across UK

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Record breaking sports turf health across UK: The results of the May and June 2021 Grass Health Watch are now out. Mike Heisig from FairWay Awards comments on the latest changes in sports turf health up and down the country.

“Following an amazing sports turf health recovery on our indicator sports clubs during April, the results for May continued to be good reading for the industry and the results for June nothing short of amazing.

Record breaking sports turf health across UK

Record breaking sports turf health across UK

2021 grass health breaks the records:

  1. At a national level sports turf health in May increased by a further 3% equalling the record set in May 2019.
  2. Sports turf health levels did not drop in June as would be expected from historical data. The means that this June sports turf health was at record breaking levels.

Mike adds: “At a regional level, some sport turf sites in East Anglia, The Midlands and the South achieved health levels over 90%, with one golf course reaching 99%. Someone is doing a fantastic job out there and deserves a medal! From a grass health perspective the sector started at a particularly low point in January, but 2021 is turning out to be record breaking year.”

Looking Ahead

“Most sports grass health/vitality should have peaked in May/June. Historical data tells us is that in June/July health and vitality of sports turf will start to dip. However today we are looking at sports turf levels that breaking new ground. The potential is clearly there for greenkeepers to work with. Can there be more surprises, its only grass after all – or is it? ”

Think that you can do better?

Register for a free 3-month trial of satellite biomass data for your club at:  https://fairwayawards.com/your-free-precision-sport-turf-trial/ and send your best results of 2020 to Mike-Heisig@btconnect.com

Get the benefits of the Precision Sports Turf Revolution:

  • Spot grass health problems before they are visible
  • Save money on inputs where they are not required
  • Apply inputs according the needs of the grass
  • Make better environmental decisions

Regular updates on grass health through 2021 at www.fairwayawards.com or follow @FairWayAwards on twitter

Join the Sports Turf Revolution contact Mike Heisig: Mike-Heisig@btconnect.com

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Record Engcon tiltrotators sales in France

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Record Engcon tiltrotators sales in France: Engcon is a world-leading supplier and global manufacturer of tiltrotators and accessories for excavators.

Expanding internationally has been Engon’s strategic focus in recent years, to great success. In France, Engcon’s French subsidiary has seen strong growth, and 2019 was no exception. Delivering results that far surpassed its annual target, ranking third overall in the Engcon Group, behind far more mature markets such as Sweden and Finland.

Record Engcon tiltrotators sales in France

Record Engcon tiltrotators sales in France

Engcon started operating in France in 2002, and has since established itself as a market leader. Long-term local investments are now producing good results, such as the opening in 2015 of the French regional office in Mennecy, and a large storage facility holding about 1,500 spare parts to be able to rapidly serve French customers. The demand for tiltrotators in France has been steadily increasing. During the period 2015–2019 sales increased by 400 percent.

”Since 2002, we have been working hard to establish the tiltrotator as a phenomenon in the French market and in 2015 we started to really see an impact. A number of operators who are innovators have managed to influence the adoption of our products, which is evident in the 2019 results. In short, it was an excellent year driven by favourable market developments. But we must not settle for that, which is why we continue to implement our ambitious development plan”, says Patrick Régnier, Sales Manager at Engcon’s French subsidiary.

Why French operators love the tiltrotator
The success in France is based on a number of factors. Engcon’s biggest strength is that the parent company Engcon Group, is a world leader in the industry. Engcon can initiate major changes and create new standards in the market. Based on these standards, the French subsidiary advises users, and guides them based on their needs and the type of work they perform.

Another important strength is the ability to sell a complete system and not just tiltrotators. Customers have understood the benefits of combining Engcon’s wide range of products and accessories.

”The launch of the automatic quick mounting system with EC-oil by default gave us real momentum. The French love the offer and it has contributed greatly to our increased sales”, continues Patrick Régnier.

A demo says more than a thousand words
Engcon’s slogan on the French market is “A demo says more than 1,000 words”. To meet and learn from customers the subsidiary invested in a truck and a mini excavator, so that Engcon staff could travel around France and demonstrate Engcon’s products. The purpose is for end users to directly discover through a demonstration all the benefits that Engcon’s products bring to excavators and operators: safety, efficiency and profitability.

Engcon’s French team, which consists of eight people in March 2020, will grow further during the year to meet customer needs and demand, which is expected to contribute to continued growth. Plus, more service partners will be contracted in order to be closer to customers.

”A strong presence in the field is required to serve our existing customers and at the same time attract new customers. We want to become the Engcon Group’s largest subsidiary within five years and the tiltrotator should be as common a sight in France as it is in the Nordic countries. Now it remains to be seen how to address the ongoing Corona pandemic and its challenges. I hope we get through this quickly, not least for human health and well-being”, concludes Patrick Régnier.

Engcon continues to expand globally, with investments in North America and Asia (+ Australia) and in emerging markets in Europe.

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