Tag Archive for: Sports

2025 Johnsons Sports Seed range

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2025 Johnsons Sports Seed range: In their pursuit of high performance, sustainable seed solutions, DLF have introduced a number of new mixtures and formulations across the Johnsons Sports Seed range – all outlined in the brand-new 2025 catalogue.

In a particularly exciting expansion of their fine turf range, 2025 brings two new mixtures and seven new formulations, while research across DLF’s global breeding centres has contributed to their strongest ever line-up for sports turf.

2025 Johnsons Sports Seed range

2025 Johnsons Sports Seed range

Building on the success of Johnsons J Ultrafine Rye 100, 2025 brings increased versatility with the introduction of J Ultrafine Rye 25 and J Ultrafine Rye 50 – new 25% and 50% perennial ryegrass mixtures ideal for close mown applications such as greens, tees, and bowling greens, as well as high-traffic areas like fairways, pathways, tennis courts and cricket outfields. Blending highly ranked ultrafine ryegrass cultivars on the STRI close mown table, the range offers multiple benefits including fineness of leaf, wear tolerance, quick recovery, rapid establishment and sustainable performance.

Other highlights from the updated golf range include the new formulation of J Green which includes 20% Sybille, a new, No.1 ranked slender creeping red fescue for close mown turf. With its high density and disease tolerance, Sybille helps to supress unwanted weeds and diseases, reducing the need for pesticides. Sybille is also incorporated in the 2025 formulations of J Fescue, J Links and J Premier Tee.

For sports turf, the 2025 Johnsons range utilises the latest global research on disease trends and resistance to give turf managers mixtures that help to protect their surfaces by choice, not by chance. Demonstrating exceptional disease resistance from Brown Patch and Grey Leaf Spot in trials, along with superior drought tolerance and reduced requirements for water and fertiliser, 4turf® mixtures remain a trusted and reliable partner to high performance maintenance programmes. 4turf® is available in 25, 50 and 100% formulations within the 2025 Johnsons Sports Seed range.

Johnsons also continues to lead the way with class-leading mixtures for cricket. The new 2025 formulation of J Premier Wicket promises to deliver class leading wear tolerance, rapid establishment and high disease resistance for village squares to county quality cricket squares.

In addition, DLF have invested heavily in their in-house production of native-origin wildflowers. A dedicated area at their Inkberrow site now spans over 80 acres, helping to sustain the increase in demand for mixtures from their ProFlora range.

More details on all the new additions are available in the new 2025 Johnsons Sports Seed brochure, or by visiting the website www.johnsonssportsseed.co.uk

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Overcoming exposed conditions with Johnsons Sports Seed

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Overcoming exposed conditions with Johnsons Sports Seed: The exposed location and sandy loam soil profile of Cardigan Golf Club mean the links course is subject to harsh conditions, yet the greens and fairways have never performed better according to Course Manager Stuart Adams – who attributes the improvements in visual merit and plant health down to the bespoke seed programme delivered by Johnsons Sports Seed.

Steeped in over 100 years of Welsh history, the hilltop location of the 18-hole links course offers picturesque views over the Teifi Estuary. “Our clifftop position leaves us extremely exposed to the elements, meaning we tend to dry out very fast with the warm sea breeze we experience in the summer” explains Stuart, who heads-up a greens team consisting of two full-time and three-part time greenkeepers, together with an artisan worker. “When it comes to seed selection, we have to find cultivars that will suit our site and predominately choose hard, strong and slender creeping fescues.”

Overcoming exposed conditions with Johnsons Sports Seed

Overcoming exposed conditions with Johnsons Sports Seed

“Our fairways have a track-record for struggling from insect damage and the stresses of longer, hotter summers so I discussed options with my DLF Technical Manager Ian Barnett, who suggested a mixture based around Johnsons J Fescue with the inclusion of additional Hard fescue to suit our situation.”

A 100% fine fescue blend, J Fescue incorporates top-rated cultivars to provide a high drought and salt tolerant mixture for a sustainable sward that requires lower inputs of water and fertiliser. The inclusion of Hard fescue – known for its tolerance to a broad range of turf stresses – has resulted in a mix delivering outstanding resilience and recovery. J Fescue forms part of a comprehensive line-up of fine turf fairway mixtures including J Premier Fairway – incorporating 10% Hard fescue and 10% Sheeps fescue – and a new mixture for 2024, J Sustain Fairway, specially formulated with 40% Hard fescue to deliver a high-performance, sustainable surface with a foundation of natural strength.

“Our fairways look remarkable and are showing incredible improvements in sustainable management.” He explains, “Other brands cannot compare with the high germination rate, purity and overall results we achieve with Johnsons. We get consistent, strong and healthy grass, even in our high traffic areas, and our greens simply speak for themselves!”

With enhanced diversity of both cultivars and species within the sward, Stuart is well-placed to overcome the challenges of the new season. “Not only has our overall quality improved, but we’re building up increased resilience to the range of stresses we now have to overcome from the climate and ongoing reduction in chemistry at our disposal.” He concludes, “I’d recommend Johnsons as the first choice on any budget.”

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The Future of Sports Turf Higher Education Needs Your Opinion

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The Future of Sports Turf Higher Education Needs Your Opinion: There is a proposed new Level 5 Sports Turf Technical Manager Apprenticeship on the horizon with the option of including a Sports Turf Foundation Degree.  What are your thoughts on this?

In October 2023, a new Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician Apprenticeship was made available (for details please see Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education (IFATE) website).  This new progression route builds on the Level 2 Sports Turf Operatives or Level 2 Greenkeeping and/or supports those seeking to develop their supervisory skills, knowledge and behaviours in sports turf.

The Future of Sports Turf Higher Education Needs Your Opinion

The Future of Sports Turf Higher Education Needs Your Opinion

Based on the role and duties of a sports turf manager, IFATE have now recognised that a continued progression route to a higher level 5 apprenticeship qualification in sports turf may be needed.

To ascertain the taught knowledge, skills and behaviours for a level 5 sports turf manager, a new survey is now available to canvas industry opinion.   If you have a vested interest in sports turf, sports turf operatives (groundstaff/groundskeepers) and general management of sports turf (e.g. any sport that uses a predominantly natural grass surface), then please complete the survey

Survey: https://forms.office.com/e/iYyA7Y3L06

Further to this, the survey is seeking opinion for utilising an existing level 5 university sports turf qualification as an educational programme towards achieving a level 5 Sports Turf Technical Manager apprenticeship.  Specifically, utilising a ‘Foundation Degree in Sports Turf Management’.

Why a Foundation Degree?  The newly developed recommended ‘Duties’ of a level 5 Sports Turf Technical Manager indicated a role that is based on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).  The Foundation Degree in Sports Turf is a longstanding STEM-based higher education sports turf qualification.  The existence of the FD is potentially readymade to meet this need.  Over 200 sports turf professionals have completed the FD since 2013 and just over 50 have progressed further and graduated with a Bachelor of Science with honours (BSc. Hons).  It appears to be a successful qualification for technical sports turf professionals, however there may be barriers preventing more individuals from achieving this qualification, namely university tuition fees.

Why Apprenticeships? Completion of a formal apprenticeship is a recognised qualification that confirms that an individual has completed at least a year of training and education and has sat an independently assessed and regulated examination, known as an End-Point Assessment.  Arguably, the UK Government values Apprenticeships and generates funding to incentivise and meet the costs of this training for employers.

If the turf industry is of the opinion that the Foundation Degree in Sports Turf Management has a valuable part of Level 5 Apprenticeship for Sports Turf, then there is a good case to include this qualification.

How much will it cost?  In summary, a Level 5 apprentice’s employer could access about a 95-100% reduction in the fees.  An apprentice would have no fee.  An employer would need to facilitate an average of six hours a week for an apprentice’s off-the-job training.

Please complete the survey if you would like to contribute on the future of sports turf education and training for higher level apprenticeships

Survey: https://forms.office.com/e/iYyA7Y3L06

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Toro U.K. Attends Sports & Grounds Expo

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Toro U.K. Attends Sports & Grounds Expo: Toro U.K. Limited, manufacturer of Hayter® and Toro® lawnmowers and turf equipment recently exhibited at the Sports & Grounds Expo in Malvern for the third consecutive year.

The large stand space gave the perfect background to exhibit the great selection of Toro-branded products including the new Toro® Grandstand® Revolution, a lithium-ion powered stand-on mower providing up to 7 hours of run time and with a 5-year commercial warranty. Additionally, the Toro® Dingo® compact utility loader range made for a great back drop during the U.K. Loggers National Championships 2023 held over the two days at the same event.

Toro U.K. Attends Sports & Grounds Expo

Toro U.K. Attends Sports & Grounds Expo

Local dealer Revill Mowers supported the show alongside the Toro U.K. team. Matthew Coleman, Toro U.K. Sales Manager for LCE and SWS – U.K. Direct Market, commented that “despite the low visitor numbers, the strength of enquiries taken were strong with demonstration requests to follow up on”.

For more information, please visit www.toro.com / www.hayter.co.uk.

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GKB infiller heads to South Wales Sports Grounds

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GKB infiller heads to South Wales Sports Grounds: After seeing the machine at SALTEX 2021, South Wales Sports Grounds organised for a demonstration model of the Infiller to be shipped over from GKB HQ on the basis that if they were impressed with it, they’d keep it… and they did!

Adding to a vast and varied fleet of equipment for the construction and maintenance of both natural and artificial surfaces, the GKB Infiller has dramatically improved the speed of infill spreading, whilst retaining the quality of finish.

GKB infiller heads to South Wales Sports Grounds

GKB infiller heads to South Wales Sports Grounds

South Wales Sports Grounds (SWSG) undertake contracts for a range of clients from local authorities to schools and independent sports clubs, everywhere between West Wales and Gloucester. Maintenance Manager Matt Dennison explains how they decided to take a look at the GKB Infiller, after noticing their previous machine was slowing down the process of dispensing and topping-up infill.

“We’re very particular about how we install an artificial/3G pitch, using the best tools and techniques to produce the best results” explains Matt. “We wanted a machine that was simpler to use and that would ultimately make the job quicker and more efficient. As soon as we received the Infiller in December, from our local dealer Hopkins Machinery, it was evident straight away that it ticked all the boxes.”

Suited to all types of infill material, the Infiller provides a quick and accurate spreading solution. The metering valve can be adjusted manually or hydraulically to suit the depth and type of infill required. The specification is completed by a large 3m3 hopper. “One big key point for us is that you can rotate the seat to spread the sand in front of the wheels of travel, ensuring the infill gets down into the fibres before they’re flattened.”

Along with sand, Matt intends to use rubber in the Infiller and indicates that the machine and the team have a busy synthetic season ahead. “So far, it’s done two artificial constructions and is now about to do another.” He concludes, “Because it’s so easy to operate, we’ve now got a number of our operatives trained up with it, who all can’t wait to benefit from the speed and accuracy we can now achieve in getting the job done.”

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