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The new Ariens Summit Pro series

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The new Ariens Summit Pro series: In a seasonal business such as lawn care, a service provider must be able to rely on its machinery. Breakdowns and poor performance cost money, time and nerves.

Professional service providers around the world rely on the dependability of the Ariens Summit Pro series. Operating times of 500 to 1,000 hours per season are not uncommon. Ariens is now bringing the proven fleet star to Europe.

The new Ariens Summit Pro series

The new Ariens Summit Pro series

Professional users around the world place the same demands on their mowers. They must be robust, deliver a consistently high-quality cutting pattern and have a long service life and low downtimes – ideally complemented by long service intervals and an extended manufacturer’s warranty. The new Ariens Summit Pro series was developed precisely to meet these requirements for tough continuous use in a professional environment.  Maximum durability, a perfect cut and high ride comfort culminate in the new zero-turn mowers.

The new series comprises the Ariens Summit Pro 300 (26 hp) in three cutting widths from
122 cm to 152 centimetres and the Ariens Summit Pro 500 (27 hp) in two cutting widths (152 centimetres or 183 centimetres). With a total of five variants, there is a suitable model for every service provider. Even the compact model, the Summit Pro 348, achieves an area output of up to 17,800 m² per hour at a speed of 14.5 km/h. The largest model, the Ariens Summit Pro 572 with a cutting width of 183 centimetres, is made for extreme area performance and the largest areas. With a speed of 16 km/h, it achieves a maximum area output of 29,500 m² per hour.

The design: Robust and stable

The new Ariens Envy Pro mowing deck ensures optimum grass distribution. It is made from
4.6 mm thick sheet steel, it is extremely robust and can withstand years of intensive use. Its great depth makes it perfect for installing the optional mulching kit. The fully welded, one-piece tubular frame is also extremely solid. The large square tubes can withstand shocks and torsion for years.

The new high-performance blade spindles of the Ariens Summit Pro models are made of cold-forged aluminium. This makes them particularly resistant to vibration and dissipates any heat generated. They are equipped with two double ball bearings. The entire unit is sealed to prevent corrosion caused by the ingress of moisture and dirt and to ensure a long service life and low downtimes.

Made for everyday service provider life

The new large zero-turn mowers from Ariens are fitted with premium Kawaski engines, which are made for the demanding conditions of everyday service work. The Kawaski FX engines with 852 cm³ displacement, V-twin, double air filter, high-performance oil cooler, electronic ignition and internally ventilated twin carburettor deliver full power at all times.

Constantly refilling the tank costs time and nerves. That’s why all models in the Ariens Summit Pro series have an extra-large 48 litre tank for a long working day.

The high-quality hydrostats from Parker are known for their smooth response when changing from forwards to reverse. The Summit Pro 300 models are fitted with professional Parker HTJ hydrostats, which are designed for a maximum speed of
17 km/h and operate with a 12 cm³ high-performance pump. The filters are easily accessible from the rear for simple maintenance. Thanks to the fully integrated design with few components, the risk of oil loss is significantly reduced. The Summit Pro 500 models utilise Parker HTG hydrostats, which enable a maximum speed of up to 24 km/h with a 16 cm³ high-performance pump. The particularly efficient gerotor motors in the hydrostats save energy, allowing up to ten per cent more motor power to reach the blades.

The wheels: puncture-proof at the front and powerful at the rear

Large drive wheels are essential for riding comfort and enable high riding speeds. With a diameter of 26 inches (Summit Pro 500) or 24 inches (Summit Pro 300), they can be ridden with low air pressure. This ensures a high level of suspension comfort. Unevenness is levelled out and it is easier to ride over kerbs.

The 15-inch, 360-degree swivelling front wheels are semi-pneumatic. This means that they are completely filled with a rubber foam. This prevents flat tyres and pressure loss.

The air-sprung Ariens Air-Ride seat (Summit Pro 500) can be optimally adjusted to the rider’s wishes at the touch of a switch. Special vibration isolators decouple the entire seat from vertical shocks. The extra high seat backrest, the adjustable armrests, the extra thick padding and the integrated lumbar support offer maximum seating comfort.

Thanks to helpful and useful original accessories, which are optionally available, the models in the new Ariens Summit Pro series can be perfectly customised to suit personal requirements.

Plannable costs

The 5-year manufacturer’s warranty is particularly noteworthy. It makes operating costs easier to plan and supports smooth processes. The Ariens Summit Pro 300 comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or 1,250 hours, while the Ariens Summit Pro 500
a warranty of 5 years or 1,500 hours. In the first two years, the guarantee applies without an hour limit. The official guarantee conditions of AriensCo GmbH must be observed.

The Ariens Summit Pro zero-turn mowers will be available from the 2026 mowing season.

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Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

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Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®: Introducing the latest innovative solution for sports turf maintenance from Campey Turf Care.

Designed with sustainability at the forefront, the new lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®(RCD) 1.3 is ideal for use with smaller tractors and engineered to reduce labour and material costs by recycling and redistributing substrate material across the playing surface. This would consist of either the existing soil or sand in the case of sand-based golf courses or where the natural composition of the soil substrate is sand based.

Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

Introducing the New Lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER®

This new model, weighing only (approx.) 470 kg (1036lbs), incorporates a specially designed rear flap for improved soil management and enhanced operational efficiency, ensuring minimal disturbance to the surface. It is also suitable for all areas where the native sand/soil is good.

The flap drags in material more efficiently and breaks it up faster, speeding up drying as it goes along. This sustainable maintenance practice aerates the underlying soil both vertically and horizontally, removing soil/sand from the root zone and redistributing it. This process eliminates layering and compaction, increasing biological activity, and extending the efficacy of existing fertilisers in the soil structure.

Another new feature are the new smart folding legs which double as protective side bars, ensuring transport and storage are simple and secure.

Working width is1300 mm (51ins) with a working depth of 175 mm (6.9ins) respectively.

Other specifications include the distance between digging blades of 260 mm (10.2ins),

The new RCD 1.3 only requires a tractor with 30hp and 540 PTO and has an operating speed of 3km/h (1.9 mph).

Finally, the machine width (parked): 1575 mm (62″).

The inclusion of the rear flap on this latest model of Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER® ensures better handling of displaced soil material, reducing waste and maintaining the integrity of the turf. Perfect for environmentally conscious operations. This machine is the ideal choice for sports field managers seeking to balance high performance with ecological responsibility.

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Blown away by the PB-9010T

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Blown away by the PB-9010T: Having developed the first ever backpack blower in the early 1970s, ECHO know a thing or two about blowers. They have recently launched the PB-9010T backpack blower. Built for professional users and heavy-duty applications, it boasts an industry-leading 48.9N of blowing force, making debris removal almost effortless.

The PB-9010T is the culmination of years of designing machines that are not only powerful, but put operator comfort at the forefront of the process.

Blown away by the PB-9010T

Blown away by the PB-9010T

The combination of a powerful 79.9cc engine, air speed of 97.8m/s and a maximum air volume of 1907m³/h enables operators to complete tasks faster and more efficiently .

With operator comfort in mind, the PB-9010T features a 5-point anti-vibration system, ergonomic backpack straps, and a hip belt to reduce fatigue. The unique operator back ventilation system provides cooling airflow during hot weather and can be disabled for colder conditions, ensuring year-round comfort.

A patented metal wear ring enhances durability and protects the blower tube from wear, while the top-mounted, tool-less air filter allows quick maintenance in the field. Built-in cruise control means constant speed is easy to maintain.

The ECHO PB-9010T is available now from ECHO dealers nationwide and is priced at £899 (inc-VAT).

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Toro maintains championship course for The Open

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Toro maintains championship course for The Open: Once again Toro machinery and irrigation is being used to present the iconic Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club to the world for The Open.

The UK’s Toro distributor, Reesink Turfcare, will provide additional backup Toro machinery and support throughout the week-long tournament in July and can confirm a new long-term agreement to continue working with Royal Portrush has recently been completed.

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

With over a million fans applying for tickets and an anticipated 278,000 spectators expected to attend according to The R&A, it’s shaping up to be the biggest Open in history (outside of St Andrews), and maintaining a cool, calm head throughout years of preparations is Course Manager Graeme Beatt.

“It felt like there was no time at all between the 2019 Open finishing and preparations for the 2025 tournament starting,” Graeme says. “With 40,000 more people coming and a significant increase in corporate hospitality, we, along with The R&A, have been focused on improving the spectator experience and it was agreed we’d enlarge all of our spectator areas, rebuild the range and reconstruct the front nine of the Valley course.

“The rest of the changes are subtle. We’ve adjusted the first and seventh greens and have two new Championship tees on the fourth and seventh – the fourth is now 25 yards longer and the seventh about 15 yards longer than in 2019.”

Preparations are now focused on maintaining the courses at their general tournament standard: “From season to season we’re busy with members and events so we maintain the courses at a tournament standard year-round with Toro,” Graeme explains.

A Toro customer for over 30 years, Royal Portrush, its team of 30 staff and an international support team of 18, will use the club’s complete fleet of Toro equipment including battery-powered ride-on greens mowers, fairway mowers and utility vehicles, plus a new state-of-the-art Toro Lynx Central Control System to achieve the ideal playing conditions.

In addition, the club welcomes for the first time four Toro Vista shuttles configured for four, six and eight passengers to aid personnel transportation around the site.

There are changes to the way the Toro machinery is being used for the Championship, the biggest, Graeme tells us, is that the electric ride-on mowers are being used for the greens instead of hand cutting as was the case in 2019.

“The precision and technology of the Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 ride-on mower is such that the results are equal to a hand mower,” Graeme tell us. “This was an approach favoured by St Andrews and Royal Troon when they hosted The Open and eliminating the chance of an oil leak brings peace of mind.”

The irrigation system upgrade, which included replacing all sprinkler heads with Infinity and B Series across both courses, is currently accommodating an unseasonably dry spring says Graeme: “We’re having a really dry spell which would be absolutely perfect if it was the end of June, but as it’s springtime we’re having to employ the technology of the system.

“The individually controlled irrigation heads are perfect for giving precise control over watering ensuring only the exact amount needed is used and we can achieve our goals without wastage.”

Danny Campbell, General Manager at Royal Portrush, commented on the new agreement with Toro: “The Club has had a wonderful relationship with Toro for more than three decades and we’re delighted to extend it even further. Graeme’s team produce the best surfaces all year round and their dedication, along with the support of Toro, enable us to continually deliver our courses to the highest standard.”

Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager at Reesink Turfcare, concludes: “Our relationship with Royal Portrush is 35 years strong and to be providing Graeme and the team with all the equipment and backup and support they need to make hosting their third Open a success is an honour.”

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New World Record at the TIMBERSPORTS® Championship

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New World Record at the TIMBERSPORTS® Championship: The original extreme sport lived up to its reputation at the 2025 British TIMBERSPORTS® Championship this weekend. Returning to the Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern, Worcestershire, the competition was back with a bang as Rachel Ferrington from Hay-on-Wye produced an awesome display on the Stock Saw to secure a new Women’s World Record.

But the edge-of-your-seat action extended throughout the whole weekend with the first competition, the Pro Qualifier, taking place on Friday 13 June. Featuring 14 competitors, including four from Ireland, it was designed to sort the best from the rest with the top 6 qualifying for the British Pro Championship on Saturday.

New World Record at the TIMBERSPORTS® Championship

New World Record at the TIMBERSPORTS® Championship

The high stakes certainly delivered an exciting competition with 32 new personal best times, a new Irish National Record for Daragh Clogher and a new British National Record for Gerald Lloyd, both in the Stock Saw. This discipline, where competitors have to saw two discs or ‘cookies’ from a log using a STIHL MS 661 chainsaw, produced personal best times for 28 athletes across the weekend, including Ferrington’s World Record.

Ultimately though, consistent times across all the disciplines is what is needed to reach the top of the podium and all three spots in the Qualifier were taken by the Irish athletes, Gav Thompson, Daragh Clogher and Seamus Ryan. The remaining three to qualify for the Pro Championship were Osian Williams, Martin Price and John Lewis.

Glen Penlington was looking to retain his Pro title for the fourth year in a row on Saturday, but he was anything but complacent about it; “You never know what could happen on that stage. Even the best athletes can make mistakes and I’ve had plenty of issues with my Hot Saw before,” said Penlington.

There were plenty of other competitors looking to take over the top spot, including the 2024 Team GB athletes, Rob Chatley, George Spencer, Graham Turner and Tom Redmond. Spencer produced personal best times in all of the first three disciplines, the Underhand Chop, the Stock Saw and the Standing Block Chop, but his competition was derailed when he received a disqualification in the Springboard after his axe head became loose. He managed to keep his cool and deliver a new National Record in the Hot Saw though, which meant he secured third place overall.

Going into the final Hot Saw heat of the whole competition, Chatley and Penlington were neck and neck on 60 points each, meaning that whoever won the heat would take the title. Athletes are given 60 seconds to warm up their saws before the start of the heat and Penlington looked increasingly worried as his saw failed to start at all during the warm-up period.

When judge Andy Hall issued the starting call of “Athletes ready”, Penlington had no choice but to get into position and pray. But as the whistle sounded his saw started on the first pull and he delivered a blistering time of just 8.73 seconds. Joy turned to panic again though when the judges called a video review in order to check that he had cut three complete cookies giving Penlington an anxious wait. But minutes later, Hall announced that both of the cuts were good giving Penlington the title, much to the delight of his nervous family, including sister Zoe Penlington and girlfriend Georgia Lewis, who were competing in the Women’s Championship on Sunday.

And the Women’s competition continued to deliver the drama, when Rachel Ferrington, who only took up the sport in 2023, achieved a new Stock Saw Women’s World Record in the first heat of the competition, cutting two cookies from the log in 8.82 seconds. That dominance continued throughout the event, recording impressive times, including a new National Record in the Single Buck.

“I actually can’t believe it,” said Ferrington afterwards, “I’m still in shock! I’m never confident that I can win, but I guess I can start to believe in myself more now!”

Georgia Lewis and Cat Eccles rounded out the podium in second and third places. Eccles, from Ayr in Scotland, was particularly pleased after recovering from a serious injury in 2023 to return to the sport and credits her performance to the training she had been doing with her son Logan McCubbin, who was competing in the Rookie competition too.

The Rookie Championship was another fiercely-fought battle, and without the 2024 Rookie champion Jack Morris to defend his title, there were plenty of athletes looking to step up. Rowan Luxton and Zac Powell had been training hard ready for the competition but with six competitors making their TIMBERSPORTS® debut, it was hard to predict who would finish where in the results.

Once the competition started though, Luxton, from Llandrindod Wells in Powys, revealed his strength finishing with the fastest times in all five of the disciplines. Guest athlete Nicola Trecarichi from Italy pushed hard but could only achieve second place in the standings, followed by Jake Bufton in third place.

For full results from the weekend’s competitions, visit the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® database.

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