Tag Archive for: Sports

Kress Mega 600 redefines sports turf maintenance

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Kress Mega 600 redefines sports turf maintenance: The arrival of the new Kress Mega 600 robot mower marks a pivotal moment for sports turf management.

The KR238E Kress Master series Mega 600 has been developed for continuous, overnight operation across large and demanding turf areas autonomous mowing system delivers tournament-quality results while addressing the persistent challenges of labour costs, environmental impact, and consistency that have long plagued groundskeepers.

Kress Mega 600 redefines sports turf maintenance

Kress Mega 600 redefines sports turf maintenance

What sets the Mega 600 apart is its precision engineering tailored specifically for sports surfaces. The 620mm deck with on-board roller paired with high-speed blades operates at 3,800 rpm, creating professional striping patterns between three and six meters wide that rival traditional mowers. But unlike conventional equipment, this robotic solution maintains these standards autonomously, completing 22,000 square meters in just twelve hours with remarkable consistency.

The technology behind this efficiency is equally impressive. Centimetre-level RTK satellite positioning eliminates the need for boundary wires while ensuring systematic coverage in parallel lines. Terrain-adaptive dual floating decks adjust automatically to undulating surfaces, preventing scalping and delivering an even cut regardless of ground contours. The system achieves an industry-low 10mm cutting height with millimetre precision, crucial for sports fields where playing surface quality directly impacts athlete performance and safety.

Perhaps most significant for facilities managers is the operational flexibility. Fast 30-minute charging cycles with nearest-dock return functionality maximise working time, while the quiet electric operation allows nighttime mowing without disturbing neighbouring communities. This scheduling freedom means sports fields can be maintained during off-peak hours, eliminating conflicts with practice schedules and events.

The environmental benefits are substantial. Zero emissions, reduced noise pollution, and elimination of fuel costs align with growing sustainability mandates facing the industry. For sports turf professionals seeking to elevate surface quality while controlling costs, the Kress Mega 600 represents not just an equipment upgrade, but a fundamental reimagining of what’s possible in field maintenance.

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Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan

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Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan: After more than six years of dormancy, Raglan Golf Club had become a shadow of its former self – with overgrown fairways, unplayable greens and failing drainage.

When new owners took over in spring 2024, they swiftly brought in Course Manager Lucy Sellick to embark on a 10-month restoration and recovery project. With a little help from industry friends, and the reliable performance of Johnsons Sports Seed mixtures, the turnaround to opening in April 2025 was nothing short of miraculous!

Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan

Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan

When Lucy arrived in September 2024, the task she faced was monumental. Ten greens had been re-laid, while the remaining eight required extensive renovation to make them playable once again. “We were lifting tree canopies, re-wilding and bailing off the grass it was so long – basically starting from scratch” she explains. Having used mixtures from DLF’s Johnsons Sports Seed range throughout her career, Lucy knew exactly where to turn for support and advice.

“The greens had poor coverage and were full of coarse, hard Poa annua. We scarified, aerated and topdressed the eight greens and finished the renovation with an overseed of Johnsons J All Bent mixture to outcompete the Poa.” J All Bent sets the industry standard for density and visual quality, with the inclusion of top-rated Browntop Bent cultivars delivering fast, sustainable golf greens with reduced requirements for chemical inputs.

“This has given us outstanding uniformity, playability and resilience. We oversowed in the autumn of 2024 and again in the spring of 2025 before opening on 1st April. Obviously everyone wanted to come and play the course, and the Johnsons J All Bent has stood up well to both the high levels of footfall and the environmental pressures we’ve experienced this year.”

The challenge didn’t end there, however. With these eight greens performing well, the next objective was to achieve consistency with the other 10 greens laid with a fescue-dominant sward. “The decision to go with fescue pre-dated my start and, unfortunately, it just doesn’t quite work with our traditional parkland course. While we bring thatch levels down enough to be able to start introducing J All Bent, we’ve been oversowing with J Ultrafine Rye 100.”

Blending four of the finest perennial ryegrass cultivars, the fast-establishment of J Ultrafine Rye 100 is ideal for renovations and surfaces that demand strong wear tolerance and high visual merit. Lucy adds, “The germination from this was fantastic and the feedback we’ve had from the players has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Lucy and her team of five continue to refine the course and manage further development projects throughout the winter – her relationship with DLF central to that progress. “The advice from our Regional Technical Manager Ian Barnett has been invaluable. From seed selection to overseeding strategy, the help from Ian has played a major part in our transformation.”

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DSV Seeds: Exclusive Cultivars for Top-Level Sports Turf

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DSV Seeds: Exclusive Cultivars for Top-Level Sports Turf:  DSV Seeds will be exhibiting at BTME 2026 on stand 213, with a spotlight on its flagship turf mix, PRO Pitch. Renowned for delivering top performance on winter sports pitches, PRO Pitch contains the highest-ranking perennial ryegrass cultivar, offering exceptional wear tolerance, rapid recovery, and fast establishment.

A key highlight for 2026 is the inclusion of the Flanell cultivar – exclusively available in PRO Pitch through EuroGrass next year. Flanell is notable not only for its performance but also for its strong genetic colour, producing a dark green sward that’s highly sought after in high-end sporting facilities and televised events. “We believe we can offer something genetically darker, delivering both performance and a more camera-friendly appearance,” says Sam Horner from DSV Seeds.

DSV Seeds: Exclusive Cultivars for Top-Level Sports Turf

DSV Seeds: Exclusive Cultivars for Top-Level Sports Turf

DSV will also showcase Eurogala, a fine perennial ryegrass cultivar that performs across both sports turf and high-quality lawns and greens. Ranked highly in the lawns and greens table, Eurogala will feature in DSV’s rye greens mix and PRO Summer Sport mix, making it a versatile choice for golf, cricket, and tennis applications where performance and visual quality are equally important.

Alongside PRO Pitch and Eurogala, visitors can also expect to find out more about DSV’s other EuroGrass mixtures including:

PRO Links Fairway – a 100% fescue mix designed for links fairway use, offering extreme drought resistance and low input requirements, and containing the new ‘Mentor’ hard fescue cultivar.

PRO Summer Sport – ideal for cricket squares, tennis courts, and golf tees

PRO Multi Sport – a versatile, drought-tolerant option for schools and shared-use pitches

The DSV team will be on hand throughout the three-day show to provide expert advice and guidance to turf managers, grounds teams, and sports facility operators, ensuring visitors can explore the latest innovations in high-performance turf solutions.

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Sharrocks Expands Golf & Sports Turf Offering

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Sharrocks Expands Golf & Sports Turf Offering: Sharrocks, a leading supplier of groundcare machinery, is proud to announce a new partnership with GKB Machinery, becoming the official dealer for Staffordshire and Shropshire.

GKB Machinery, renowned for its high-performance, Dutch-engineered turf equipment, offers an extensive portfolio of professional machines, including scarifiers, top dressers, aerators, and brushing systems. Trusted by turf professionals across Europe, GKB serves key sectors such as sports turf, golf, landscaping, and local authorities.

Sharrocks Expands Golf & Sports Turf Offering

Sharrocks Expands Golf & Sports Turf Offering

This new dealership agreement gives customers across the Midlands direct access to GKB’s full product range, supported by Sharrocks’ established reputation for expert advice, technical support, and dependable aftersales care. The collaboration further strengthens Sharrocks’ expanding portfolio of premium turf brands and reinforces its commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions for turf professionals.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with GKB Machinery,” said Adrian Dodd, Sales Director at Sharrocks. “Their innovative and reliable equipment aligns perfectly with the needs of our customers and our dedication to supplying robust, high-quality solutions for the professional groundcare sector.”

Founded in 1956, Sharrocks is a family-run business based in Wigan, known for delivering industry-leading groundcare equipment and support to contractors, sports clubs, estates, schools, and local authorities. With a strong heritage, deep technical knowledge, and a reputation for responsive customer service, Sharrocks remains a trusted partner in the UK groundcare market.

GKB Machinery continues to lead through precision engineering, sustainability, and performance, with machines designed in collaboration with turf professionals and built to the highest standards in the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.sharrock.co.uk or call 01477 500700.

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Discover Mansfield Sand’s Elite Sports Turf Solutions

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Discover Mansfield Sand’s Elite Sports Turf Solutions: Make your way to stand OSA260 at GroundsFest 2025 – taking place on 9 and 10 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire – to explore the latest in professional sand-based solutions from Mansfield Sand.

With a heritage spanning over 180 years, Mansfield Sand remains at the forefront of silica sand innovation. Their trusted range supports elite stadiums, top-level training grounds, championship golf courses, and high-performance equestrian venues across the UK.

Discover Mansfield Sand’s Elite Sports Turf Solutions

Discover Mansfield Sand’s Elite Sports Turf Solutions

At this year’s event, their team of specialists will be on hand to showcase how their products can strengthen, support, and transform natural sports surfaces. Key solutions on display will include:

Reinforced Rootzones

Designed for high-performance, natural turf surfaces that demand durability and year-round usability. These expertly engineered products improve pitch stability and drainage while maintaining consistency throughout the surface. Options include:

Fibre Reinforced Rootzone – polypropylene fibre-reinforced for enhanced strength.

Fibrelastic Rootzone – combines polypropylene and flexible Elastane fibres for resilience and recovery.

Fibresand – ideal where turf has suffered wear and tear from winter usage.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Blended using only premium screened topsoil and Mansil 40 Silica Sand, these mixes are perfect for construction or renovation – providing a reliable, high-performance start for any project.

Sand Compost Rootzones

A carefully developed mix of sand and organic material, helping turf retain nutrients and moisture while boosting drought tolerance and resilience.

Top Dressing

A fine turf essential, Mansfield Sand’s sterilised, stone-free top dressing is made from the company’s own silica sand and high-quality soils. Custom blends are also available – including options with soil amendments.

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

Extracted from the Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, the Mansil range supports a wide variety of surfaces – from golf courses and bowling greens to winter sports pitches and amenity areas.

Don’t miss your chance to see how Mansfield Sand’s market-leading range can help you raise the standard of your sports surfaces. Visit stand OSA260 at GroundsFest 2025.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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