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Tributes Paid To Greenkeeper

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Tributes Paid To Greenkeeper: Tributes have been paid to a father and golf club greenkeeper who was tragically killed in a tree felling incident.

Martin Davenport, 35, of Pasture Close, Kelsall, died instantly under a falling tree at an address in Brown Heath Road, Christleton, on Sunday, January 7.

A former Tattenhall resident, Martin worked as a greenkeeper at Eaton Golf Club in Waverton. He is survived by his eight-year-old daughter Isabelle, ‘Izz Bizz’, to whom he was devoted. He had remained friends with her mum Laura.

His long term girlfriend Megan Grindley is devastated, as are his parents Kathy and Shane and sister Sian.

Megan, who has created a sideshow of memorable images of their time together, wrote on Facebook: “Until we meet again, baby. Thank you for walking into my life and sharing all of these unforgettable memories with me. I will cherish every moment I spent with you for the rest of my life. Sleep tight, Martin.”

Craig Longton commented: “I lived in Tattenhall for over 10 years and worked with Marty on the fencing with Mave. I just want to say how sorry I am for your loss. He was such a nice, genuine lad and looking at your video, you made him very happy, so sorry again.”

Martin had worked as a greenkeeper at golf clubs in the area including Carden Park and Vale Royal Abbey but kept returning for stints at Eaton Golf Club in Waverton where he was affectionately known as their ‘prodigal son’.

In a message to members, secretary/manager Kerry Brown wrote: “He started with us in 2001 aged 18, having begun his greenkeeping career at Vale Royal Abbey GC. He has left Eaton more than once since then to try other careers, always involving work outdoors, but he kept coming back – to a genuine welcome.

“He has worked in agricultural groundwork and fencing, he ran his own gardening business for a time, and of course as a greenkeeper.

“Each role taught Martin new skills which he, as a hard-working and committed staff member, was able to use to great effect, whether that be operating a large digger; working up to his welly tops in liquid concrete; or carrying out all aspects of a greenkeeper’s role.

“Martin was a considerable and popular asset to the course team. He was also well-known to club members for his abilities as a freelance gardener. He frequently sported a knowing grin which always left one wondering what it was that he knew that we didn’t. Whatever it was, he had a rare talent to ensure that everyone was happy with the outcome.”

Kerry said it was ‘very hard to take in’ that Martin’s untimely death was caused by a falling tree while working as a private contractor. She told The Chronicle he ‘will be missed by us all’ and said the ‘thoughts and condolences’ of the club went out to his grieving family.

His funeral will take place on Friday, January 26, at Brown Knowl Church at 10.30am (Chester Crematorium at 12pm for family only). A gathering will then take place at Eaton Golf Club. Family flowers only. Donations are welcome for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Following the tragic loss of Martin, the club Captain and Lady Captain has invited members to join them in a collection for the benefit of Martin’s daughter ‘Izz Bizz’. The collection box will be located in the bar and close on Friday, February 2.

A Cheshire police spokeswoman said: “The death is not being treated as suspicious and a case file will be prepared for the coroner. The Health and Safety Executive have been informed of the incident.”

An inquest into the death was opened on Thursday, January 11.

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Tribute To John Harriss

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Tribute To John Harriss: John Harriss, a lifelong Bournemouth supporter who once held roles at the club as both head groundsman and referee liason officer, has died at the age of 88.

John, who spent 37 years as the club’s groundsman, passed away on Sunday evening, hours after watching Bournemouth record a historic first win over Arsenal at his home.

Back in 2013, John was awarded with a high commendation for the Unsung Hero Award at the Football League Awards in London, and has been a regular visitor to the Vitality Stadium this campaign.

An AFCB Club statement read:

“The club would like to offer their sincere condolences to John’s family and friends, and thank him for his hard work and commitment during all of his years with the football club.”

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Fence To Protect Cricket Club

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Fence To Protect Cricket Club: A new fence is set to be constructed around a cricket ground in order to stop vandals driving across the field after a series of attacks.

Officials at Green Lane Cricket Club in Nunroyd Park, Yeadon, believe they are being targeted by someone with a grudge after persistent vandalism over the last few months.

 

CCTV images have captured a 4×4 being driven repeatedly over the ground in the latest incident, churning up the soil and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The club was already facing a bill of more than £1,000 from the recent attacks.

Now ward councillors Graham Latty, Pat Latty and Paul Wadsworth have announced they will pay for a fence to protect the ground.

Cllr Graham Latty said: “I and my colleagues have spent a lot of time and money recently in trying to make Nunroyd Park more accessible to more people. Now it is really depressing to find that there are people in Aireborough who just don’t give twopence for the pleasure of others and drive cars all over the grass, ruining the surface.

“So we have decided to use some of the Section106 money from housing developers to install a fence to stop cars from getting into the park. We can’t afford to completely ring the park with fencing so are putting it where it will have most effect, alongside the access road up to the pavilion.

“There have been protests on Facebook that we are wasting money and should just stick large rocks in place to block access and these might stop cars but would not stop bikes and quads. We value the visual appearance of the park and believe that a low fence will not only look better but will be more effective and will not inconvenience walkers.

“This will happen as soon as the parks team can fit it into their schedule.”

A camera at the club captured the latest vandalism, at about 2am on Sunday, showing a light coloured 4×4 with darker colouring down the side.

Groundsman Tommy Powell said: “You can see the number plate, but it is too far away to see the number. It is definitely the same person – and this time it is the worst of the lot.”

“I just feel like walking away now and saying I have had enough. We think it must be someone with a grudge against the club.

“I have to admit I had tears in my eyes when I saw it. I was just lost for words really. They are going to make it unplayable.”

In November Mr Powell appealed for help in catching the hooligans who had left eight-inch deep tracks in the field by driving a vehicle onto it for the fifth time in four weeks – leaving the club with an anticipated bill of well over £1,000. The ground will need to be repaired in the spring, but Mr Powell said they will struggle to meet the cost.

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Banner Maxx II Set To Launch

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Banner Maxx II Set To Launch: Banner Maxx II is a new formulation of the tried and tested fungicide, which has been created in order to deliver even faster uptake into the plant and tackle disease infection inside the leaf – before it is able to damage turf plant health.

Set to be launched at BTME 2018, the high-performance formulation delivers over 130% faster uptake of the active into the leaf, compared to original Banner Maxx.

Banner Maxx II Set To Launch

The enhanced formulation has assured the renowned fast-acting product’s continued availability for golf courses and all amenity turf situations. It maintains the full range of Syngenta turf fungicides, to give protection throughout the year and enable an effective disease resistance strategy.

BTME visitors can get to see how new Banner Maxx II can be integrated into a strategic fungicide plan for their own individual situation – and pick up a Syngenta Fungicide Planner wall poster – on Syngenta stand B52.

Syngenta Turf Technical Manager, Marcela Munoz, highlighted the new Maxx formulation has been designed specifically for turf to offer exceptional plant safety. Manufactured to nanotechnology particle size, the active can quickly enter the leaf and move to new growth.

“Once safely in the leaf, the active targets disease pathogen cell membranes and stops development of early mycelial growth,” she advised. “It is well proven on a broad-range of turf diseases, including Anthracnose, Dollar Spot, and Brown Patch, as well as Microdochium Patch.”

Marcela outlined R&D trials at Colne Valley Golf Club in Essex demonstrated results with Banner Maxx II were unaffected by simulated heavy rainfall just 15 minutes after application. The trial showed the treatment prevented the development of Microdochium Patch (Fusarium) outbreak at less than 0.5%, compared to over nine per cent on untreated turf.

Daniel Lightfoot, Syngenta UK Turf Business Manager, advocated the fast uptake makes Banner Maxx II especially effective to take advantage of spraying opportunities during wet weather conditions highly conducive to disease, and means it is unaffected by irrigation scheduling.

“It’s rapidly taken up even in relatively cool conditions, making it well suited to strategic planned treatments in early spring or late autumn, as well as right through the growing season to counter specific threats,” he reported.

“The investment to reformulate Banner Maxx II to meet increasingly stringent regulatory demands is another example of Syngenta support for turf mangers, in seeking to ensure they have a full range of fungicides available to maintain turf health and quality.”

For more information, visit: www.syngenta.com

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MJ Abbott Return To BTME

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MJ Abbott Return To BTME: MJ Abbott will be returning to BTME 2018 in Harrogate, bringing with them over 25 years of experience in golf course construction, renovation maintenance and irrigation.

Over this period the company has gathered invaluable experience across all aspects of golf course construction and maintenance, but also the art of first-class customer service and delivering exactly what clients request.

MJ Abbott Return To BTME

This ethos has seen some major recent projects including Royal Norwich Golf Club’s new £10 million course and club house, with MJ Abbott undertaking the £4.5 million land redevelopment. This project is joined by works at Skipton Golf Club, Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, Sunningdale Golf Club and Queenwood Golf Club to name a few.

Being able to meet the needs of the customer is important for all jobs, but none more so than building a new course. All of MJ Abbott’s qualities as a contractor were required when it came to being awarded this contract, and Peter Todd, estates manager and director of Royal Norwich Golf Club Limited explains what contributed to the Norfolk club awarding the work.

“We looked at level of resources, how much labour was in house and how much was sub-contracted, financial stability of the company, their track record and reputation,” Peter said. “So, there was a whole host of measures in place and it was scored by a professional panel.

“A major benefit for MJ Abbott was that they could offer the irrigation along with drainage and construction, because it meant we only needed one contractor on the course and kept everything within the one team.”

Being able to offer every service allows MJ Abbott to work with clients large and small, with greenkeepers from all courses welcome to speak to our experienced staff on stand A49.

For more information, visit: www.mjabbott.co.uk

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