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Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship

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Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship: For the first time ever, the British TIMBERSPORTS® team will feature a female competitor when they travel to Milan for the biggest event of the logger sports season, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship later this month. Taking place in Milan, Italy, the 20th World Championship promises to have audiences on the edge of their seats at the Allianz Cloud Arena on 24th and 25th October. 

Following the British TIMBERSPORTS® Championship in June, a selection process took place to decide which athletes should represent Great Britain in the Team event. Glen Penlington secured his place early after winning his fourth British Championship in a row, with personal best times in two of the four team disciplines. But a surprise option for selection was Women’s Champion, Rachel Ferrington from Hay-on-Wye, after she delivered a blistering, new Women’s World Record in the Stock Saw discipline.  It took her just 8.82 seconds to cut two discs, or ‘cookies’, with a STIHL MS 661 chainsaw, which ended up being the fastest time of the whole Championship weekend, and secured her a deserved place on Team GB.

Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship

Team GB travel to Milan for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship

Each nation can take five athletes, plus a rookie competitor, as part of their team, so with Penlington and Ferrington confirmed, four other spaces were available. Alongside 2025 Rookie Champion Rowan Luxton, the final names added to the team sheet were Team GB regulars Rob Chatley from Hanley Broadheath in Worcestershire, Graham Turner from Penicuik, Scotland and Tom Redmond from Bere Regis, Dorset.

In the Team event, the athletes complete four TIMBERSPORTS® disciplines in a relay; the Stock Saw, the Underhand Chop, the Single Buck and the Standing Block Chop. Each team competes in head-to-head heats against other national teams, with the slowest team knocked out and the fastest team moving on to the next round. All six competitors have been training hard in a series of training camps in the months prior to the Championship, in the hopes of improving on their 13th placed finish last year.

“Bringing Rachel into the team adds a fresh face and a new dynamic at the training camps. She is relatively new to the sport, but has trained really hard and has also competed in two other international TIMBERSPORTS® competitions already this year, which has given her valuable experience.” said Vicky Tween, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Team Manager.

Female athletes have competed in the Team World Championship before, but this will be the first time that a woman has been part of the British team. Ferrington is in good company though; three other national teams feature female competitors this year, and she’ll be hoping to make her mark on the world stage in Milan. Rookie athlete, Rowan Luxton, from Llandrindod Wells in Powys, will also be excited to join the British Team for the first time after his impressive win in the British Rookie Championship.

Penlington, Chatley, Turner and Redmond have all represented Great Britain at the World Championship before, but they know that there is always room for improvement, which is why the training camps are so useful for working on everything from the changeovers between disciplines to the team morale. Whilst they are all fierce rivals when competing against each other in the British Championship, they will need to come together in Milan if they want to deliver their best result.

If you want to see where Team GB place in the 2025 TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship, you can watch the full competition live on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® YouTube channel from 7pm on Friday 24th October.

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John Wells to become BIGGA president

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John Wells to become BIGGA president: A Master Greenkeeper with more than four decades of experience across the world has accepted the nomination to become President of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) in 2026.

John Wells, 66, has immediately stepped into the role of BIGGA President Elect, supporting current President Ronnie Myles for the remainder of his term. He will be formally appointed BIGGA President at the association’s Annual General Meeting, taking place online in January.

John Wells to become BIGGA president

John Wells to become BIGGA president

As BIGGA President, John will act as an ambassador for the association, representing BIGGA at events across the UK and overseas. He will also join the Board of Management, using his extensive experience to help guide the association in its mission to support and develop greenkeepers and turf professionals.

John was so surprised to be offered the presidency that he was initially in disbelief. He said: “I was quite taken aback when I received the call from Ronnie Myles to ask if I’d consider the position. At first, I thought it might be a wind-up from some mates! But once I realised it was genuine, I was over the moon. I’ve been on Cloud Nine ever since.

“It’s a tremendous honour and I am delighted to have the opportunity to give back to an industry that has given so much to me. I’m a firm believer in education and that is something I am keen to champion during my spell as President,” he said.

John’s greenkeeping journey started at Welwyn Garden City, where his early promise was recognised as he ascended to the role of Head Greenkeeper at just 20 years of age. He spent 16 years there before moving to Brocket Hall, where he oversaw major course developments.

He achieved Master Greenkeeper status in 1995 and left Brocket Hall in 2010, with John’s 18 years there having also seen him posted to Cyprus, Russia, France and beyond to oversee projects. His final port of call was South Herts Golf Club, where he retired in 2023.

“We are delighted that John has accepted the Board’s invitation to serve as President for 2026,” said BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton. “John has had a lengthy and storied career in greenkeeping and has always been a highly engaged member of BIGGA.

“As only the 10th member at the time to earn the Master Greenkeeper designation, he exemplified high standards, and his knowledge and expertise are still in strong demand after his retirement from full-time course management.

“I am looking forward to spending time with John throughout his presidency year at the various events we attend and within the boardroom, where his experience and wise counsel will be an undoubted asset.”

Throughout his career, John has been a passionate advocate for education and mentoring. Many of the team members he trained have gone on to become course managers themselves, while others now work around the world. He continues to support and advise greenkeepers through consultancy work and his close involvement with BIGGA.

“Education has always been at the heart of BIGGA, and that’s something I care deeply about,” he said. “When I started out, there were very few training opportunities. The development of structured education within the association has transformed the profession, and I’m proud to have seen that evolution firsthand.”

Although retired from full-time course management, John remains heavily involved in the sport. He consults at a 36-hole course near his Hertfordshire home, looks after two cricket squares, and travels regularly to visit his son, Harry, who is Golf Course Superintendent at Dubai Creek Golf Club.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work in some incredible places, but what I’ve always enjoyed most is helping others succeed,” he said. “To be invited to serve as BIGGA President is a huge honour, and I’ll do my utmost to represent the association and its members to the best of my ability.”

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Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim

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Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim: Woolley Park Golf Club in Wakefield has long been a family-run facility built on pride, passion, and constant improvement – and Course Manager John Rowbottom believes one piece of machinery has raised their maintenance standards more than most: the Redexim Top Brush 6000.

Introduced in 2020 as a solution for everything from disease control and surface preening to pre-cut preparation and top-dressing integration, the Top Brush 6000 has since become a fixture at forward-thinking turf facilities around the world. And since investing in one of the first units in 2022, Woolley Park Golf Club has never looked back.

Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim

Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim

“We jumped in with both feet,” says John. I’d seen it advertised when it got launched and thought, that’s a piece of equipment I need to look at. We’d just come out the other side of losing chemical control for worms, which I appreciate is the right way to go – but it was a big problem for us, and Redexim solved it better than anyone.”

Initially purchased to tackle the frustrating and unsightly problem of worm casts on fairways, the Top Brush quickly proved itself a versatile, season-round asset.

“I was thinking purely autumn and spring use pre-mowing to clear worm casts, reduce mess and prevent damage to machinery,” he explains. “But it’s turned out to be far more than that. The level of presentation we now get on a day-to-day basis is unreal. It’s not just helping with the problem – it’s improving how the course looks.”

With its three independently adjustable poly brush units and a 6-metre working width, the Top Brush 6000 can quickly and evenly sweep large areas, removing moisture, worm casts, surface debris and more. The result? A clean, healthy sward with improved airflow and reduced disease pressure.

“We’re running it on the fairways at least two out of the three times a week we cut them. It stands the grass up beautifully before mowing, helps us remove moisture, and just lifts the overall finish of the course.”

The Top Brush 6000 is designed for turf managers who need performance without compromise. The hydraulic brushes can be rotated in either direction, meaning operators can choose whether to brush with or against the direction of travel – ideal for tasks like leaf clearance or removing pine needles in tree-lined areas.

At Woolley Park, where 27 holes are spread across historic deer parkland, this flexibility has been key.

“We’ve even run it across tees where possible, although it’s mainly the fairways where it shines,” John says. “It’s really helped increase sward density through gentle brushing, and it even improves recovery after top dressing.”

Despite its size, the Top Brush 6000 was built with usability in mind. Its folding wings allow for compact storage, while easy adjustments and intuitive controls mean any team member can use it with confidence.

“When we brought it in, I got the lads a new tractor to run it with. Now, it’s just part of the routine – any of the team can jump on it and go. It’s simple in its operation, and that’s one of the best things about it.”

The Rowbottom family has deep roots in both agriculture and golf. The club was founded in 1995 after John’s grandfather decided to diversify from farming – despite never having played a round of golf in his life.

“We’ve been farming here since 1922. In the mid-90s, Granddad just plucked the idea of a golf course out of thin air. None of us played, but farming wasn’t in a great place, and diversification was being encouraged so he went for it. It was a huge leap, but it worked.”

Today, John runs the greenkeeping operation, while other family members help manage the business. The club continues to invest heavily in its machinery and course infrastructure, working closely with suppliers like Redexim.

“We’ve had Redexim kit on site in some form or another for years. But the Top Brush 6000 has probably stood out more than anything we’ve had before. It solves multiple problems in one go, and you can’t argue with results like that.”

Whether it’s the improved presentation, increased machine longevity, or the ability to tackle worm casts without chemicals, the Redexim Top Brush 6000 has become an invaluable part of Woolley Park’s turf care toolkit.

“It’s one of those machines where you look back and think, how did we manage without this? It’s paid for itself in time, results, and in how it protects the rest of our machinery. It’s helped us push the golf course forward and that’s what it’s all about.”

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/ 

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Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX

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Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX: SALTEX will once again provide the perfect platform for Kubota UK to showcase a comprehensive range of professional groundcare equipment when the show returns to The NEC on the 12th and 13th November. Visitors to stand E060 can expect to find products from the RTV, compact tractor and mower portfolios, with Kubota’s expanded zero-turn range promising to be one of many highlights.

Combining exceptional manoeuvrability with first class cut quality, Kubota will be bringing not one but THREE zero-turn mowers to SALTEX! Launched last summer, the Z4-541 is a 54” petrol model which boasts outstanding versatility, ease of operation and a large chassis to deliver excellent productivity to the pro-consumer market. From the diesel range, the well-established ZD-1211 provides comfort and fast working with excellent fuel efficiency, meeting all the needs of the commercial operator.

Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX

Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX

Last but not least, the Kubota ZE-481 delivers the performance and precision required of a professional zero-turn mower, in a sustainable, battery-powered package. With zero emissions at the point of use and significantly reduced noise output, the ZE-481 allows grounds teams to work in noise-sensitive environments such as schools, hospitals and public parks without disruption.

Also taking centre stage in the SALTEX Community Sports Zone will be the Kubota EK1-261 HST. Easy to operate and built with capability in mind, the EK1-261 HST is perfectly suited to grassroots sports facilities – offering Kubota reliability and back-up support in an entry-level set-up that promises unbeatable return on investment.

Complementing these will be a selection of Kubota compact tractors and utility vehicles from the RTV range. Kubota will also be joined on stand by representatives from Terrako – Kubota’s new online ordering software for genuine parts – and Baroness, making E060 a ‘one stop shop’ for high performance power and implements suited to all applications and every grounds maintenance professional.

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GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX

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GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX: GKB Machines are pleased to be returning to SALTEX in what is a special year for the company as they celebrate 10 years of their UK operation. Stand A080 promises to encapsulate the very best of innovation, growth and partnerships from the last decade – including the new Deep Clean for synthetic surface maintenance which will be making its global debut.

While GKB Machines was founded in 1946, the dedicated UK division was only established in 2015, which makes the growth and the success of GKB in the UK grounds management industry even more impressive! Under the stewardship of Tom Shinkins, GKB has gone from strength to strength, with equipment from their natural and artificial portfolio finding homes with professionals at all levels – from grassroots facilities to elite venues around the country.

GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX

GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX

At SALTEX, one of the latest additions to that range will be on show in the form of the new Deep Clean. A core part of the GKB synthetic maintenance range for many years, the Deep Clean has been enhanced and redeveloped in collaboration with SMG. The next generation machine will be available in 1.2m, 1.5m and 1.8m working widths and will offer improved cleaning and maintenance performance on all types of synthetic surface.

Developed with grassroots facilities in mind and showcasing the very best in GKB engineering, visitors can also expect to see the GKB Combitool. Providing the perfect partnership of versatility and efficiency, the Combitool features four attachment slots which can be quickly and easily tailored to the needs of any facility. Suitable for natural and hybrid surfaces, operators can rake, roll, slit and brush in a single pass making it ideal for community clubs and smaller venues looking for professional results at an accessible price.

See the range first hand and celebrate a decade of turf maintenance excellence with the GKB Team with a stop by stand A080 when SALTEX returns to The NEC this November.

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