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York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech

York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech: The award-winning grounds team at York Racecourse have gained two new recruits, in the form of an Echo TM-1050 and Echo TM-2050 robotic mower from GroundTech.

In the few shorts weeks since their delivery, the pair have been well received by Head Groundsman Adrian Kay as well as visitors to site who have commented that the enclosures and other perimeter areas have never presented better at this time of year.

York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech

York Racecourse looks to the future with GroundTech

With a busy race season from May to October, and a calendar compromising of weddings and corporate functions, the maintenance is a year-round operation for Adrian and his team of seven. Like many in the sector, York Racecourse have found recruitment to be a challenge, particularly since the pandemic. They’ve decided to turn to technology to provide a helping hand. “We recognise that people don’t want to be working 60-70 hours per week, or at unsociable hours, much of which was attributable to the time it takes to mow our expanses of lawn. By investing in this pair of robotic mowers, I can redeploy my skilled team to other maintenance tasks, ensuring we can maintain presentation levels” Adrian explains.

Following advice from Echo’s Sam Daybell, they opted for the Echo TM-1050 and TM-2050. “We worked really well together, assessing the size and specification of the prospective areas to find the right fit. The TM-1050 is primarily used on our premium grass car parking areas, and the TM-2050 on the enclosures, parade rings and a number of medium and high spec lawns.”

“We’re already benefiting from all the well-documented advantages that robotics brings – mowing through the night and at weekends, in all manner of weather conditions.” Adrian continues, “It’s also meant that we’ve been able to retain presentation over a difficult, wet winter with the light footprint of the robots. This has not gone unnoticed by visitors to the course.”

“Considering the wider benefits, it means less need to turn to our petrol or diesel mowers which is a big plus from an environmental sustainability standpoint. In 2023 we launched ‘Green Knavesmire 300’ demonstrating our commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2040, with these new editions from GroundTech playing their part in this wider goal.”

Together with the expert support from the team at GroundTech and Echo, Adrian is enjoying exploring the full functionality of the software, allowing him to monitor the robots 24/7. “I’m not sure I should admit this in print, but I find I’m on the app at four in the morning, making sure everything is going according to plan!” he laughs. “But it is very useful, being able to see things like the battery life etc. Every day we’re taking the opportunity to learn more about them and really bed them into our routine before the season kicks off in May.”

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Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour

Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour: We are thrilled to announce the Harrier Pro® Tour, an exclusive event designed for landscape professionals to experience the next generation of lawn care. This tour is a unique opportunity to see how your valuable feedback has shaped the Harrier Pro® series, and to witness the innovative advancements we’ve made.

Discover the Latest in Harrier Pro® Innovation

Join us to explore the groundbreaking new rear roller design that brings a whole new dimension to lawn striping. This innovation sets a new industry standard and promises to make a significant impact on your landscaping projects.

Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour

Experience the Future of Lawn Care with Harrier Pro® Tour

Craig Hoare, Sales and Marketing Manager, shares his excitement: “We are incredibly excited to bring the Harrier Pro® Tour to landscape professionals across the country. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the new Harrier Pro® series, and we can’t wait to show you how these innovations can make a real difference in your work. This tour is a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.”

Join Us on the Harrier Pro® Tour

The tour will take place across 8 venues from March 3rd to March 14th, 2025. Each event will be informal and relaxed, with light refreshments provided. You will have the chance to meet our engineering and design team, who are eager to discuss how these advancements can help your business thrive.

Make It a Day to Remember

This event is not just about showcasing a product; it’s about giving you the opportunity to get hands-on, ask questions, and connect with the team behind the innovation. We are excited to hear your thoughts and are confident that you will leave with a fresh perspective on how the Harrier Pro® can elevate your work.

Event Details:

Time: 10 am – 3 pm

Venues:

  • March 3rd: Toro UK Limited, Bishops Stortford
  • March 4th: Dale Hill Hotel & Golf Club, Ticehurst
  • March 5th: The Hamworthy Club, Bournemouth
  • March 6th: Fulford Heath Golf Club, Birmingham
  • March 11th: Heyrose Golf Club, Knutsford
  • March 12th: Pavilions of Harrogate, Harrogate
  • March 13th: Newark Showground, Newark

Secure Your Spot Today

We would love to see you there. Visit our website to reserve your place and for full details on each venue. Spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up soon to avoid disappointment.

For more information, please visit www.hayter.co.uk

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George Browns delivers the full package

George Browns delivers the full package: A package of Baroness and Kubota equipment, supplied by George Browns Ltd, is playing its part in the ongoing investment and development across 11 courses that make up Mytime Active.

More than just supplying first-class machinery, Regional Grounds Manager for the midlands Dave Cole emphasises the importance of the ‘outstanding’ back up support and service they’ve received from all George Browns departments which has helped to keep their ambitious maintenance plans on track.

George Browns delivers the full package

George Browns delivers the full package

Mytime Active comprises of 11 sites – offering nine and 18-hole rounds together with footgolf at locations throughout Birmingham, Bromley and Hampshire. Specifically in the midlands under the remit of Dave and his team of 20 are six courses, three of which are the beneficiaries of the latest batch of machinery upgrades. “In taking our greenkeeping practices to new heights, we’ve completely re-kitted out three courses with the expert help of George Browns” he explains.

“Our experience with them as a dealer has always been second to none; whether that’s William Montgomerie giving us the tailored, expert advice when it comes to machine specification and on-site training, or James Bailey in their Daventry service department who is phenomenal at technical support. As we all know, the grass doesn’t stop growing if your equipment goes down! George Browns understand the pressure of time and the importance of getting fast answers, resolving any issues quickly and going above and beyond to get us up and running.”

The new fleet of equipment installed in September 2024 consists of a Baroness GM2810, LM331 and two LM311 all-hydraulic triplex mowers along with an RTV-X1110 from Kubota. “We’ve run Baroness mowers for years and find them to be bulletproof.” Dave continues, “The cutting cylinders are industry-leading and we’ve definitely witnessed a reduction in disease occurrence on our greens because of the outstanding sharpness and cut quality.”

“The Baroness machines alone give us fantastic versatility on our fleet. They’re capable of working on all ground conditions, and by adjusting the height of cut we can mow multiple areas on our multiple sites to a very high level.”

On his Kubota RTV-X1110, Dave describes it as a fantastic all-rounder! “Like the Baroness machines, the RTV is incredibly comfortable and easy to operate, and it’s become our main method of transporting people and materials around the course. It was thoroughly put through its paces over the wet autumn and winter months and it never let us down, no matter how wet it was.”

He summarises, “As we continue to develop our sites around the country, we’re delighted to have the right equipment and support around us thanks to George Browns, helping us to achieve our goals both on and off the course.”

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Mansfield Sand the Unsung Hero

Mansfield Sand the Unsung Hero: At Warwick Schools Foundation, where sports and recreation are integral to student life, maintaining high-quality pitches and grounds is essential.

This responsibility falls to Grounds Manager Duncan Toon and his dedicated team of seven, who oversee the upkeep of the expansive sports facilities across each of Foundation schools – Warwick Preparatory School, Warwick Junior School, The Kingsley School, King’s High School, and Warwick Senior School.

Mansfield Sand the Unsung Hero

Mansfield Sand the Unsung Hero

Central to their maintenance strategy is the use of Mansfield Sand’s MM40 sand.

MM40 Sport, sourced directly from the renowned Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield, is renowned for its superior quality and consistent performance. This medium sand – part of Mansfield Sand’s esteemed Mansil range – is designed for the maintenance and renovation of sports surfaces.

Its fine texture and exceptional drainage properties make it the preferred choice for elite sports venues across the country, including at Warwick Schools Foundation.

“I’ve always used Mansfield Sand, even when I was in my previous job at Birmingham City FC, and it has always performed well,” says Duncan.

The Foundation’s maintenance schedule relies heavily on sand application: “We have 400 tonnes delivered in the summer across the site, 120 tonnes in October, and depending on wear, another 120 to 200 tonnes in April”, Duncan outlines. “We do have a good profile here, but the more sand we can incorporate into our maintenance, the better.”

The importance of sand goes beyond general maintenance: “The biggest problem we have at the moment, even with the schedule that we have, is worm casts”, Duncan notes.

“Incorporating more sand into the profile helps with worms because if we can get a sandier top layer, it disperses the worm casts a lot more effectively when brushing. It also aids with drainage and deters birds when overseeding by covering the seed better.”

Duncan relies on MM40 on the majority of the Foundation’s sites, including on their cricket outfields, rugby pitches, and football pitches.

“The thing with sand”, Duncan reflects, “is that it might not be the most talked about product, but it is a vital part of maintenance programmes – and it certainly helps us to prepare for so many fixtures. The more games we put on, the happier people are.”

With its proven reliability, high-quality, and effective results, Mansfield Sand continues to be an indispensable partner for Duncan Toon and his team; ensuring that the grounds at Warwick Schools Foundation remain in top condition year-round.

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

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

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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In the Medals!

In the Medals: Turf Matters was delighted to learn that a panel of international judges had placed us third best Turf Magazine on the web.

The listing comes from FeedSpot, an Indian-based agency which discovers, categorises and ranks blogs, podcasts and influencers in several niche categories and which has been producing listings since 2012.

In the Medals!

In the Medals!

This latest recognition comes on the back of a series of writing and design awards that the magazine has won over the last five years.

  1. Stadia Magazine
  2. Turf & Rec Magazine
  3. Turf Matters
  4. Turf Magazine
  5. Lawn & Landscape
  6. The Landscaper
  7. Landscape Management
  8. Total Landscape Care

For more information visit www.feedspot.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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