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No sleepless nights with MM50

No sleepless nights with MM50: Jamie Foyster, owner of Sportsturf Management, has revealed that he has been sleeping that little bit easier since using MM50 grass seed.

Jamie began maintaining cricket pitches at the age of fifteen and has done so his whole life. In the early years it started as a hobby but in 2012 he acquired Sportsturf Management and has worked full-time on cricket pitches ever since.

No sleepless nights with MM50

No sleepless nights with MM50

Sportsturf Management currently provides all year-round pitch management for four clubs as well as carrying out end of season renovations for approximately twelve more. When Jamie is not providing first class management, installation, and repair of cricket pitches, he somehow finds time to be the Chairman of the Essex County Groundsman Association.

Jamie first turned to MM50 ten years ago after trialling various brands of seed. It was the seed which impressed him the most and he has used it ever since.

MM50 possesses exceptional shoot density along with tolerance to close mowing making it particularly suitable for cricket squares. This superior mix contains the perennial ryegrass cultivars, Singapore, Venice, Alison and Malibu, which are renowned for providing a great sward for cricket use. Singapore is a fantastic cultivar for cricket partly due to its ability to recover from play and wear very quickly meaning that wickets can be back in play quicker after use.

“We use MM50 across all of the grounds we look after,” said Jamie. “For the end of season work we will generally overseed every square – and then during the season, there might be a few ends which need topping up a little bit just to thicken them out. We might also use it later in the season to get the grass back in the foot holes to repair them and level them off.

“In terms of the grass plant the MM50 produces, you get very good root depth and density, which gives it its brilliant wear tolerance. I have one pitch where they had six days of cricket and between the five-foot markers, the important bit in the middle of the pitch, it was still good grass coverage. This shows you how strong the plant is and that’s what you want, because sometimes the weather dictates that you must use a pitch more than you want to.”

MM50 is also treated with HEADSTART® GOLD – a unique seaweed-based seed treatment which helps to ensure rapid and even germination. This tried and tested grass seed treatment helps the seed get off to the best possible start – making it ideal to use in the less than favourable conditions that can sometimes be found on cricket pitches during renovations.

“When there is rain, I can get MM seed up to about an inch within a week and that is without a germination sheet or a pre-seed fertiliser,” continued Jamie. “MM50 germinates really quickly, and you don’t have any sleepless nights.

“We also get great customer service which helps, and Matt Gresty (MM Sales and Brand Manager) is so down to earth. I’m a small customer that doesn’t compare with some of the massive sites that use MM seed, but Matt often calls me to find out how everything is going and is always quick to offer his advice.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed.

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Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand

Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand: Visitors to the Mansfield Sand stand (OSA260) at GroundsFest can expect to see a wide range of sand-based products that are vital to the overall health and performance of a sports pitch.

Mansfield Sand has pioneered the development and production of premium silica sand-based products for over 170 years. The company provides a wide range of innovative products for sports, landscaping, and equestrian uses. These include stadium and training ground facilities; championship golf courses and world class show jumping arenas.

Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand

Boost your surfaces with Mansfield Sand

The company’s leading experts will be on hand at GroundsFest to explain how some of the following products could make a difference to your sports turf projects.

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

Sourced from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the Mansil range of Silica Sands is produced. These products are predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces – from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

Fibresand

A pure sand and polypropylene fibre reinforcement product that is particularly advantageous when grass cover has been reduced due to heavy usage and wear during the winter period. Incorporated into an upper sand soil rootzone and consolidated to provide a stable divot-free environment.

Fibre Reinforced Rootzone

A range of Fibre Reinforced Rootzones developed to obtain greater use from natural turf surfaces whilst maintaining the high standards demanded by today’s sports industry and meeting the expectations of ground staff at all levels. Mansfield Sand’s fibre reinforcement technology provides stability and durability to all sand dominated Rootzones allowing the pitch to remain free draining and consistent over the whole surface.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Mansfield Sand understands exactly what is needed to achieve the surface that turf managers require week-in-week-out and that is why their rootzones contain only the best quality materials to meet that demand. For renovation or construction, the company’s superior rootzone blend Mansil 40 Silica Sand with a quality screened topsoil, guarantees the perfect start.

Sand Compost Rootzones

A range of premium quality sand organic material blends which are perfect for creating a rootzone where an organic rich material is required within the profile, aiding in the retention of nutrients whilst providing increased drought resistance.

Top Dressing

Produced for the fine turf market, Mansfield Sand’s Soil Top Dressing is a manufactured homogenous product made from their own premium silica sands combined with top quality soils. All passed through a sterilising unit, over a 3mm screen to produce an easy to spread, stone and pebble free dressing.

Mansfield Sand can also produce bespoke dressing blends and combine soil amendments into any product.

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

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

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ISEKI partnership with Northampton Saints RFC

ISEKI partnership with Northampton Saints RFC: Iseki UK & Ireland is delighted to announce that it has signed a five-year partnership Agreement as Official Agricultural and Turf Care Machinery Supplier to Northampton Rugby Football Club at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton.

Under the Agreement Iseki will supply tractors, mowing machines and electric vehicles to the Club, for use by the grounds maintenance and stadium teams in their work around the prestigious site.

ISEKI partnership with Northampton Saints RFC

ISEKI partnership with Northampton Saints RFC

The Partnership also covers Iseki’s range of agricultural machinery, which will be showcased at events such as the annual ‘Farmer’s Day’ at the Club.

David Withers, Managing Director of Iseki UK & Ireland said “The opportunity to work with such a respected and long-established Club is very exciting for both me and the team at Iseki.

We have historically had a close relationship with England Rugby and now directly supporting one of the top Rugby Premiership clubs offers us the opportunity to use the facilities at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens to showcase our machinery to both existing and prospective customers.

We have supplied Saints with an Iseki TG6687 HST 67hp tractor with loader, which will be used for both on and off pitch work, one of our excellent SXG327 54” ride-on grass collecting mowers and a TXGS24 sub-compact tractor for use on the High-Performance Centre’s indoor pitches. Other products will be used by the Club at various points in the year.

Anthony Shepherd and Simon Tunn from our local dealer, P.A Turney Ltd., were extremely helpful in introducing us to Saints’ Head Groundsman, Andy Miller, and the rest of the management team at the Gardens, who share our excitement at being able to work together going forward. We will certainly be making extensive use of the facilities for both match days utilising our box, and for events and meetings at the Club in the future”.

From L to R – Anthony Shepherd Sales Manager at Turney Group, Andy Miller Head Groundsman NRFC, Alan Prickett Sales Director at Iseki UK & Ireland, Simon Tunn Area Sales Manager at Turney Group.

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Yamaha partners with Henton and Chattell

Yamaha partners with Henton and Chattell: Yamaha has partnered with Nottingham-based ground care specialist Henton & Chattell to extend its dealer network. The new appointment will provide enhanced customer service in the East Midlands region for Yamaha ATV, side-by-side and golf car customers.

Commenting on becoming a Yamaha dealer, Henton & Chattell Managing Director Peter Chaloner said:

Yamaha partners with Henton and Chattell

Yamaha partners with Henton and Chattell

“We are excited to be working with Yamaha and filling a gap in our product range with one of the biggest brands in power products. We have had countless enquiries about ATVs, off-road leisure, and utility vehicles, so this partnership has come at an opportune moment.”

Yamaha’s Area Sales Manager, Carl Stuart commented on the partnership saying:

“Henton & Chattell will provide a first-class service to Yamaha customers and we are looking forward to working with the team and building our partnership in the future.”

Henton & Chattell was started by Peter’s grandfather Leslie Henton and Charles Chattell. Today Peter and his two sons, Harry and Jonathan, and wife Elizabeth, are all involved in the business. The business is no stranger to the demands of servicing a wide range of customers as it currently supplies other ground care products from several leading brands.

“We have a history of building long-standing relationships in the region. We carry over 50,000 parts and offer service and support all under one roof. In addition, we also have proactive sales and service technicians who can help customers both at our dealership and remotely,” he explains.

Yamaha vehicles will further support Henton & Chattell’s growth in the agricultural sector. The business will also supply Yamaha’s industry-leading golf car, becoming a Yamaha Service Dealer for golf products.

“We appreciate that Yamaha vehicles carry out demanding work and we are ready and willing to help Yamaha customers old and new to get the most out of their vehicles,” he adds.

The Nottingham showroom will open in the autumn with a full complement of Yamaha vehicles for customers to view and test drive. Henton & Chattell also plans to open a second dealership soon.

“We hope to bring our new dealership on board later in 2023 so that we can service customers over a wider area. Partnering with Yamaha is a big step for us and adding another premium brand to our portfolio is an exciting move that we hope will benefit both businesses,” he concludes.

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Kubota UK sponsorship agreement with Hickstead Ltd

Kubota UK sponsorship agreement with Hickstead Ltd: Kubota UK are delighted to have entered into a sponsorship agreement with one of the country’s most recognisable and well-respected equestrian sporting venues, the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, with an agreement which sees the supply of additional machinery support for their busy 2023 events season.

With sponsorship of a further eight machines, Hickstead are operating a fleet of 15 Kubota units including compact tractors, RTV’s and ride-on mowers which will be pivotal to preparations, including for the Longines Royal International Horse Show on the 26th – 30th July.

Kubota UK sponsorship agreement with Hickstead Ltd

Kubota UK sponsorship agreement with Hickstead Ltd

“Our facilities include grass and all-weather arenas, and an outdoor showground which is mainly grassland and typical Sussex countryside” explains Showground & Estate Manager William Bunn.

Spread across hundreds of acres, the grounds team of 14 have a vast and varied workload and, since taking delivery of a fleet from Kubota, have not been disappointed. “We have multiple operators, with differing levels of experience, who have all commented how intuitive and well thought out the Kubota machinery is to operate. The ease of access for daily checks and maintenance proves that the range is designed with the operator as a priority.”

Kubota’s sponsorship and additional event support sees Hickstead running 15 machines in total, including M Series tractors, LX Series compact tractors, RTV side by side machines and ride on mowers, in use across the estate as the team ramp up preparations for a packed calendar of events. “One of the noticeable differences with moving to Kubota is the strength and high level of build quality across the range.” William adds, “From a management point of view, the machines have proven to be extremely reliable – our down time has reduced and when we have needed advice, the support from our local dealership, Rod Gaskin Ltd, has been faultless.”

“I look forward to building our relationship with Kubota as they help us to deliver world class events.”

Phil Catley, Kubota Groundcare Product and Key Account Manager added, “Supporting these events at Hickstead with the help of Rod Gaskin Ltd is a great way for us all to increase brand awareness and build new and existing relationships with some of the very best in the equine sector.”

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