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TWO-MINUTE UPDATE
2
MINUTE UPDATE
GMA AND INDUSTRY NEWS
LTA PLANS TO UPGRADE FACILITIES AT NOTTINGHAM TENNIS CENTRE
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has taken over the long-term lease and management of Nottingham Tennis Centre from Nottingham City Council and has pledged a major upgrade for the 39-court facility.
The national governing body was keen to protect the important tournament and tennis venue and, following successful negotiations, it took over the 150-year lease and site operation from 1 May.
Immediate upgrades will include resurfacing the outdoor hard courts, upgrading the floodlights, installing new fencing and upgrading the existing air bubble covering three courts.
Over the next 12 months, there will be further development on site including the installation of four indoor courts under a new bubble.
Gary Stewart, LTA head of operations, said: “This move will allow us to safeguard [the venue’s] future, and the changes will help us support the thriving community tennis programme and provide infrastructure for events throughout the year.”
The report into women’s football will look at achieving greater parity with the men’s game
Government to launch review domestic women’s football
This summer, the government will begin an in-depth review of domestic women’s football, which will look at how to deliver growth at both elite and grassroots levels.
Independently chaired and supported by an expert advisory panel, the review comes before England hosts Euro 2022 in July, which will be broadcast across the BBC. It is expected to look at how to achieve greater parity with the men’s game – focusing on commercialisation, spectator support and media interest.
It follows the fan-led review of football governance, published last November by ex-sports minister Tracey Crouch, which recommended a review of the women’s game. Findings are expected to be published by the end of the year.
Campey Turf Care expands down under
Campey Turf Care Systems has grown its products and services provision into Australia, where it will collaborate with dealers to provide machinery and customer service.
The Australian arm will be overseen by Campey product specialist Rob Jenkins, who is based in Melbourne and brings 20 years of international consultancy and sales experience at top stadia and golf courses. During his time in the UK, Rob worked with Campey and gained a ‘sales apprenticeship’ from company chairman Richard Campey, making him the perfect candidate to lead the expansion.
Meanwhile, back in the UK, Campey has bolstered its customer support with the addition of four new team members.
Workshop manager Bob Nixon, outside service engineer Dave Juke, sales demonstrator Archie Thomas and product specialist Tom Weston join Campey as the company expands into its new premises. The second Campey branch, which is also based in Macclesfield, includes a showroom and retail shop, as well as additional servicing facilities.
Rob Jenkins will head up Campey in Australia
Places and Spaces receives funding boost
Sport England’s Places and Spaces fund is being increased to £7m to help communities across England benefi t from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Originally launched in November 2021, with £3.5m to cater for organisations from the West Midlands, the government funding agency is committing additional National Lottery funding to extend the money available to help community organisations make small-scale facility improvements. It is hoped that Birmingham 2022 will be a catalyst for improving community sport.
The fund is now available to applicants nationwide, but Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear, and Tees Valley have been specifi cally selected for targeted investment as these have been identifi ed as areas of underrepresentation in activity fi gures, which were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commenting on the funding, Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth said: “Birmingham 2022 will be a festival of sport at the highest level, but for its true impact to be felt, it must also be used as a catalyst to help communities all over the country get active, connect and have fun.
“By making our Places and Spaces fund available nationally and focusing on areas with the greatest need, we’re allowing organisations to provide brilliant new facilities in their local area to allow everyone to enjoy sport and get active.”
SEAN LOAKES JOINS SYNGENTA TEAM
Sean Loakes has been appointed as Syngenta professional solutions technical manager for the UK and Ireland.
His appointment will enable the existing Syngenta His appointment will enable the existing Syngenta technical and business team to offer further specialist trials expertise, and develop new integrated solutions for turf, landscape, ornamentals production and pest control. He will also support Glenn Kirby, technical manager for turf and landscape across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in environmental science and research through practical field trials and laboratory studies, primarily focused on pesticide efficacy and best practice.
David Withers appointed AEA president
The Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) has appointed David Withers, MD of ISEKI UK and Ireland, as its president.
David has been an active member of the AEA on the Outdoor Power Equipment Council since 2000 and this is his second term as a board member.
Commenting on his new appointment, David said: “It’s an honour to be appointed to this role at what is truly a time of change. New technologies are driving change at
ever greater pace and with possible post-Brexit standards’ divergence, the supply chain crisis and the war in Ukraine, the AEA has never been more important to its members.”
David entered the industry as a demonstrator at Charterhouse Turf Machinery before embarking on a 25-year career at Textron, where he had various roles including eight years as MD of Ransomes Jacobsen, followed by six years as US-based president of Jacobsen. For the last four years David has been back in the UK with his new company, ISEKI.
