The Groundsman December 2019

THE

GROUNDSMAN WWW.IOG.ORG

DECEMBER 2019 £4.00

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN GROUNDS MANAGEMENT LOCAL HERO

Meet IOG Awardwinning volunteer Andy Cambridge page 22

F O P O T N O E M A G R I THE S 20 19 TH E IO G AW AR D

ners at the in w e th ll a g n ti ra b le Ce wards 2019 IOG Industry A

I N SIDE

HELP WITH FLOODED PITCHES UPGRADE YOUR SKILLS WITH IOG COURSES PRODUCT SHOWCASE: NEW LAUNCHES FROM SALTEX ESSENTIAL JOBS FOR JANUARY

Contents REGULARS

December 2019 PRODUCT SHOWCASE

05 Welcome

Record-breaking attendance at SALTEX

Products on show at this year’s SALTEX page 33

06 Update

The latest news from the IOG and the world of turf care

10 GaNTIP update

Helping clubs to restore their grounds after floods

11 Grow with the IOG

Take advantage of the wealth of IOG education courses

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33 Product showcase

Some of the new products that were on show at SALTEX

39 In Action

The Lensbury opts for Jacobsen

42 Tools and guidance

Turf care advice for January

FEATURES 12 IOG Industry Awards 2019 Discover the exceptional players in groundscare

22 Andy Cambridge

ON THE COVER

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Celebrating the best of our industry with the winners of this year’s IOG Industry Awards (p12)

Meet the IOG award-winning volunteer groundsman

27 Tech update

Are you clear on the laws of using red diesel?

28 SALTEX 2019 review

Re-live the highlights of the the biggest event in turf care

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THE GROUNDSMAN

Editorial address: 28 Stratford Office Village, Walker Avenue, Wolverton Mill East, Milton Keynes MK12 5TW t: 01908 312511 Managing editor Karen Maxwell e: kmaxwell@iog.org t: 01908 552987 Features editor Colin Hoskins e: editor@iog.org t: 07785 293077 Product editor Lizzie Hufton e: lizzie.hufton@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk t: 01225 337777 IOG membership and general enquiries t: 01908 312511 e: membership@iog.org Magazine subscriptions Jo Cornford t: 01908 312511 e: accounts@iog.org Subscriptions £72 UK, £82 Europe, £112 rest of world Publisher James Houston Head of design Simon Goddard Group ad sales manager Mark Durham e: mark.durham@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk t: 0203 859 7097 Published by James Pembroke Media The Groundsman is published monthly by the Institute of Groundsmanship. All material is copyright of the Institute of Groundsmanship and may not be reproduced without permission. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any advertisement appearing in the journal and cannot be held liable for editorial omissions or errors. The views expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Institute of Groundsmanship.

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Welcome

Contributors

Record attendance for SALTEX

Karen Maxwell Managing editor

This year’s SALTEX once again proved to be the industry’s showcase event with over 500 brands on display and a record-breaking 9,104 visitors, including attendees from Continental Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

Indeed, as soon as the doors opened on the first day of the event, there was an electric atmosphere with groundscare enthusiasts swarming into the NEC halls eager to see and hear about the latest and most technologically advanced innovations in grounds management.

Colin Hoskins Features editor

The IOG Awards – hosted on the evening of the opening day of SALTEX

by BBC TV presenter Dan Walker – were described as the best yet, and we witnessed a great night celebrating our professional and volunteer grounds people. Devonshire Park’s head groundsman Danny Negus was a deserving ‘overall winner’ (collecting the IOG Ransomes/DLF Johnsons Alex R Millar Groundsperson of the Year in recognition of his achievements after 14 years at the tennis venue, including the last three years as head groundsman), and his humble and shocked reaction was a particular highlight of the evening.

Jason Booth IOG director of technical and learning

The event also gave us the opportunity to remember some of the industry figures who sadly passed away this year, and this included the announcement that former AELTC head groundsman Eddie Seaward MBE would be the first to be inducted into the IOG Hall of Fame, which will be fully launched next year.

Dan Prest IOG head of technical and learning

2020 is going to be an interesting year for many reasons, so watch this space. It will also be the 75th anniversary of SALTEX. Have a great festive season.

Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

Geoff Webb Chief Executive The Institute of Groundsmanship

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Update

READ MORE

IOG NEWS

Read all the latest news and updates, and discover what members are entitled to www.iog.org

THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM THE IOG AND THE INDUSTRY

DISTRIBUTION DEAL

TORO AND ID VERDE JOIN FORCES

The Amenity Forum supports preventative weed management

AMENIT Y FORUM

Amenity Forum urges ‘back to basics’ approach THE AMENITY FORUM has urged grounds managers to go ‘back to basics’ in a panel discussion held at SALTEX last month.

John Moverley, chair of the Amenity Forum, said it was important to take an integrated approach to managing amenity spaces.

The Amenity Forum has produced a guidance document to assist in producing integrated weed management plans (IWMs) across all areas of amenity, together with a template to help in their construction.

A supporter, Parks for London, is also working with the Forum producing a document to help in constructing policy statements on IWM. The Forum has also worked closely with the sector to develop the Amenity Standard, which will be fully launched at the start of 2020 and will act as a mark of quality, like the Red Tractor in food and agriculture.

John Moverley said: “Taking integrated approaches to amenity management should be the norm and, for those concerned with or

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employing operators for amenity management, I would urge you to seek those signed up to the Amenity Forum aims and objectives and following our code.”

UPDATING EVENTS 2020: SETTING THE STANDARD The Amenity Forum is running 12 free Updating Events from January to April: 30 January Harper Adams University, HAU, Shropshire 4 February Scottish Government, SASA, Edinburgh 18 February Parks for London, City Hall, London 20 February Rigby Taylor, Dunmow, Essex 27 February Complete Weed Control, ICC, Newport 4 March Progreen, Lincolnshire March, TBC IOG, Midlands 24 March DLF Seeds, Cheltenham 26 March Mulholland Consultants, Oxford Science Park, Oxford 31 March Complete Weed Control, Carville, Durnham TBC April ICL, Northern Ireland 14 April Green-Tech, Arkendale, York

ID VERDE, EUROPE’S largest provider of grounds maintenance services and landscape construction projects, has signed a three-year contract with The Toro Company to supply its full range of products, including mowers and landscape contractor equipment, throughout its network in the UK, France and the Netherlands.

Andy Brown, corporate accounts manager at The Toro Company, said: “Both companies have a long history of being committed to quality, environmental responsibility, customer relationships and putting safety first. We’re looking forward to supplying id verde with the products and support it needs to build on that legacy moving forward.”

IN THE BAG

PERENNIAL HELP UK TOPSOIL AND topdressing supplier British Sugar TOPSOIL has partnered with Perennial, the charity for horticulturists and their families, to help boost funds by donating £1 for every bulk bag of its topsoil sold from now until September 2020.

British Sugar TOPSOIL supplies many thousands of tonnes of its product to schemes across London, East Anglia and the Midlands, several thousand of which are supplied in bulk bags.

Bulk bag topsoil orders can be placed by calling 0870 240 2314.

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NEWS

PESTS & DISEASES

Eco-solution for Japanese knotweed waste

NEW STADIUM

VOTE OF SUPPORT

Japanese knotweed could be turned into a useful soil additive

JAPANESE KNOTWEED REMOVAL firm Environet UK has developed a method for converting waste from Japanese knotweed and other invasive plants into biochar, a charcoal used as a soil amendment.

Vast swathes of Japanese knotweed are thriving along the UK’s railway lines, waterways, verges, in parks and on public land. Excavation is an alternative to the environmental hazards associated with traditional herbicide treatments, but most plant waste currently ends up in landfill.

Environmental scientist Nic Seal, founder and MD of Environet, has been testing ways of converting knotweed rhizome, roots and canes into biochar by heating it in the absence of oxygen. This process

kills the plant and also removes the naturally occurring tars to leave carbon in the form of charcoal. The charcoal has a honeycomb-like structure which can be charged up with additives such as liquid organic fertiliser to make an excellent soil amendment.

Environet has filed a patent for the method and apparatus used, and plans research to improve the efficiency and scalability of the process.

Nic Seal, MD of Environet, said: “Ultimately, I believe all knotweed material could be converted from a biologically active pest into carbon gold. Not only would this save a considerable amount of money, but there would also be a very clear positive benefit to the environment.”

TRAINING

REESINK REFRESHER COURSES REESINK TURFCARE HAS added 12 practical refresher courses to its machinery and equipment training offering for 2020.

The one-day operational and service courses are for those who need the latest knowledge or have previously completed the relevant two-day course, but need to refresh their skills.

There are 12 refresher courses in total. Six are provided by LANTRA, the land-based and environmental training body, and relate to operational aspects of turf care machinery maintenance, such as equipment installation training, the safe use of ride-on mowers, compact tractor driving, the safe use of pesticides, and the sprayers and handheld applicators used in administering these chemicals.

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THE DESIGN FOR Everton FC’s new £500m stadium has received a “huge vote of support” from the public, according to the club. More than 43,000 people responded to a public consultation and 96 per cent of respondents want The People’s Project – the combined stadium development plan and redevelopment of the existing Goodison Park site – to continue.

TRADE SHOW

TURF MAINTENANCE MORE THAN 130 delegates attended Turf Maintenance Live at St Albans School in October to see a mix of equipment. Visitors were able to visit each of the exhibitors – Agria UK, Ernest Doe & Sons, GKB Machines, Husqvarna UK, Iseki UK, Martin Lishman, Price Turfcare (Ventrac), Rigby Taylor, Wessex International and Wiedenmann UK – to see their equipment and in some cases test the machines on display.

GRASS ROOTS

GROUNDS SEMINAR

The one-day course aims to update operators’ skills

There are another six manufacturer-backed training days from Reesink and Toro in relation to Toro diagnostics and info centre training, plus training on the customer’s choice of any greens, fairway, rotary, cylinder or flail mower or utility vehicle.

For more information, go to reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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DELEGATES FROM ALL levels of the profession attended a seminar at Charterhouse in Surrey. Topics discussed included fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides, grass seed and aeration. The seminar was put together by a group of grounds managers from schools – Charterhouse, Whitgift, St Paul’s, Christ’s Hospital, Cranleigh, Reed’s, The Royal Grammar School (RGS), New Hall and Harrow – and the organisers hope it could become an annual event. twitter.com/the_iog

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U P D AT E

NEWS

MOVERS & SHAKERS Meet the people taking on new challenges in the industry

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4 JO BARNETT

MTD SPECIALTY TURF Products has announced the appointment of Oliver Hall into their Territory Sales Team. Oliver joins as sales manager for the Midlands region, a role which will see him providing sales support to dealers and a wide variety of customers, across both the Cub Cadet Infinicut and TMSystem product ranges. Oliver’s first step into the industry was as a school groundsman, a position he held for six years, before becoming a sales manager with a leading line-marking supplier to the sports turf sector.

THE TRUSTEES OF Fields in Trust have announced that Jo Barnett, executive director of Virgin Money Giving, has taken over as chair of trustees.

Jo developed, launched and led Virgin Money Giving and also headed up Virgin Money’s sponsorship of the Virgin Money London Marathon.

Jo said: “Parks and green spaces are vital to community health and wellbeing and form part of the solution to public health challenges, including inactivity, obesity, mental wellbeing and loneliness. My own experience and working with the London Marathon has reinforced to me the need to provide people with green space and room to exercise wherever we live. I am looking forward to building on the long history of Fields in Trust to ensure future generations continue to enjoy green spaces for good.”

Jo takes over from Tim Phillips CBE, who is stepping down after six years as chair of trustees.

MTD SPECIALTY TURF PRODUCTS

FIELDS IN TRUST

Oliver Hall

2 JASON MOODY CAMPEY

Jason Moody

CAMPEY TURF CARE Systems has appointed Jason Moody to cover Wales, the Midlands and West Cheshire. Jason brings almost three decades of greenkeeping experience to the Campey team having started in the industry aged 16 as an apprentice at Royal St David’s Golf Club. He continued honing his skills over the years, before moving back to North Wales to be closer to his family. Over the next 13 years, he gained sales experience and returned to greenkeeping at Plassey Leisure Park, Wrexham.

3 PETER A. EASTON IRRIGATION CARRICK SPORTS CONSTRUCTION

CARRICK SPORTS CONSTRUCTION has acquired Peter A. Easton Irrigation, a company formed in 2005 that specialises in high quality irrigation and construction solutions for a range of football, rugby and natural landscape projects. Peter Easton will join Carrick Sports Construction as business development/ irrigation manager and will support Carrick’s ongoing strategic growth across the UK. Carrick Sports’ managing director, Stewart Aird, said: “Peter brings with him 32 years of experience which will enhance the service we are able to provide to our customers.”

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Jo Barnett in Portsoken Street Gardens, London, one of the 2,809 green spaces protected by Fields in Trust

Peter Easton

U P D AT E

NEWS

Bob Smith 1942-2019 OBITUARY

Remembering the achievements of a pioneering football groundsman

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roundscare stalwart Bob Smith served the IOG – and the industry – for more than half a century, including being chairman of the Derby Branch (which eventually merged with the Nottingham Branch to form the East Midlands Branch) for over 50 years. Here, Colin Hoskins revisits his interview with Bob in 2014, when he looked back on his time as head groundsman at Derby County FC and revealed how his actions then impacted many of today’s groundscare routines.

When Bob Smith talked about his 16 years as head groundsman at Derby County’s Baseball ground, he reflected as much about how he enjoyed working with team manager Brian Clough as he did about his work in groundsmanship. Never mind the fact that he was the first groundsman to soil test on a regular basis, the first to use an automatic overseeder, the first to manage a sandfilled pitch and one with automatic pop-up sprinklers, and the first to sow a football pitch with pure ryegrass.

Bob preferred to talk about his experiences under Cloughie: “Brian or ‘Boss’ as everyone called him, was a very generous person and he was concerned about everybody at the club – not just the players.”

Bob joined the club when he was 24, having worked at a British Rail cricket ground

“When I joined Derby County in 1967, I was told I’d never be able to grow grass at the ground”

Bob was awarded the IOG Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015

for two years and before that nine years at the Co-operative (nee CWS) nursery in Derby. “This was the largest nursery in the country and had extensive facilities for seed testing and plant trials plus a laboratory.

Working in every department, I gained a vast amount of experience there both in terms of horticulture as well as groundscare as we were also charged with landscaping tasks as well as sports ground maintenance. We also provided advice for the care of playing surfaces. The CWS wanted me to go to college but I was so busy ‘out on the ground’ I never got around to that.”

Within 12 months, the cricket ground was hosting lots of major competitions – for bowls as well as cricket – including allEngland finals, yet his tenure there came to an end after being ‘asked’ to use an inferior sand for dressing. “I would never lower my standards,” he says, “and the disagreement over the sand coincided with Derby County advertising for a groundsman.”

He continues: “When I joined Derby County, in 1967, I was told that I’d never be able to grow grass at the ground.

“Being next door to a foundry, the ‘earth’ was primarily sulphur and sand – and when I arrived the perennial sward, what there was of it, was overwhelmed by a knotweed.

Also, the design of the stadium allowed very little wind on the pitch. The drainage was atrocious, too. In wet weather the pitch was a mass of mud, and I remember one Christmas when I viewed the pitch there was not one blade of grass there!” And who remembers Derby’s game against

Manchester City in 1977 when, because of the mud, Bob was televised painting in a penalty spot?

“I used to test the soil at least every month to make up for any deficiencies. I also rejected the traditional overseeding practice of rotavating and seeding with a chain harrow. I thought it would be better to seed by hand and the pitch came up like a bowling green. Thereafter I used the Contravator overseeder (I was the first in the country to do so), a machine that created the slits/slots that the seed was dropped into.”

The improvements with the playing surface were complemented by the team’s performances on the pitch, and under Brian Clough Derby County won the Second Division Championship in 1968/69 and three years later topped the First Division.

“When we won the First Division I was told I could have a new pitch, though I said I didn’t want one. However, the club went ahead and installed a solid sand pitch. Pop-up sprinklers were also installed, the first in the country, and we sowed a pure ryegrass mix, again being the first in the country to do so.

After leaving Derby County Bob established his own landscaping and sports ground maintenance company but he looked back on the Baseball Ground with fondness.

“The work there was certainly a way of life.

On match day it was not unusual for me to be at the ground at 4am, and at the start of my career there I was certainly multi-tasking – which on one occasion actually saw me delivering transfer papers to a player. And I don’t regret one minute of it.”

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Clubs should approach their sport’s national governing body for initial advice after �ooding

By Jason Booth IOG director of technical and learning

SUPPORTING FLOODDAMAGED CLUBS Alongside helping to improve playing surfaces, regional pitch advisors also offer advice to clubs in times of adverse weather conditions – including recovery from the aftermath of flooding

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any sports clubs will be left with variable degrees of flood damage to their playing surfaces and facilities at this time of year – ranging from pitches having a layer of silt to facilities facing pitch repair bills potentially costing thousands.

Offering practical advice, via the County Cricket Boards and County Football Associations, Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) regional pitch advisors will be doing all they can to ensure these clubs will be able to host matches as soon as possible. But this will, of course, depend on a number of factors: the grounds need to dry out; weather conditions need to improve; and when will any adequate funding and support will be available?

“The advice provided will be dictated by the level of damage” 10 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

The advice provided will be dictated by the level of damage, but could include: Ensure that the pitch area is clear from contamination; this will need to be checked with the local council/ environmental departments in conjunction with your individual sport’s national governing body’s local representative.

Remove all localised debris from the pitch (such as stones and sticks). This can be removed using a small digger, laying boards where needed to limit the damage to the soil structure. All debris must be removed from the pitch and the surrounding area.

After the debris has been removed, the pitch surface will have a layer of silt which will need to be removed – achieved by using a tractor-mounted turf planer until the layers of silt and grass are removed down to the sandy soil. The pitch then may require a full renovation.

All the above should form part of a regional approach that includes seeking direction from your national governing body of sport in the first instance.

GaNTIP regional pitch advisors will always be available to help, and IOG members can also use our Ask the Expert service, but please also visit these websites for advice:

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www.sportengland.org/facilities-andplanning/further-guidance/flood-guidance/ – where there are also some useful guidance sheets that Sport England has put together in conjunction with a number of national governing bodies for sport. The site also provides a downloadable template to help clubs find out if their facilities are at risk of flooding. https://www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/clubsupport/club-facility-management/flooding

NEW YEAR, NEW SKILLS

GROW WITH THE IOG

There are many cost-effective and accessible training and education options open to groundscare professionals and volunteers wanting to enhance their personal development

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By Dan Prest IOG head of technical & learning

any industry educational achievements were recognised at this year’s SALTEX and the IOG Industry Awards; Leicester City FC’s Callum Allsop – who is currently seeking accreditation to Level 3 in Sports Turf Management – was named the IOG Toro Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year and five land-based college teams entered the SALTEX College Cup competition, while a host of SALTEX visitors made enquiries about training and education on the IOG stand.

And now, as grass growth slows for the winter, grounds teams will start to think about developing themselves. Often one of the questions raised concerns methods of learning. Should a college or a training provider be used? What options are available online? Is distance learning feasible?

UK groundscare has never enjoyed a broader education offering than there is today, especially as technology develops to allow teams to explore new avenues for training and education. Importantly, the IOG ensures that everybody is given impartial advice – we will not ‘push’ you down the IOG training and education route if we don’t think it is appropriate.

Rewarding personal development gains can be achieved if you consider the options available from either college-based apprentices, full-time further and higher education, or IOG training courses and qualifications.

Each college-based apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training plus an amount

There are many di�erent options available for grounds keepers to update their skills

SHOWCASE FOR TRAINING SALTEX ONCE AGAIN proved an amazing showcase of the sector’s many and varied training and education routes – indeed, for those individuals already registered for CPD, their attendance at the show (and at the various seminars) also earned them valuable points.

The show also highlighted how the IOG’s Pitch Grading Framework embraces all the approaches mentioned, which between them offer a great deal of options and levels to study. of college-based/visiting assessor carrying training in the workplace. They are a great way to source new staff and to train them on the job.

Equally useful, especially for school leavers, is college-based further education. The industryspecific Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications are academically comparable to GCSEs and A Levels.

Many colleges offer routes into horticulture and sports turf.

Normally degree or foundation degree courses and higher education routes typically require attendance at a college or university, though some colleges do provide distance-learning packages. This education route is open to people from all backgrounds, even if you do not have any formal qualifications – each application is viewed on merit and experience.

Present-day IOG training courses are run regularly and each typically occupies just one day. These are ideal for the volunteer. Courses cover pitch care advice for the maintenance of bowling greens, cricket pitches and winter pitches (football and rugby) to reinforced pitches, artificial surfaces, 3G pitches, and racecourses and grounds.

Expert industry tutors and examiners support each IOG qualification, which are new and updated versions of the historical National Technical Certificate, National Intermediate Diploma and National Diploma.

Email the IOG at learning@iog.org or call 01908 552982, if you would like further advice and guidance on planning for next year’s training.

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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 11

INDUSTRY AWARDS

EVERYONE’S A WINNER!

The 2019 IOG Industry Awards recognised the expertise, dedication and innovation that characterise the UK groundscare industry at every level, and highlighted the progress and achievements of young grounds professionals

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S A LT E X REVIEW

Highlights from the 2019 event page 28

INDUSTRY AWARDS

More than 600 people from the industry attended the awards ceremony

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n a prestigious ceremony hosted by BBC TV presenter Dan Walker at The Vox, located in Resorts World at the NEC, Birmingham, the awards were presented in front of an audience of more than 600 of the UK’s and Europe’s leading groundscare experts, as well as dignitaries from the governing bodies of sport and influential sports administrators. Turn the page to see the worthy winners collecting their accolades.

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INDUSTRY AWARDS

IOG AWARD WINNERS 2019 1

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Toro Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year Callum Allsop, Leicester City FC Callum (second left) receives his award from Toro’s national account manager – grounds, Alastair Rowell (second right), Pam Sherratt, sports turf specialist, The Ohio State University (right) and BBC TV presenter Dan Walker (left).

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Rigby Taylor/ Top Green Young Grounds Person of the Year Nick Pepper, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club Nick Pepper Snr (centre) receives the award on behalf of his son from Chris Clark, executive chairman of Rigby Taylor (right).

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IOG Volunteer Sports Grounds Team/Individual of the Year Andy Cambridge, Foxton FC, Cambridgeshire Andy (centre) collects his award from Paul Thorogood, CEO of the Football Foundation (right). Read more about Andy on page 22.

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National Governing Bodies’ Community Sports Club Grounds Team/Individual of the Year Harborough Town FC, Leicestershire Harborough Town’s head groundsman Kez Dunkley (centre) receives his award from Sport England technical team lead, Tony Atherton (right).

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INDUSTRY AWARDS

IOG AWARD WINNERS 2019 5

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AMS Robotics Public Sector Sports Grounds Team of the Year Prestige Grounds, Wiltshire Prestige Grounds’ director Bradley Anderson (centre) collects the award from Philip Sear, chief executive, AMS Robotics (right).

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IOG Bowling Grounds Team/ Individual of the Year Polly Bowls Club, Sutton-in Ashfield Polly Bowls Club’s John Brunt (centre) collects the award from IOG CEO Geoff Webb (right).

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SCH Supplies Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year Warwick University The Warwick University team collect their award from former IOG chair David Teasdale (right) and former Sport England CEO Jennie Price (second right); head groundsman Charlie Yeomans (second left), deputy head groundsman Gavin Courtney (third left) and senior groundsman Trevor Brooks.

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Ransomes Environmental and Ecology Project of the Year The City Football Academy, Manchester Manchester City FC’s landscape contract manager, Daniel Lewis (second left) and id verde team leader Dan Cranmer (second right) collect the award from William Carr, Ransomes’ regional sales director, UK & Ireland (right). www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 15

INDUSTRY AWARDS

IOG AWARD WINNERS 2019

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Headland Amenity Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year Sussex County Cricket Club Andy Mackay (centre) Sussex CCC head groundsman collects the team award from Headland Amenity’s Alex Hawkes, technical sales manager, sports turf (right).

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CubCadet INFINICUT Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year Devonshire Park, Eastbourne The Devonshire Park team receive their award from Cub Cadet Infinicut’s director of sales & marketing Tony Whelan (far right).

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John Deere Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year Warwick Racecourse John Deere’s territory customer support manager, Iain Booth (far right) presents the award to the Warwick Racecourse team, from left: apprentice Luke Randall, head groundsman Guy Woodward, and groundsmen Paul Delaney and Simon Lloyd.

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INDUSTRY AWARDS

IOG AWARD WINNERS 2019 12

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IOG Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year Castleford Tigers, West Yorkshire Castleford Tigers’ head groundsman Stuart Vause (centre) collects the award from John McMullen, projects & partnerships manager at the Rugby Football League.

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Compo Expert Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team of the Year Northampton Saints Compo Expert’s head of global turf, Dr Fritz Lord (far right) presents the Northampton Saints’ grounds team with their award – from left: Andrew Miller, head groundsman; Ollie Deeming, deputy head groundsman; David Cox, assistant groundsman; and apprentice Jack Beal.

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IOG Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year Swindon Town FC Swindon Town FC head groundsman Marcus Cassidy (second right) and apprentice Connor Collins (second left) collect their award from the Professional Footballers’ Association’s assistant chief executive, Simon Barker (right). www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 17

INDUSTRY AWARDS

IOG AWARD WINNERS 2019 15

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SGL Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year Tottenham Hotspur FC SGL Lighting’s area manager, Simon Gumbrill (far right) presents the award to members of Tottenham Hotspur’s grounds team – from left: Gary Lee, cohead groundsman at the stadium; Paul Jones, head groundsman at the club’s training ground; Wayne Billing, co-head groundsman at the stadium; and John Mantripp, senior groundsman at the training ground.

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Redexim Charterhouse/ Kubota University/College Grounds Team of the Year Nottingham University Nottingham University’s sports ground manager Greg Smith (second left) and grounds maintenance manager arboriculture & landscape David Beadle (centre) receive the award from Curtis Allen (far right), business development manager, Redexim Charterhouse and Phil Catley (second right), Kubota’s dealer manager.

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Growth Products Independent School Grounds Team of the Year Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh Merchiston Castle School’s head grounds person Michael Yan Hip (second right) and deputy head grounds person Stuart Chalners (second left) receive the award from Growth Products’ international agronomist, Keith Giertych (right).

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INDUSTRY AWARDS

IOG AWARD WINNERS 2019 18

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Award

SIS Grass International

Dean Gilasbey, ProPitch

Sports Labs’ Eric O’Donnell (centre) collected Dean’s award from SIS director Phil Blackwell (right).

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The Alex R Millar DLF/ Johnsons & Ransomes Groundsman of the Year

Danny Negus, Devonshire Park Danny (second left) receives his individual award from Ransomes’ regional sales director, UK & Ireland William Carr (second right) and Derek Smith, DLF Johnsons’ amenity sales & marketing manager (right).

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INDUSTRY AWARDS

IOG AWARD WINNERS 2019 20

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Grassmaster Outstanding Achievement Awards Keith Kent and Chris Wood

Keith Kent and Chris Wood (third and fourth from left, respectively) collect their awards from Grassmaster Solutions’ sales director Yves de Cocker (second left) and sales manager Sion Bennett (second right), as well as IOG chair David Carpenter (far right) and BBC TV presenter Dan Walker

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Keith Kent: Keith retired as head groundsman at Twickenham Stadium this year, having spent more than 40 years in the industry. He started as an assistant groundsman at Leicester City FC, then became head groundsman at Manchester United before being headhunted by the Rugby Football Union. Complementing his work at these major stadia has been the support, understanding and encouragement that he has brought to the grassroots game, visiting 100s of clubs across the country, and helping club groundsmen with limited resources to improve their pitches.

Chris Wood: Having spent time as part of the grounds teams at the Oval, and spells at Caterham School and Esher Cricket Club before joining Enfield Cricket Club for 18 years, Chris Wood then restored a 100-year-old cricket ground near St Albans to a recognised First Class standard before joining the England & Wales Cricket Board in 1997.

His role there as pitches consultant included providing the ECB with key information on all matters relating to pitches, playing surfaces and groundsmanship in both first-class and recreational cricket – including monitoring international match pitches and practice areas.

21

Revered and remembered

Eddie Seaward MBE

Chris Seaward (second left) receives a memento of her late husband Eddie Seaward MBE from IOG chief executive Geoff Webb and IOG Board members Kate Entwistle and Peter Lee.

20 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

COMMUNITY SPORT

BEST PRACTICE

LABOUR OF LOVE In addition to holding down a fulltime job, IOG award-winning volunteer groundsman Andy Cambridge spends hours tending the pitches at Foxton FC… because, he says, he simply “loves doing it”

22 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

BEST PRACTICE COMMUNITY SPORT

MACHINERY MATTERS Andy’s maintenance equipment portfolio includes: • Kubota B1750 tractor with dragmat and homemade brush • Two Ransomes triple mowers plus a Ransomes 36in Mastiff (occasionally complemented by an Allett Buffalo borrowed from the cricket club) • Sisis slitter.

Andy readily identifies club treasurer (and local farmer) Richard Barnes as a key figure in the smooth running of the club and for its portfolio of pitch maintenance machinery.

“Richard regularly attends machinery auctions and he frequently brings back something that I can use on the grounds,” says Andy.

T

By Colin Hoskins Features editor

he UK’s army of groundscare volunteers are renowned for their passion and perseverance in maintaining high-class playing surfaces, often on restricted budgets.

Devoting many hours each week, they take great pride in the results of their efforts, which help grassroots clubs up and down the country to regularly enjoy their sports.

Andy Cambridge is one such volunteer – but he’s a volunteer with a difference. Because, as well as holding down a full-time job as an engineer, he also spends many hours – up 20 hours a week during the autumn and winter, and even twice that during the spring and summer months – maintaining the football pitches (and, in season, the cricket outfield) at his local recreation ground so that Foxton FC’s 10 teams regularly enjoy quality surfaces, despite the weather.

Uninterrupted playing schedules couldn’t always be guaranteed at the Cambridgeshire site, as Andy explains: “In recent years, we were starting to cancel games because of waterlogging which was due, undoubtedly, to my enthusiastic use of the roller.

I rolled because I wanted pitch presentation to be at its best. And it was – but, of course, I was continually compacting the surface, so when we had heavy or long periods of rain, there was nowhere for the water to go.”

“In recent years, we were starting to cancel games because of waterlogging which was due, undoubtedly, to my enthusiastic use of the roller”

A Cambridgeshire FA Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) inspection in February 2018 (by IOG regional pitch advisor Phil Jeggo) revealed the extent of the problem: primarily heavy compaction and insufficient grass coverage. Phil’s recommendations included: • Deep de-compaction twice a year using 18-24mm tines at 100mm spacings • Slitting every two weeks • Topdressing with sand (60 tonnes on the full-size pitch) • Overseeding at the rate of 30-40gm/m2 • Raising height of cut • Avoiding over-rolling!

After taking on board this advice, Andy immediately improved the pitches and, a year later, they were draining better and enjoying 80 per cent ground cover with 70 per cent desirable grasses, and the ground suffered just one cancellation compared to 12 during the previous season. Now, as well as compliments from the home players and visiting teams, Andy’s endeavours have earned him the title of Volunteer Sports Grounds Individual of the Year at the 2019 IOG Industry Awards.

Andy’s non-stop improvements are across five acres of sports surfaces on two sites where two senior football teams share one pitch (11-a-side) and eight colts teams (two youth and six mini-soccer squads) share one five-a-side and a seven-a-side pitch, plus a training area. The surfaces are used all year round; in terms of football, on every Saturday from the end of August until the end of April.

Aged 42, Andy started working on the ‘rec’ when he was 10 years old, helping his uncle Paul, who is still involved in the club (see boxout, p24) put up nets. “During my involvement with the grounds, www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 23

COMMUNITY SPORT

FOOTBALL – A FAMILY AFFAIR

After carrying out PIP recommendations Andy has reduced match cancellations from 12 a year to one

“To be honest, winning the IOG Award has been great” I’ve always regarded presentation as key; I always want the rec (and everything we do as a village and as a football club) to be at the best possible standard,” he says.

Andy’s passion for the task means he can often be found on the tractor during autumn and winter evenings, lights on, perhaps slitting the surfaces – and he’s even been known to be at the ground on Boxing Days. Working as a machine setter/ operator on a day shift from 7:30am until 4pm, with a lunchtime finish on Fridays, allows him more daylight hours (during the week) on the rec during the spring and summer and, of course, he’s there at weekends, too. “I love it!” he exclaims.

“I guess groundscare is in my blood; my uncle Paul who I helped in the early days is still involved and my cousin (Ian Cambridge) is the course manager at Saffron Walden Golf Club in Cambridge.

Both have given me good advice over the years. I’ve also attended seminars

by Cambridgeshire FA and I know many qualified groundsmen locally. YouTube videos can be handy, too.

“While we’ve always had a decent ground with good drainage and grass recovery, the pitches did start to suffer in recent times, especially because of increased usage by 24 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

the colts’ teams and because of the rolling.

I really wanted to elevate them to a new, higher level so I contacted Cambridgeshire FA after seeing the improvements that The Football Association’s PIP initiative made to a nearby club.”

With the PIP recommendations in mind, Andy instigated a regime of regular aeration: “I slit and vertidrain as often as I can plus, every year in either October, November or December, we have the pitches ‘earthquaked’ by a contractor. This treatment has produced fantastic results; even after the first application, the pitch compaction level readings immediately fell from 370psi to 220psi.”

He also annually sand topdresses (when budgets allow) and reseeds/overseeds with a mix of three perennial ryegrasses, plus gives yearly applications of weedkiller and fertiliser. In addition, cutting to 30mm high rather than 20mm has also made a big difference – and he doesn’t roll as much!

“Winning the IOG Award has been great, and has attracted media coverage. But I don’t do this for awards; I do it because I am passionate about it and take pride in giving Foxton’s sports clubs and the village the best recreation ground I can. I do believe that better surfaces mean better sport, and I try to play my role in helping to improve the achievements of Foxton FC.” For more on the Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) , contact your county FA www.thefa.com/countyfa

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While Andy says he has “huge pride in the fact that Foxton is a very sporting village”, he is also convinced that his stepfather’s passion and dedication to Foxton FC has rubbed off on him “and made me the person I am”. Andy adds: “He played for the club then went on to manage the reserves then the first team, totalling around 25 years in management, and today he is still involved as a committee member, a fundraiser and a spectator.”

Indeed, a number of Andy’s family were also accomplished footballers – “my brother, cousin, father and two uncles: Paul, who I believe still holds the Cambridgeshire FA goalscoring record; and Len, who represented his Army side, playing alongside professional footballers, during his National Service. Also, my dad was a referee of distinction”.

FOXTON FC, A CHARTER STANDARD COMMUNITY CLUB Foxton FC is one of the oldest clubs in Cambridgeshire with records of matches taking place in the early 1900s.

The club has played at the village recreation ground, owned by the parish council, since the 1950s and before that games took place on land provided by farmers within and around the village.

The ‘rec’ is public land and its playing surfaces are also enjoyed by Foxton kids’ football team, the Foxton Dynamos, the cricket club and for community activities.

Foxton FC was awarded ground of the year in 2003

by Cambridgeshire FA, and runner up in 2019. Cricket is played there every weekend, May to August, and the pitch has been awarded by the local County Cricket Association as the ‘best ground’ three times in the last 10 years.

TECHNICAL U P D AT E

RED DIESEL GETS THE RED LIGHT

You are breaking the law if you drive a red diesel-fuelled tractor on the road, says Paul Bannister, Amenity Training and Consultancy

I

t is a common misconception that it is legal for tractors used in the amenity sector, such as at golf courses and for landscape maintenance contracting, to use red diesel (rebated fuel) when they should be using white diesel (full duty-paid fuel), even if the tractors are registered with the DVLA, taxed (nil rated) and insured for use on the road.

The owners or drivers wrongly assume that because the vehicle ‘is an agricultural tractor’ it may use red diesel, as if it is being used in the horticultural sector. This is not the case.

The HMRC’s Excise Notice 75: fuels for use in vehicles, updated 12 March 2019 (www.tinyurl.com/otq2kfl), states that, under Section 8.3: Tractors, to use red diesel your tractor must be an agricultural tractor designed primarily for use other than on roads. You must not use the tractor on public roads for activities other than for: purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture or forestry cutting verges bordering public roads cutting hedges or trees bordering public roads or bordering verges that border public roads gritting roads, including travel to and from where gritting takes place, and for the collection of equipment and material for gritting.

You may think the term ‘agriculture, horticulture and forestry’ applies to the amenity sector as the Health and Safety Executive regards the amenity sector within the agricultural and horticultural bracket; or because the Chemical Regulations Directorate regards amenity within the horticulture sector under the ‘field of use’ definition on pesticide labels.

HMRC, however, does not.

HMRC has within the excise notice addressed this with a questions-andanswers section in the appendix: ‘What are purposes relating to horticulture?’.

The HMRC’s view is that horticulture is the cultivation and management of gardens (including vegetable plots, allotments and market gardens, but also flowerbeds, trees, shrubberies and ornamental lawns in public parks). By cultivation and management, HMRC means growing and tending flowers, lawns, shrubs and trees, and harvesting flowers, fruits and vegetables for food (or animal fodder) and for ornament, as well as treating and enriching the soil and controlling weeds and pests.

HMRC does not regard as horticulture “the landscaping and maintenance of grassy recreational areas, such as playing fields and golf courses, or the grassed areas of parks that are made available for walks, picnics and general recreation”. So,

if you fall within this work classification, you must not use red diesel.

There are, however, caveats to this: if your vehicle is unlicensed according to the DVLA and or has a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notifications) where the vehicle is not kept or used on public roads, or it is a mowing machine (a complete vehicle) and not an attachment, you can use red diesel. Please check the link above to ensure you comply.

WHAT IF YOU MISUSE FUEL?

When the HMRC finds your road vehicle is fuelled with rebated fuel, the vehicle will be seized. HMRC may also issue an assessment of fuel duty payable and a wrongdoing penalty based on the extent of your illegal fuel use. In more serious cases involving repeated offending or dishonesty, criminal action may be taken – offenders can be fined an unlimited amount or imprisoned for up to seven years, or both. Other offences and penalties apply, with a £250 civil penalty under the Finance Act 1994.

For more information on the use of red or white diesel, call HMRC on 0300 200 3700 or use the enquiry form at www.tinyurl.com/w4sgn5a Paul Bannister can be contacted at www.amenitytraining.co.uk

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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 27

U P D AT E

S A LT E X

The Learning LIVE sessions tackle a variety of topical issues A record-breaking 9,104 visitors attended the 2019 show

IOG CEO Geo� Webb (right) presents Cub Cadet’s John Coleman with the Innovation Award for the In�nicut SM34 Rotary Mower

A RECORD-BREAKING SALTEX 2019

SALTEX once again proved to be the industry’s showcase event with over 500 brands on display and a record-breaking 9,104 visitors in attendance

A

By Chris Bennett SALTEX press officer

28 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

S SOON AS THE doors opened on the first day of SALTEX there was an electric atmosphere, with groundscare enthusiasts swarming into the NEC halls eager to see the latest and most technologically advanced innovations in grounds management.

The record-breaking 9,104 visitors consisted of those working in, or involved with, groundscare, sports turf, amenities, estates and green space management.

The show not only attracted visitors from the UK, but also a high number from overseas due to the venue’s easy access to national and international transport links.

In fact, visitors from 49 overseas markets

attended, with many making the journey to Birmingham from Europe, Asia, America and Africa – underlining the fact that SALTEX truly is an international event.

One such international visitor was Ebi Ezekiel Egbe, managing director of Monimichelle Sports Construction.

He explained why the long journey from Nigeria was worthwhile: “The most important thing for us in Africa is to broaden our knowledge on how to maintain the highest standard of sports pitches and to bring the latest innovations in groundscare to the African market.

SALTEX gives us the opportunity to do exactly this. It’s a beautiful show and I’ve had a great time.”

S A LT E X R E V I E W U P D AT E

Clockwise from left: the Myerscough College team were thrilled to win this year’s College Cup trophy; visitors made the most of the brilliant networking opportunities; the free Learning LIVE seminars were well attended

“It was encouraging to see a younger demographic of visitors on the show floor, such as 13-year-old Jack Davies who aspires to be a landscaper” STARTING YOUNG

SALTEX is also the perfect platform to inspire the next generation of groundscare practitioners and it was encouraging to see a younger demographic of visitors on the show floor, such as 13-year-old Jack Davies who enjoys gardening and mowing lawns in his spare time, and aspires to be a professional landscaper.

“I’ve been wanting to come to SALTEX for the past two or three years and this year I have finally managed to convince my dad to bring me. This is like Christmas for me,” he said.

The SALTEX College Cup competition, sponsored by Toro and Reesink, demonstrated just how well young groundscare students are being

academically prepared for careers in the industry. The Myerscough College team saw off competition from four other colleges to win this year’s trophy and can now look forward to a visit to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium where the winning students will get the opportunity to learn from Paul Burgess, director of grounds and environment for the Spanish footballing giants.

GOING GREEN

The competition was just one of a number of show attractions and the new Eco Village indoor demonstration area made a storming debut. In a dedicated area on the show floor, the Eco Village featured a programme of daily product demonstrations, which featured cuttingedge sustainable technology by Fleet Line Markers, STIHL UK, Overton UK, Avant Tecno, Cub Cadet, Linddana, Husqvarna, Allett Mowers and Sherriff Amenity, in front of a large crowd of show attendees.

The buzz on the show floor was palpable, as recognised by the legendary Keith Kent, former head groundsman at Twickenham Stadium. “The IOG has done tremendously well in bringing so many exhibitors and visitors in, and it is just a joy to see such a busy show. You cannot walk anywhere without seeing something that catches your attention,” he said.

FUTURE PROOF

Indeed, there was something for everyone on the show floor and this year’s SALTEX Innovation Award certainly caught the eye.

From robotics to hybrid mowers, ground printers to state-of-the-art irrigation, and grow lights to line trimmers – visitors had the opportunity to see the recordbreaking 34 entries on the show floor.

With the entries submitted and rigorously evaluated by an independent panel of judges, it was decided that there were three stand-out innovations – the Forza 360° football goal wheels from Net World Sports, the BU50 grow lighting system from SGL and the Infinicut SM34 rotary mower from MTD Specialty Turf Products.

The three finalists were given a last opportunity to impress the judges as they took to the stage and the Infinicut mower was pronounced the overall winner.

Second place went to SGL and third went to Net World Sports.

The Infinicut gained rave reviews with the panel of judges claiming that it “has taken the rotary mower into the 21st century,” and that “the revolutionary introduction of a side collector has allowed for rollers, not wheels, thus eliminating wheel marks on the turf”.

An increasing number of manufacturers on the show floor were also showcasing www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 29

U P D AT E

S A LT E X

Above: exhibitors were impressed with how busy the halls were, even at the very end of each day. Right: demos of the latest machinery took place

eco-friendly products. As well as those demonstrating in the Eco Village, exhibitors such as Pellenc, John Deere, Ego, Ryetec, Demon International, AMS Robotics, McConnel and Dennis Mowers all used SALTEX to launch new robotic and battery-powered products.

“These innovations have low vibrations, are environmentally friendly and are good for health and safety – all things that help people on the ground like me,” said John Ryan, founder of the Lawn Care Legends online networking community.

“It’s great to see so many of these machines in one place.”

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Reflecting this trend, the IOG incorporated dedicated seminars, which further explored these topics, into the expanded Learning LIVE free-to-attend education programme. Chemical-free sports pitch management and environmentally friendly turf maintenance were just some of the 57 free-to-attend, CPD-accredited seminars.

Many visitors also benefitted from free one-to-one turf management advice in the Ask the Expert feature; received career advice in the Job Clinic; and had their soil samples assessed in Pathology and Soil Science LIVE, as well as specific 30 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

“Commenting on the record attendance, many exhibitors thought that a large proportion of visitors to their stands were high-quality buyers with serious intent” technical advice from industry experts on the exhibition floor.

Commenting on the record-breaking attendance at this year’s show, many exhibitors thought that a large proportion of visitors to their stands were highquality buyers with serious intent.

“We’ve exhibited at a lot of shows in the past couple of years, but this has been the busiest show that I have experienced,” said Jordan Watson, groundscare field support for STIHL UK. Echoing those comments, Les Malin, managing director of Etesia UK, said: “We’ve been a long-term exhibitor at SALTEX for over 20 years and I can

honestly say that I cannot remember a show where we had so much activity and people on the stand right to the end of both days.”

According to sales manager, George Potter, debut exhibitor JCB enjoyed a hugely successful first SALTEX experience: “We’ve had lots of people on the stand, a huge number of enquiries and quite a lot of demo requests, which has been great.”

All eyes now turn towards SALTEX 2020, the exhibition’s 75th anniversary, and CEO Geoff Webb is already looking forward to the celebratory event: “SALTEX has moved from a horse racing track in Windsor to the NEC in the middle of the country and the fact that we are now gearing up for our 75th annual show is testament to the community of the sports turf industry and how it has grown.”

SALTEX 2020 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on 4 and 5 November. For more information please visit www.iogsaltex.com Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook, www.facebook.com/ IOGSALTEX

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Product showcase PRODUCTS FROM SALTEX

TYM’s T194 has the size and agility of a mower with the practicality of a small tractor

RANSOMES JACOBSEN

A mower with more

THE REVISED HIGHWAY 3 triple cylinder mower was the star of the show at SALTEX on Ransomes Jacobsen’s stand.

The lightweight mower is known for its high work rate, slope stability and manoeuvrability. The revised version features improvements to the drivetrain to boost the efficiency and complement the Euro Stage V compliance.

Richard Comely, director of international product development, said: “SALTEX is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase new products and network with customers.

"Triplex cylinder mowers are still one of the most flexible and productive vehicles to cut grass with. The Highway 3 is typically used on large areas for extended

T YM

SMALL AND PERFECTLY FORMED

The updated Highway 3 mower

periods of time, so productivity is an important aspect of the mower. It was a case of improving something that was already performing very well, but the new drivetrain has made a difference and we’re very pleased with the outcome.”

The brand also displayed a range of machines including the TR320 triplex mower, HR300 out-front mower, Cushman utility vehicle and the HM600 wide area mulching flail mower. www.ransomesjacobsen.com

ARMORGARD

STORAGE STARS KEEPING TOOLS AND chemicals secure is essential, and Armorgard’s range on display at SALTEX offered grounds teams a number of options to help them do just that. The Armorgard StrimmerSafe Rack upright storage system protects the most commonly stolen power tools. The multi-purpose rack keeps brushcutters,

KEEP IN TOUCH

hedge trimmers and chainsaws under high security with twin five-lever deadlocks, and the rack can be bolted to a wall for additional security.

Also on show was the Flambank FB 2, a tough, lockable vault for storing hazardous chemicals and flammables; TuffBank TB2, a new and improved version of Armorgard’s

www.iog.org

The Strimmersafe rack keeps power tools secure

best-selling tool and equipment storage solution; and FormaStor, a quick-assembly, modular storage unit purpose-designed for safe storage of hazardous substances. www.armorgard.co.uk

www.facebook.com/theIOG

Institute of Groundsmanship

TYM RETURNED TO SALTEX this year with three of its most popular subcompact tractors: the T194, T293 and T393, all showcased on Reesink Turfcare’s stand.

The T194 is designed as an alternative to the ride-on mower.

Powered by a 19hp Yanmar threecylinder diesel engine, it’s a good choice for landscape contractors, for example, who want the compact size and agility of a mower, but with the additional features and practicality of a small tractor.

Equipped with a 54in mid-mounted deck, it has cutting heights from one to four inches and can be specified with a front loader and numerous rear-mounted attachments for sweeping and aerating.

The T293 brings a light touch but with enough power to get the job done. It’s easy to operate, offers maximum fuel efficiency and makes easy work of maintenance chores, light and large-scale mowing and is a good choice for the multi-tasking estate manager.

The T393 is powered by a 39hp Yanmar engine and bridges the gap from the compact utility range and the mid-duty range. It has the highest lift capabilities in its class at 1200kg and one of the highest hydraulic flow rates with a maximum output of 42 litres per minute, making it suitable for a wide range of hydraulically driven attachments. www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 33

PRODUCT SHOWCASE S A LT E X R E V I E W ALLETT MOWERS

GOING GREEN

AUSTIN JARRETT, MANAGING director of Allett Mowers, gave a talk on battery power in the Eco Village at SALTEX as the brand showcased a range of eco-friendly battery-powered tools at the show alongside their petrol counterparts – although Austin predicted the brand would have no petrol engines in its range by 2025.

The business is working towards being carbon neutral by 2022.

“Battery power brings a large amount of environmental benefits to our industry and end-users,” said Austin. “There are the hand-arm vibration benefits over petrol-powered machinery. You have better machine control using battery power electric motors and sensors, while noise is also significantly reduced.”

On show for the first time was the new Uplift 86E 92V lithium-ion batterypowered stadium rotary mower, designed for debris collection after matches. Alongside this new model was the Allett C34E large area walk-behind mower, launched at SALTEX 2018. www.allett.co.uk

1ST PRODUCTS

SECOND TIME FOR 1ST 1ST PRODUCTS EXHIBITED at SALTEX for the second time, with the AERA-Vator – a subsurface aerator where a unique oscillating vibrating tine system loosens, rather than punches, the soil around and underneath each tine. Allowing better air and water infiltration and easing soil compaction, the AERA-Vator does the job without leaving cores or plugs behind and means a quicker clean-up.

The AERA-Vator is able to aerate dry soil to reduce the expense of pre-irrigating; in fact, the harder the soil, the better it performs. It can also be equipped with a seeding box, allowing the customer to aerate and seed in one pass.

The UA-60, complete with Aera-Vator shaft, represented the specialist aerator range from 1st Products at SALTEX

There are further benefits too – as the AERA-Vator has been designed with a universal frame system – extra shafts can be added to expand its capabilities. Customers can choose from the multi-tine, multislicer, multi-spike and the non-PTO coring shaft.

The AERA-Vator showed alongside the complementary TYM tractor range. Steven Haynes, sales manager for 1st Products, says: “The AERA-Vator, and indeed the entire 1st Products range, complements TYM tractors and gives our customers even more choice on how to use their tractor.” www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

WEEDINGTECH

Heat treatment THE WEEDINGTECH TEAM was at SALTEX to unveil the latest system in its range and talk about the benefits of Foamstream, which provides an effective alternative to herbicides for controlling weeds, moss and algae.

Foamstream kills unwanted vegetation using nearboiling water, insulated by a biodegradable foam made from plant oils and sugars.

The solution is 99.5% water and 0.5% foam. The foam provides an insulating blanket over the plant, holding the heat from the hot water in the kill-zone (57˚C and above) for longer than alternative methods. It provides effective heat transfer from leaf to root, sufficiently damaging the plant and causing it to die back.

The treatment also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores.

34 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

Foamstream kills weeds with hot water

Foamstream has much higher efficacy which means fewer treatment cycles are required throughout the year.

The process is safe around

people, animals and water. It is suitable for use on all surfaces, including flower beds, gravel, playgrounds and sports tracks. info@weedingtech.com

PRODUCT SHOWCASE S A LT E X R E V I E W

BAYER

War on weeds

THE TEAM FROM Bayer was at SALTEX to offer information Lewis Blois, Bayer's national account about the brand’s expanded manager range of weed control products, which now includes offering four months of weed control.

Roundup as well as the new residual It can be applied as a pre-emergent herbicide Valdor Flex. herbicide or in post-emergent situations “We can now offer the whole solution with Roundup, which provides the initial when it comes to broad spectrum knock down, while Valdor Flex offers weed control and our full treatment residual control, preventing subsequent programme works on a wide range of weeds emerging. surfaces from open soil to gravel, fence “At Bayer, we’re continually investing lines and railway ballast,” says Lewis in research and development to ensure Blois, Bayer national account manager. we can provide our customers with “We’re always working hard to bring new a wide range of innovative solutions innovative formulations and sustainable when it comes to weed control and solutions to the amenity sector, and recent updates to the product portfolio recent changes will help contractors to will provide many benefits to amenity continue to successfully manage weeds contractors,” concludes Lewis. at a time when many products are being www.environmentalscience.bayer. lost from the market. co.uk “Valdor Flex is a residual herbicide

CUB CADET

A CUT ABOVE

THE CUB CADET Infinicut SM34 Rotary Mower has been crowned the winner of the 2019 Innovation Award at SALTEX. The panel of expert judges selected the SM34 from a long list of entries that spanned the sports turf, grounds and landscaping industry.

From a final shortlist of three, entries were judged on what the product offers the industry and how it makes the life of the operator easier.

The panel described how the Infinicut SM34 has “taken the rotary mower

KEEP IN TOUCH

www.iog.org

as we know it into the 21st century” – ticking the environmental box thanks to its emphasis on a modern, clean power source and utilising “the InfiniApp to eliminate spanners and grazed knuckles when adjusting the deck height”.

On receiving the award from the Institute of Groundsmanship’s CEO Geoff Webb, John Coleman, head of UK for MTD Specialty Turf Products, said: “We are incredibly pleased and humbled to have scooped the Innovation Award this year. The SM34 combines concepts, ideas and customer feedback to take a product that is known but to place it firmly in the modern era. We would like to congratulate all the other finalists and say a big thank you to all of our employees involved in bringing this fantastic machine to market.” www.cubcadetturf.com

www.facebook.com/theIOG

Institute of Groundsmanship

The new PB8010 blower

ECHO

BLOWN AWAY

SALTEX SAW THE launch of the ECHO PB-8010, the most powerful backpack power blower in its class. The blower’s 79.9cc two-stroke engine produces an air volume of 1818m3/h, an airspeed of 94.5m/sec (211mph) and a blowing force of 44N for better performance and increased productivity. Dry weight is just 11.2kg which is made possible by the use of an innovative lightweight carbon fibre frame and fan case. This amount of power, combined with its lighter weight, makes the PB-8010 ideal for professional use in quickly clearing greater quantities of wet leaves and debris across large areas.

The lightweight frame combines with cruise-control throttle, ventilated backpack pad, anti-vibration system and heavy-duty backstraps to make the PB-8010 easier to use and reduce operator fatigue.

To make the user’s job even easier there is a heavy-duty air filter which sits at the top of the unit, protecting the engine from dust and debris in the harshest conditions. It’s easily accessible without the need for tools, making it simple for in-field cleaning and maintenance. The metal wear ring at the end of the straight pipe will reduce the pipe’s general wear and tear for increased durability. There is also an intake cover to prevent airflow to the user’s back in the colder winter months. www.echo-tools.co.uk

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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 35

PRODUCT SHOWCASE S A LT E X R E V I E W

The Auto-Level 550 reach mower

RAZORBACK

TOUGH TRIMMERS BRITISH COMPANY RAZORBACK launched a new range of flail mowers to sit alongside its reach and wing mowers at SALTEX. The new flail models include lightweight solutions for the compact tractor through to heavy duty options for amenity users. The range is a result of Razorback’s partnership with a well-established Italian manufacturer.

It includes the RK DS Series, fitted with a front and rear mountable headstock, double skin chassis and an anti-shock rotor. Available in widths up to 3.2m, the RK DS Series is a heavy duty, high output machine for dense overgrown vegetation and grassland.

Also on display at SALTEX was the RT 500 rotary mower, with a cutting

width of five metres. It features an easy-clean double skin deck and full-length removeable skid shoes to extend the longevity of the machine.

The 250hp driveline assembly powers the wing mower’s three triple-blade rotors, with a wing free float to help protect the hydraulic rams from excessive wear.

The Auto-Level 550 reach mower was also on show at SALTEX. The machine has self-levelling co-pilot

technology to reduce operator fatigue, increase productivity and reduce cost. This technology ensures the main frame of the machine remains level at all times, irrespective of the tractor angle in relation to the undulating ground. As a result, the need for manual adjustments to account for uneven terrain is significantly reduced, making the operation much easier for the user. www.razorbackuk.com

ETESIA

CUTTING UP ROUGH ETESIA UK HAS announced the launch of the new Attila 98X fourwheel-drive ride-on brushcutter, which was officially unveiled ahead of the 2020 season at SALTEX. The Attila 98X in action

36 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

The new Attila 98X has been designed to work in the toughest of conditions. This powerful workhorse effectively deals with clearing vegetation from a wide variety of

sites – long grass, weeds, bracken and brambles on woodland paths, orchards, verges and embankments.

Powered by the new Kawasaki FS691V 24HP electric start engine, the Attila 98X has a strengthened welded tubular chassis providing a better driving position for operators.

With a low centre of gravity, fourwheel-drive plus heavy-treaded tyres and differential lock, it provides greater stability on slopes up to 30 degrees.

The unit has a range of features which help it to cut through dense growth of up to 4.5cm in diameter.

It has swing or fixed-tip blades with a 98cm cutting height adjusted by a centralised lever, with eight working positions from 50mm-120mm, plus transport mode.

The new Attila 98X model joins the Attila range of pedestrian and ride-on brushcutters already available within the extensive Etesia portfolio. www.etesia.co.uk

PRODUCT SHOWCASE S A LT E X R E V I E W

MARK HARROD

BEST FEET FORWARD Mans�eld Sand's Two Oaks quarry in Mans�eld

MANSFIELD SAND

Grand sand

MANSFIELD SAND WAS at SALTEX showcasing its range of sand-based products for sports and landscaping.

Its range of reinforced rootzones has been developed to obtain greater use from natural turf surfaces. Mansfield Sand’s reinforcement technology provides stability and durability to all sand-dominated rootzones, allowing the pitch to remain free draining and consistent over the whole surface.

Products include Fibre Reinforced Rootzone, Fibrelastic Rootzone and Fibresand, which is particularly useful when grass cover has been reduced during winter.

The company’s sand soil rootzone blend, Mansil 40 Silica Sand, gives a perfect start with quality screened topsoil to help grounds teams achieve an excellent surface.

Mansfield Sand also has a range of sand compost rootzones, which help to retain nutrients and increase drought resistance; top dressing, which is passed through a sterilising unit over a 3mm screen to produce an easy-to-spread product; and the Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range, used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces. www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

RIGBY TAYLOR

GREEN SCENE

RIGBY TAYLOR HAS announced the launch of Autumn Green BiO fertiliser – a new 3-0-12+8Fe+6CaO+2MgO micro granular formulation that includes a ‘BiO Pack’ and zeolite to ensure enhanced plant health and root development, improved disease resistance, rapid green-up and extended colour.

With zeolite helping to reduce leaching and improve Cation Exchange Capacity, potassium in the mix also provides a constant topup, which is essential for an improved root system, while calcium avoids deficiencies that would lead to stunted roots and limited nutrient uptake.

Carbohydrate storage The mix helps to increases as plant growth retain colour KEEP IN TOUCH

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slows down and temperatures cool in the autumn. It is therefore essential that sufficient levels of potassium are maintained to prevent reduced levels of Adenosine Triphosphate – the energy source that drives all metabolic activity of plant cells produced during photosynthesis.

The dual source of iron in Autumn Green BiO provides extended colour for two to three months, and the addition of magnesium not only provides colour but also improves levels of iron utilisation.

In addition, the inclusion of seaweed and lignite improves the production of cytokinin and auxin, promoting cell division and elongation. www.rigbytaylor.com

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Institute of Groundsmanship

AMONG THE VISITORS to Mark Harrod’s stand at SALTEX was Wolverhampton Wanderers FC’s head groundsman Wayne Lumbard, who was trying out the new DevoClean twin-station boot cleaner, launched at the show.

“We have just bought them for the Sir Jack Hayward academy hub and training base,” said Wayne. “What I like about the product is that the brush heads are inclined rather than horizontally positioned, to give the correct angle for cleaning mud and dirt off studs and cleats.”

Also debuting at SALTEX was the DevoShift goal, designed to be BSEN 16579 compliant and made to prevent finger pinchpoints and entrapments.

Developed specifically for high quality and synthetic pitches, the DevoShift can be conveniently moved through pitch perimeter gates by just one member of staff, rather than the two or three usually needed with traditional goalposts.

After trialling for eight months at Wolves’ training base, the Premiership club has invested in the advance to become the first in the division to specify DevoShift goals – “a godsend” as Wayne calls them. www.markharrod.com

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www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 37

IN ACTION

JACOBSEN PROVES TO BE THE COMPLETE PACKAGE Multi-purpose venues need quality, versatile and reliable mowers – that’s why The Lensbury opted for the Jacobsen TR320 and GP400

T

he Lensbury – four-star club, hotel and conference centre – sits on the banks of the River Thames in Teddington, London, and hosts international rugby teams as well as professional club sides.

There are also six grass tennis courts and ornamental gardens in the grounds of the hotel, all of which are kept to an impeccable standard by head of grounds and gardens, Peter Craig, and his team.

The rugby pitches are an essential part of The Lensbury. They attract the world’s best and need to look and play to their standards, so when the decision was made to get a new mower, Peter decided to trial every machine at his disposal before going for the TR320.

“I took a long time choosing the rugby mower because those pitches are the priority here from a turf management point of view, and that’s why we tried virtually everything before we made a choice,” Peter explained. “The quality of cut on the TR320 is good, as is the adjustment of cut, and I’m glad that I made the choice I did.

“Price is obviously important, and the

TR320 was competitive in that area. I looked at the Jacobsen and all the main mower brands. We were looking at all of the usual criteria, the quality of cut, the range of cut, the comfort, the noise and the width of the machine. The size of the boxes was another aspect I looked at because I wanted the biggest boxes possible to reduce the amount of time spent emptying them.

“Those were the main things along with the ease of use because we wanted it to be operator friendly. The back-up service is obviously a big part of it as well, and I’d never bought a Jacobsen before, so I didn’t know what it was like. When we’ve needed them, parts have arrived very quickly, and the service from Ernest Doe has been excellent.”

THE RIGHT MACHINE

The TR320 is the perfect choice for The Lensbury because of its quality of cut, operator comfort and vertically folding units. The 1.83m cutting width can be reduced to a 1.63m transport width, with the reels lifting to a vertical position to make driving around tight areas, such as

ornamental gardens, simple.

Although the pitches are the priority, the ornamental gardens and grass tennis courts are also paid close attention.

While Peter’s mower criteria for this area was similar in terms of quality of cut and productivity, the need for a machine that could handle attachments was paramount for other maintenance.

QUALITY OF CUT

For this, the GP400 was his mower of choice. It is used to cut the ornamental lawns during the cutting season and for verti-cutting the tennis courts during the season, at the end of the season and during winter. Peter has high praise for the swing-out centre reel for making a “massive difference” when it comes to maintenance, and the ‘great’ quality of cut. That quality of cut comes from the TrueSet cutting units that allow operators to easily adjust the mower to ensure it has the optimum reel to bedknife setting, giving the perfect cut every time.

i

For more information, visit www.ransomesjacobsen.com www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 39

IOG

CLASSIFIEDS

To advertise in the classified section of The Groundsman please contact:

Mark Durham T: 0203 859 7097 E: mark.durham@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE IN THE GROUNDSMAN CONTACT MARK DURHAM:

E mark.durham@jamespembrokemedia.co.uk

0203 859 7097

www.iog.org THE GROUNDSMAN 41

Tools & guidance YOUR HANDY MONTHLY MAINTENANCE CALENDAR

JANUARY OPERATIONS CRICKET SQUARE

Continue to check for disease activity and, if identified, spray with a proprietary fungicide.

Continue to brush as regularly as possible to allow sward to remain upright and to remove excess moisture/dew, and if any earthworm activity is noticed try not to smear the casts. If possible aerate using solid tines to a depth of 125mm.

If climatic and ground conditions allow, mow sward, by ‘topping off’.

CRICKET OUTFIELD

Continue to check for damage regularly, especially if the outfield is also used for winter sports. If climatic and ground conditions allow, mow sward by ‘topping off’. If possible, aerate outfield to 125mm.

BOWLING GREENS

During this period of snow and cold weather, very little will be undertaken on the green. Watch out for any Fusarium/snow mould that might develop.

GOLF COURSES

If the weather is very cold or it snows, temporary (or winter) greens should be the order of the day to help protect the condition of the main greens.

Watch out for any Fusarium/ snow mould developing beneath any snow cover.

Now is an ideal time to carry KEEP IN TOUCH

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out machinery maintenance or scrub land clearance. This year’s maintenance budget and work programme should also be completed, if they haven’t already been done, as this will also help to identify optimum times for the taking of annual leave and will help to avoid holidays clashing with peak workloads.

Now is also a good time to attend training courses and to read up on current trade literature to see what is available or what new products might be launched for spring.

No doubt games will still be played, unless the pitch is frozen and unsafe.

Where undersoil heating is provided, games will still be played and the rootzone will no doubt provide a relatively soft surface. This will make divoting a priority after each game. The need for additional turfing in goalmouths and possibly the centre circle areas may also be required this month.

Be careful not to dry the soil too much if using underground heating as the grass plant will dry out and may die.

42 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019

RUGBY LEAGUE

Continue to avoid the use of relatively heavy machinery over the winter months when ground conditions are generally unsuitable.

Aeration can be carried out during dry periods, assuming the soil moisture content is not high.

A light topping of the sward might be required by the end of the winter period.

Continue to divot and repair after each meeting.

Look ahead to planning/ ordering materials ready for the April renovation work.

HORSE RACECOURSES

TENNIS

Little work will typically be required except for the essential removal of dew and earthworm casts, and watching for signs of disease attack.

Aeration can be considered, if ground conditions permit and if the machinery is not being serviced.

BOOST YOUR SKILLSET

Most work this month will concentrate on pitch presentation, for example: – ensure line markings have good www.facebook.com/theIOG

year could send the surface backwards until the growing season. Handforking would be useful to aid drainage.

The frosts and inclement weather might have arrived, so remedial jobs such as machinery maintenance or store maintenance may be required.

Switching and drag-brushing to be completed when conditions allow. Drag-brushing can be used to create striping effect.

Aeration would be useful, if pitch conditions allow, to aid drainage.

Make sure the pitch is still secure so no damage from footmarks occurs.

Complete remedial jobs around the stores or to machinery.

On the amateur side, constant divoting is of the highest importance to repair the surface. Drag-brushing or chainharrowing could be used to aid playability and presentation.

Communication is vital as one bad game at this time of

FOOTBALL

RUGBY UNION

consistency - drag-brush the pitch to produce a striping effect - divot as required - fork and sand worn / bare areas.

As the year draws to a close, this is the perfect time to think about improving your groundscare skills. The IOG offers a range of courses to suit different sports and surfaces; visit www.iog.org for more information.

Institute of Groundsmanship

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