Tag Archive for: Wins

Jon Cole wins Toro’s Green Blazer Award

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Jon Cole wins Toro’s Green Blazer Award: Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager for Reesink Turfcare, exclusive distributor for Toro commercial machinery in the UK, has been named the recipient of the Toro Green Blazer Award for 2025.

This isn’t ordinary Toro attire, a green blazer has to be earned. The award for Toro Equipment Sales is presented during the company’s annual worldwide distributor business meeting, which is held in conjunction with the GCSAA show in America, and recognises individuals who are contributing to the industry, demonstrating leadership and showing commitment to customers and customer relationships, all with commercial success.

Jon Cole wins Toro's Green Blazer Award

Jon Cole wins Toro’s Green Blazer Award

Greg Lawrence, General Manager of the International Division of The Toro Company, who presented the award to Jon, says: “Throughout his career, Jon has demonstrated unwavering commitment to customers, colleagues, and the Toro brand.

“He played a pivotal role in securing the landmark ten-year Total Solutions partnership with The Grove. Working closely with Toro, he helped develop a partnership proposition that extended well beyond equipment, including residual value strategies, customer engagement initiatives, education programmes, and the use of The Grove as a flagship showcase venue. These combined efforts overcame strong competition and secured long-term success.”

The Toro Green Blazer Award is presented to a member of the Toro channel who has demonstrated excellence and achievement in selling Toro commercial equipment. It is awarded just once a year and represents a high level of performance, customer impact, and outstanding accomplishment.

Alastair Rowell, Managing Director of Reesink UK, says: “Jon’s career began with John Shaw Machinery in 2007 and progressed through Reesink following its acquisition in 2014, ultimately becoming Divisional Business Manager in 2022. A natural leader, Jon keeps teams aligned and informed, ensuring confidence across the sales organisation.

“It is an honour for this award to come to the EMEA and to win is a great achievement, not only for Jon personally but also for Reesink UK as a company. I have worked with Jon for many years and to see his hard work recognised on this level is fantastic. He deserves huge congratulations.”

The award also shows recognition to the top level of Commercial Equipment sales and development of new business opportunities. For Jon, “it was a surprise and an honour to have my name read out at Toro’s distributor awards during the GCSAA show in Orlando. I’m extremely proud to have received this recognition from Toro and although it is an individual award, it is in my eyes more of a reflection on the effort and dedication shown by the whole team at Reesink UK.”

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GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award

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GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award: GroundsFest has been recognised for its exceptional contribution to the groundscare and landscaping industry, having won the Industry Impact Award at the EN Indy Awards.

The Industry Impact Award celebrates an exhibition or trade show that has demonstrably changed, influenced, or significantly contributed to the growth and advancement of the industry it serves – and in just three years, GroundsFest has done exactly that.

GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award

GroundsFest Wins Prestigious Industry Impact Award

Since its launch, GroundsFest has grown into the UK’s largest industry event, uniting professionals and volunteers from every corner of the groundscare and landscaping sectors. From live machinery demonstrations and hands-on experiences to its unique combination of business, education, and entertainment, the event has created something truly special for the industry.

The judges praised GroundsFest for its genuine connection to its audience and the positive change it continues to deliver. Feedback included:

“The event really has its ‘roots’ in its target audience and is making a significant impact on the industry.”

“Support for their audience extends beyond the focus of business needs. The GroundsFest Academy is a great initiative, which shows a forward-thinking strategy of impacting the next generation.”

“This event clearly demonstrates support for its community. Measurable impact delivered and fantastic feedback received.”

Judges were particularly impressed by the fact that profits from the show are reinvested back into the industry.

That commitment is brought to life through the GroundsFest Academy, an educational initiative designed to give back to the industry by providing free training and development opportunities for professionals and volunteers alike. The Academy offers hands-on workshops, expert-led seminars, and interactive demonstrations.

“It’s great to see we’re making a difference,” said Christopher Bassett, Event Director of GroundsFest. “When we launched the show, we wanted to create something that genuinely supported the industry – not just for today, but for the future. GroundsFest, and the Academy, are about helping to put the industry on the map, providing opportunities for learning, and inspiring the next generation of professionals to come through.”

This latest recognition cements GroundsFest’s reputation as an event that not only celebrates the industry but actively helps it grow. With a firm focus on community, education, and long-term progress, GroundsFest continues to make a lasting impact.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfestacademy.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on X, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFestAcademy for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee

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Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee: Wilkinson Sword is delighted to announce that its innovative Hori Hori Trowel has been awarded the New Product Award 2025 in the Tools & Machinery category at Glee 2025. The prestigious awards recognise the very best in gardening innovation, celebrating products that combine thoughtful design, functionality and exceptional durability. 

The Hori Hori Trowel stands out as a masterfully designed garden companion, seamlessly blending the functions of a trowel and a knife into a single, versatile tool. Lightweight and compact, it is easy to manoeuvre while remaining robust enough to handle a wide range of gardening tasks. Its dual-sided stainless steel blade, with one side serrated and the other sharpened, allows gardeners to dig, cut, prune and harvest with precision. An easy-to-read depth gauge ensures accurate planting, while the comfortably contoured wooden handle provides a secure grip for extended use.

Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee

Hori Hori Trowel wins big at Glee

Built for durability and resilience, the Hori Hori Trowel features a rust-resistant, weatherproof stainless steel blade and comes with a protective pouch with a secure hook-and-eye closure for safe storage. This combination of quality materials and thoughtful design make it an indispensable tool for gardeners seeking efficiency and versatility in one compact package.

Mark Hewett, Sales Manager for Garden Tools & Accessories for Wilkinson Sword commented: “We are thrilled that our Hori Hori Trowel has been recognised at the Glee New Product Awards. This accolade underscores our commitment to creating tools that are not only functional and durable but also makes gardening more enjoyable and accessible for enthusiasts of all levels.”

The Hori Hori Trowel is part of Wilkinson Sword’s Stainless Steel range. For more information and to explore the full range, visit: www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk.

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STIGA Wins Innovation Award at GroundsFest 2025

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STIGA Wins Innovation Award at GroundsFest 2025: The STIGA team is proud to announce that their Large Format Robot has been awarded the Innovation Award for Best Grass Cutting Equipment at GroundsFest 2025.

Designed for managing very large areas with efficiency and precision, the Large Format Robot combines advanced robotics with sustainable technology. Equipped with a full suite of object detection and proximity sensors, an integrated camera, and unlimited operational capacity, the robot sets a new standard for professional turf management.

STIGA Wins Innovation Award at GroundsFest 2025

STIGA Wins Innovation Award at GroundsFest 2025

Commenting on the award, Amanda Kincaid, UK Marketing Manager for STIGA, said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have received the Innovation Award for Best Grass Cutting Equipment at GroundsFest. Gardening is evolving rapidly—it’s no longer just about tools, but about creating smart, sustainable solutions that adapt to every need. At GroundsFest 2025, we showcased our vision for the future with groundbreaking robotics, forward-thinking innovation, and exciting new products.”

She added: “Stepping into the professional segment is a natural progression for us—a clear expression of both our ambition and our commitment to shaping the outdoor spaces of tomorrow.”

This milestone marks STIGA’s official entry into the professional market, building on the brand’s 90+ years of expertise and leadership in the transition to electric solutions for gardening. At GroundsFest, visitors experienced live demonstrations of STIGA’s professional innovations, including the award-winning Large Format Robot, the all-electric STIGA ePark Pro front mower, and the new ePowerBattery Pro.

Looking ahead, STIGA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sustainable gardening through robotics and battery technology. Visitors were also given a preview of next-generation solutions currently in development, including new autonomous and battery-powered mowers powered by the ePowerPro system, set to launch in 2026.

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Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim

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Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim: A non-league football club groundsman has lit up social media with his latest pitch-mowing creation.

Joe Mecke-Davis looks after the pitch at Westfields FC in Hereford and posted an image on X of his beloved pitch ahead of the club’s first pre-season game.

Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim

Westfields groundsman wins social media acclaim

Read the full story here

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