Sherriff Amenity is pleased to announce a 100% pass rate for greenkeepers and other turf professionals for the BASIS Foundation Award in Amenity and Horticulture for the second consecutive year, held at BTME in January, which raises the knowledge of pesticides among professional users.

With support from Bayer and Everris, the four candidates, from golf clubs up and down the country, took part in a three-day course conducted by the STRI’s Head of Research Dr Ruth Mann and researcher Christian Spring at this year’s BTME in Harrogate and the STRI HQ at Bingley.

The four candidates recently found out that they were successful in the exam set subsequently by BASIS, the independent organisation which sets, maintains and assesses standards of pesticide production and usage.

“We helped support candidates through the course in association with Sherriff Amenity,” said Dr. Colin Mumford, Technical Support Manager at Bayer. “We feel that it is important to support education within the industry and continued professional development. We are very pleased for the candidates and congratulate them on their success.”

The full list of award winners is:

Andrew Kerr, West Malling Golf Course in Kent
James Bonfield, Crown Golf in Berkshire
Andy Greenslade, Hainault Golf Course in Essex
Gwynn Davies, Mere Golf in Cheshire

Club Ed Carter, Sales and Development Manager for the Turf and Amenity business at Everris commented: “We are very proud of our relationship with Sherriff Amenity and as a long standing supporter of BTME we have tried to support education at the show. Naturally, we took the opportunity to support this course by investing in greenkeepers and course managers so that they can achieve their goals of better understanding pesticides.”

The Foundation Award is one of many recognised qualifications that BASIS offers those working in turf and other land-based professions.

“The BASIS course is a practical way of promoting a professional understanding of pesticides and its use,” said Sherriff Amenity’s Marketing Manager Kevin Whitby. “That everyone passed says a lot for the attitude of our greenkeepers and of course Ruth and Christian as excellent tutors.”

For further information, or if you would like to register for the Customer Order Portal please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity

Colfe’s school, which is one of London’s oldest school’s dating back to 1574, has become the latest SISIS customer to invest in dedicated machinery with the purchase of a SISIS Brush-Pro ride-on brushing system for all regular synthetic surface maintenance.

Brian Atkins, who has been grounds manager at the school for the past ten years, has been an avid user of SISIS equipment for close to twenty years. When it came to replace an old SISIS Robbi triple brush that the school had used for eight years, he visited the company stand at IOG SALTEX in September 2013 to purchase the newer enhanced Brush-Pro model.

“We’ve got a range of SISIS machines from slitters, scarifiers and sweepers to the machine we use on the synthetic surface, which we use on a daily basis,” said Brian. “The Robbi had done such a good job in the previous eight years, that when the time came to replace it, we knew what our preferred choice would be. We visited SALTEX and after a demonstration following the show, purchased the Brush-Pro early this year.”

Small enough to manoeuvre through a single gate, yet capable of performing the required daily or weekly activities to keep a synthetic surface in perfect shape, the SISIS Brush-Pro ride-on system has been specifically designed for maintaining synthetic surfaces. It consists of a pair of mid-mounted oscillating brush units for periodic aggressive maintenance and three foldable rear mounted brushes spreading 3 metres for more regular maintenance, which means fewer passes are needed compared to more conventional drag brushing, causing less surface compaction.

Synthetic surfaces require a good maintenance programme in place from installation. Failure to regularly remove dirt, leaf debris and other detritus from the surface can lead to contamination of the infill, which in turn prevents rainwater from draining freely through the carpet.

Brian says that all regular maintenance of the synthetic surface is carried out in-house by groundstaff at the school. "We need to ensure that the surface is always kept to a high standard as it’s not only used by pupils but also by the local community. The Brush-Pro needed to be small enough to be able to fit through a set of gates, yet powerful enough to cope with the weekly tasks we need to complete. In that respect, it’s great.”

Colfe’s School is one of a growing number of customers to enhance their on-site maintenance equipment with dedicated synthetic surface maintenance machinery from SISIS. From schools and colleges, to premiership football clubs and also pitch installers, the SISIS Brush-Pro offers the complete in-house maintenance machinery package.

“The oscillating brushes are by far its best feature as they enable us to not only get right into the surface but also control the moss on the edges of the surface. I’d have no hesitation in recommending the Brush-Pro to anyone looking after a synthetic surface,” said Brian.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com
For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.

As part of its plan to significantly increase business and provide customers with the highest level of service, Complete Weed Control has appointed Ben Smith as a new member of its head office team with immediate effect.

A former general manager at Ingleby Barwick Golf Academy, a nine-hole golf course and driving range in Teesside, Ben has a strong sales background with a keen knowledge of the golf sector. He joins Complete Weed Control as sales manager, and will be based at the company’s head office in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Announcing the new appointment, Ian Graham, the company's managing director, said: "I am delighted that Ben has joined our already successful team as he brings a wealth of experience from his time at Ingleby Barwick Golf Academy and a proven sales track record. His appointment will ensure that we can continue to build on the success that we have created over the past 40 years.”

“As we develop new expanding both our range of services as well as our delivery network, a strong sales team is essential. Ben joins a strong team to accelerate this process. His knowledge will benefit not only our franchisees but also our customers. This appointment is part of our ongoing growth strategy and further strengthens our commitment to our team."

“Ben will, in addition to our core business, be focussing on building the winter maintenance leg of the organisation. Although the Complete Ice Control brand was introduced to generate work in what were traditionally the quieter months, it has become a considerable contributor to the group. As such, we now feel it is time to direct some additional resource into this growing element of the business.”

Established in 1972, Complete Weed Control is the largest specialist weed control and vegetation management company in the UK. Each franchise operates to a common set of standards and procedures in providing a comprehensive service of weed control, plant pest and disease control, hydro-seeding and other related services to their customer base of sporting venues, local authorities, schools, airfields, cemeteries, industrial sites, highways & parks nationwide and remains the only company offering these services on a truly national basis.

For more information, please contact Complete Weed Control’s National office on 01325 324 277 or visit www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk. You can follow Complete Weed Control on Twitter @CWCLimited.

Following positive comments from greenkeepers and groundsmen at BTME in Harrogate earlier this year, Sherriff Amenity are pleased to announce the launch of the Duo, which is the only spreader available on the market to feature two dispersal plates for a highly accurate spread pattern.

The patented double spreader plates of the Duo Spreader, provides the market’s best, broadest and most accurate spread pattern which not only saves time but also and money, because it only requires one pass.

The Duo Spreader has an ergonomic handle allowing the user alternate grip for best comfort and also features a third wheel which helps balance the spreader no matter what weight it is carrying. It also means that the angle of spread is extremely consistent. Made from corrosion-resistant powered coated stainless steel, the dual levers allow independent opening and closing of both sides.

The Duo Spreader has a finely graded scale, allowing greenkeepers and groundsmen to control the exact dosage. The extra handle also makes it easy to lift.

"The new Duo Spreader is designed to provide the ideal solution for cost effective and extremely efficient application method in virtually any sports or managed amenity turf scenario," said Mark Pyrah, of Sherriff Amenity.

The Duo Spreader is available exclusively throughout the United Kingdom from Sherriff Amenity. For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity

Angus Macleod, Course Manager at The Belfry, has selected SISIS Megaslit and Multislit tractor mounted deep slitters for maintaining the greens surrounds, approaches and fairways on all three world renowned courses.

Whilst Angus has only worked at the Belfry for two years, it was his experience of working with SISIS for over 30 years that prompted the purchase of the new turf maintenance machinery.

After consultation with head greenkeeper Jamie Brooks and workshop manager Chris Minton, followed by a demonstration, the decision was made to add the two SISIS machines to the extensive turf maintenance fleet of over 200 machines that look after the manicured PGA courses.

“I’ve used SISIS equipment at all of the courses I’ve worked at for the past 30 years,” said Angus. The Megaslit and Multislit are great pieces of kit and both do a great job. They are efficient, quick and work in tandem with the other piece of aeration equipment we use. Because of the volume of land we have here, we needed something that would do a good job and do it quickly. Both machines immediately ticked all of our boxes giving us a clean slitting motion for quick root pruning, slicing the fibre and controlling thatch.”

Aeration is crucial for improving drainage, reducing turf compaction, thatch build up and increasing the health of the grass.

The SISIS Megaslit is a tractor mounted deep slitting aerator which gives a deep, clean penetration and is ideal for larger areas, such as sportsfields and golf fairways. The 2.5m wide deep slitter, featuring 32 heavy duty tines, achieves maximum underground cultivation due to the angle of the tines and spiral design of the tine shaft assists penetration.

The smaller 1.5m wide SISIS Multislit is also a tractor mounted deep slitting aerator which is suitable for the maintenance of football, rugby, cricket pitches and golf courses. The slitter, featuring 40 sharpened fine turf tines, can be used on a compact tractor, minimising the overall weight on the surface.

The simple design of both machines means that very little on-going maintenance is required - another key factor in the purchase, as Chris explains: “Nothing has ever gone wrong with the machines; that’s why I like them so much. They are simple to use and basic to maintain - we only ever need to grease the rollers. You can fit them on a lighter weight tractor as long as they can pick it up and it’s an easy operation to carry out.”

Both machines were put straight into work and will predominantly be used during the winter months. “We will use the machines from November through to January,” explained Angus. We use them from 2 inches right up to 10 inches – as long as we don’t have any issues with wiring or irrigation pipes and they give us very little surface disturbance.

“We see slitting as an important operation at The Belfry and these machines are great because you can vary the depth for thatch control and root pruning. They’ve proven their worth at the last four golf courses I have been at so why change something if it works so well?”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.

Players at Wirral Rugby Club on Merseyside are benefiting from the recently completed drainage works by leading natural sportsturf contractor Souters Sports.

The specialist contractor, based in both Cumbernauld, just north of Glasgow and Knutsford in Cheshire, was awarded the project after a competitive tender process following the club's drainage problems that they had on one of their pitches and also training area/cricket outfield which used to get waterlogged and resulted in numerous cancelled games.

The works included the piped drainage and sand slitting of the first XV pitch and cricket outfield.

Sand topdressing, verti-draining, weed control, overseeding and fertiliser application completed the work at the club, which was completed on budget and within the tight time schedule.

In addition Souters Sports helped to source and supply a new galvenized spectator fence to surround the pitch and also made sockets to allow one side to be taken down during the cricket season.

Souters Sports' in house labour and specialist drainage plant combined with their ability to provide a high quality service was a key factor in securing the contract and working with leading independent sportsturf consulting agronomy company, Professional Sportsturf Design (NW) on yet another successfully completed project.

Souters Sports are firmly established as one of the UK’s leading specialist sportsturf contractors providing sports ground construction, land drainage and sports pitch renovation services. Founded in 2000 by Managing Director Stewart Aird, the company has benefited from a policy of continual investment, expansion and diversification with experience ranging from national stadiums to local authority sports pitches.

Six senior sides, an under-21‘s, Colts’ and Junior Colts’ sides and a flourishing Mini Rugby Section all play at the Old Wirralians’ Association Memorial Ground and since the drainage works have been completed; have not complained of one cancelled game.

The company has recently completed extensive drainage projects at some of the UK’s top venues including Gleneagles, the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

For further information, please contact Souters Sports Limited on 01236 453030 or visit www.souterssports.co.uk. Souters Sports are also on Twitter @SoutersSports

Bunkers are a regular clubhouse talking point – often as a negative one – but leading supplier of golf course supplies Sherriff Amenity now offers something that will raise their profile favourably and be a useful course care aid - the Bunkerstamp.

It is a specially made polymer rubber mould, measuring 57cm x 33cm, with the words ‘Thanks for raking’ and the image of a bunker rake. This means of providing clubs with a gentle, novel and effective reminder to members and players to do the right thing after playing a bunker shot is already creating quite a buzz at many of its golf club customers, says Kevin Whitby, marketing manager at Sherriff Amenity.

“All greenstaff have to do after raking is step firmly on to the Bunkerstamp to leave an impression in the bunker surface”.

In normal weather conditions a Bunkerstamp impression will last all day with very little deterioration. It is a way of saying thank you to golfers for helping to look after the course.

The Bunkerstamp, which should last many years, comes with a 12-month manufacturer’s guarantee.

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity

Jockey Club Racecourses, operator of 15 leading UK racecourses, including those at Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and Newmarket, has signed a three-year extension to their contract with sports and amenity turf and landscape supplier Sherriff Amenity.

The deal sees the supply of a range of turf related amenity products from Sherriff Amenity’s diverse range to the largest commercial group in British racing.

Governed by Royal Charter to act for the good of British racing, The Jockey Club reinvest all of its profits back into Britain’s second biggest spectator sport. Over the last 10 years, more than £155 million has been invested in state-of-the-art developments to its facilities and turf surfaces and the Group works alongside other parties with the same vision and values wherever possible.

“Several organisations were involved in a rigorous tendering process, but the stand out presentation was the one delivered by the Sherriff Amenity team,” explained Ian Sidgwick, Group Purchasing Director at the Jockey Club. “It would also be fair to say that in practice they operate with a similar level of professionalism and energy which has helped to develop and cement the relationship between Jockey Club Racecourses and Sherriff Amenity.”

According to Michael Prosser, Regional Head of Racing in the East Region at Jockey Club Racecourses, it was also a combination of the technical expertise from Sherriff Amenity’s technical specialists, the ability to be able to budget for the long-term and the use of the best products on the market that clinched the new long-term agreement.

“Sherriff Amenity have an extensive product range and provide an outstanding service,” commented Michael. “The ability to review and formulate the maintenance regimes for the racing surface and fine turf areas in conjunction with their professional and knowledgeable technical team has proved to be invaluable. Without doubt, it has saved us time and money and made budgeting that much easier.”

Sherriff Amenity and the Jockey Club Racecourses have been working closely together for a number of years and the three year supplier agreement extension is testament to sharing the same goals to improve and modernise the management of the racing and estate surfaces, as Ian continues:

“The technical assistance provided by Sherriff Amenity has been critical in our drive to keep raising standards. I have no doubt that any organisation or individual that worked with them would be equally impressed and I would freely recommend Sherriff Amenity to anyone.”

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or email info@sherriff-amenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity.

The recent purchase of a SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 tractor mounted aerator by Mick Doyle, head groundsman at Bradford City Football Club, has seen a dramatic improvement of the playing surface at both The Coral Windows Stadium and the nearby training ground.

Mick, who has been head groundsman at the club for the past six years, is also a lifelong supporter and his enthusiasm for his beloved club and the pride he takes in preparing the pitch shines through from the moment you meet him. Recently, he was able to persuade the club to invest in some new turf maintenance machinery.

“When we were looking for a new aerator I spoke to other groundsmen. I’d heard how good the Aer-Aid was from those who were using it and the benefits of injecting air in to the rootzone, so we organised a demonstration through our local dealer. Following this, we placed an order,” commented Mick.

The Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 not only aerates with a vertical action, but also injects air into the root zone at a fast working rate, creating thousands of fissures. The cam trigger mechanism ensures that the air is always expelled at the bottom of the tine penetration. The overall result is reduced compaction and a healthier root growth. The 10mm diameter ‘tipped’ tines are spaced at 75mm (3ins) with depth of penetration infinitely variable to a maximum of 127mm (5ins). The air injection tines are designed to use the maximum air available from the compressor and produce clean, fresh air. Surface disturbance is also kept to a minimum.

“The Aer-Aid will blast air into the rootzone where you need it. It also decompacts the surface when it gets that little bit too hard. Since we’ve been using this machine, we’ve also noticed less injuries to players lower backs and lower legs.

“I use the machine before our home matches because I can reduce compaction and with so little surface disturbance, it means it can be played on straight away which is great.”

The Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 has a working width of 1.5 meters and is extremely quiet in operation. It can be powered by compact tractor as little as 30hp which also keeps weight on the surface to a minimum. Used at the correct speed and depth, it can aerate a typical football pitch in just 3 - 3.5 hours, whilst leaving an even finish that can be played on immediately afterwards.

“Changing tines is also quick and there is very little maintenance needed on the machine. I’ve found it so simple to use. You can go at fast speed or slow speed in most weather conditions and all you need to do is wash it off after you use it. Hand on badge, and heart, I would recommend this machine to anyone looking to improve their surface.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.

Barclays Premier League side Crystal Palace has become the latest top flight club to purchase a Dennis G860 mower complete with a range of interchangeable cassettes for use at their Selhurst Park stadium.

The Eagle’s head groundsman, Mark Perrin, knows that if a home match isn’t televised live then it will certainly make an appearance in the MOTD highlights later that evening. And that is when he has good reason to value his long loyalty to Dennis and in particular the G860.

“I felt that Dennis were pioneers in the market. They were the first company to bring out an interchangeable cassette mower and the G860 is a machine I have always trusted for its sheer quality and reliability,” says Mark who has just purchased a new machine. “I’ve been using the G860 for the nine years I’ve been head groundsman here, so when it came to choosing a new one, there was only going to be one choice – it had to be another Dennis G860.”

Mark who oversees four other members of staff at both the stadium and training ground says that a key decision in purchasing the new machines was ease of use and manoeuvrability for both himself and his groundstaff added to the different cassettes available to carry out key seasonal tasks using just one power source.

“We have the Verti-Cutter cassette to deal with thatch and lateral growth, brush cassette and obviously cutting cassettes which we have two for each machine. This means that when one goes off to be re-ground, we always have one we can use; keeping down-time down to a minimum. We use the eight-bladed cutting cylinder in the lead up to a home match including on the day of the match because they give an excellent presentation. After the match we swap the cassette to the brush to sweep any divots or debris up before verti-cutting. The machines are so simple to use – I didn’t want to have a machine that was difficult to set-up and that only I could use.”

The Dennis G860 has six quick changeover cassette options giving ultimate flexibility and a single power unit for many day-to-day maintenance tasks. This versatility coupled with low ground pressure, at just 166kgs, and manoeuvrability makes the G860 the first choice for many top sporting venues around the world including World Cup Finals and European Championships.

“We have always had a great service from Dennis, whether it is sales or servicing machines,” he says. “From my own personal experience; I’ve always preferred the G860 and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any other groundsmen.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers.

The Ely City Golf Club, with a thriving 18-hole Henry Cotton designed course, has signed a 3-year sole supplier agreement with Sherriff Amenity. The deal will involve the supply of a wide range of fertilisers, chemicals and seed from their range and is a strengthening of an on-going yearly purchasing agreement that the club has had with Sherriff Amenity for the past four years.

According to the Cambridgeshire club’s Head Greenkeeper Andy Baker, it was the combination of the best prices for the products he uses and the level of support he gets from the Sherriff Amenity technical team that clinched the long-term deal.

“As much as all us head greenkeepers like to catch up with manufacturer’s reps and keep up-to-date with the new products on the market, time is precious,” said Andy. “Sherriff Amenity is the best of several suppliers that offer just about everything, and signing the deal allows me more time on the course.

“It makes budgeting so much easier too. I know my prices for the year and have a copy of all my costs on ‘Dropbox’, so I don’t have to call for prices every time I need additional items for the course. The club knows what the approximate cost for the year is and we have an agreed direct debit in 12 equal payments across the year with them. This helps with the cash flow and reduces our paperwork.”

Andy, who has been at the Ely City Club for ten years, uses a wide combination of products from different manufacturers on the course with Sherriff Amenity’s own products among them.

“It’s especially helpful having the Sherriff Amenity depot locally,” said Andy.

The club, which last year celebrated its Golden Jubilee, has for some time also been a valuable source of new product trials, putting fertilisers, herbicides, wetting agents and more to the test.

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriff-amenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity.

It’s only been 30 days since we were talking about saturated ground and not being able to travel on it.

Now, we’ve seen that they were watering Cheltenham Race Course on the Thursday of the Festival, and we haven't had any significant rainfall during the whole of March!

But, and there's always a but. It’s too soon to spray weeds with selective herbicide, as its realitvely cool in the evenings and all weeds haven't germinated, so spraying too early is bad value for money.

The moss we have talked about for a few weeks is definitely a menace and capable of smothering grass growth in our swards. It is, however, time to spray the moss with soluble iron @ 25 kg /ha, or use a granular like Greentec Mosskiller Pro from Headland Amenity @ 40 gms per square metre. This has a 4:0:4 analysis plus 9% Fe.

A soluble fertiliser can also be added to the iron product just to give the grasses an early boost. A penetrant like SAS 90 from Intracrop is also worth including in the tank.

It should also be noted that leatherjacket spraying is taking place with large populations coming to the surface - showing us that predictions of an infestation was correct and not scaremongering. Cyren is the pesticide of choice @ 1.5 litres per ha and is well worth adding to tank mixes (don’t forget to check the label), and use with the penetrant.

Where moss is a problem on artificial surfaces, car parks or hard surfaces, making walking treacherous, then MMC Pro is giving excellent results.

There is no point applying moss products on turf areas without scarifying afterwards (maybe around ten days would be advisable). Depending on how aggressive this operation is, and the degree the moss has blotted out the grass, re-seeding may need to take place. Grass is resilient and if patience is a virtue, then it may re-establish itself, in perfect growing conditions.

In a golf course situation, where group planted areas or shrubs exist, it’s time to apply a residual herbicide with a mix of glyphosate. This will give you weed control for maybe 6 months, with deep rooted weeds may require a spray in June or July i.e. Nettle, dock, bramble etc.

All Complete Weed Control franchisees can help you with all the above operations, and have all achieved the Amenity Assured Standard. Plus you get 'local help from a national company', as you are never more than a short journey away from any of our offices. Each of our franchisees can offer advice, carry out a soil-sample, or quote for any job.

For more information, please contact Complete Weed Control’s National office on 01325 324 277 or visit www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk. You can follow Complete Weed Control on Twitter @CWCLimited.

Scottish Premiership football club Hibernian have become the latest top flight club to purchase a new Dennis G860 34” professional mower with a range of interchangeable cassettes for use at their Easter Road Stadium.

The Dennis G860 first impressed Colin Fraser, who has been Head Groundsman at Hibernian for three years, around six years ago when he was previously Head Groundsman at Livingston FC.

“I first saw the G860 when Alan Ronaldson, the Scottish Area Manager, gave a demonstration,” explained Colin. “I loved the machine and what it could offer with its range of different cassettes. As soon as I started here, I knew it was a Dennis that I wanted as it allows me to complete a range of different jobs.”

Purchased with a range of cassettes including an 8-blade cutting cylinder, tungsten tipped verti-cutter and brush allows Colin the flexibility to not just cut the Easter Road stadium pitch to a high standard with the ever present ‘Dennis Stripes’ effect, but also carry out key tasks after matches such as brushing and verti-cutting, which according to Colin doesn’t allow thatch or organic matter to build up on the pitch.

“The cutting and finish we get with these machines is absolutely tremendous. It is probably the best machine I have got in the fleet. I really enjoy using it because it’s so simple and quick to change the cassettes. It’s not just great before games for cutting but the brush cassette is also really good for tidying debris after games.”

The Dennis G860 has six quick changeover cassette options giving ultimate flexibility and a single power unit for many day-to-day maintenance tasks. This versatility coupled with low ground pressure, at just 166kgs, and manoeuvrability makes the G860 the first choice for many top sporting venues around the world including the World Cup Finals and European Championships.

“Anyone who has got a Dennis raves about them, so I’m really pleased now we have one. I can honestly say that I’ve fallen in love with it and I would definitely recommend Dennis to other groundsmen,” said Colin.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers.

A party of Sherriff Amenity customers, delegates and staff from the company and sponsors Everris recently attended the Golf Industry Show in Orlando which followed the company’s education programme at BTME in Harrogate.

The group for the trip was made up predominantly of course managers from the UK, the group was joined for a day of technical seminars by Jim Croxton of BIGGA, Mike Finney from BASF, Dr Simon Watson from Syngenta, David Malloy from OGT.

As part of a full five day agenda the group visited the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes which included a tour of the facilities hosted by superintendent Andy Ragsdale who also gave an insight of his day-to-day duties and how that might differ from the UK.

The group also visited the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for the Golf Industry Show (GIS), where they viewed the products and services on offer. Visitors to the show not only came from the US but also further afield from Europe, Asia and South America who were all looking at the latest technology available.

Paul Copsey, group courses manager at Crown Golf commented: “It was a fantastic trip from start to finish. Not just going to the show, but also the education. The whole experience and hospitality we received from Sherriff Amenity and Everris was absolutely brilliant.”

Ed Carter, sales and development manager for Everris said: “Everris firmly believe that with customer expectation increasing all the time it is crucial that suppliers and turf managers alike benefit from the insight GIS offers. This year’s trip was extremely beneficial for all involved not only as a result of GIS but also the education and understanding that came through additional learning afforded by a wider agenda that included course walks and a further seminar program.

The whole week saw the group involved in discussion and debate and I’m sure everybody learned something new which could be taken back to the UK and considered for use on their own sites. Everris and Sherriff Amenity were hugely impressed with the quality and professionalism of the group which represented many of the UK’s leading resort golf groups and it’s safe to say that many friendships were made along the way which will no doubt benefit working relationships in 2014 and beyond.”

Mark Pyrah, Amenity Director at Sherriff Amenity said: “We continue to add value through education and fully support communication across the industry. The trip to the GIS was a golden opportunity to further develop our working relationship with some of the key golf groups in the UK and was very successful.”

Martin Guy, Owner of MG Developments added: “It was a relaxed atmosphere from the time we met up at the airport until we returned back to the UK. The opportunity to be with a group of like-minded people from clubs around the UK and to be able to discuss different issues was invaluable.”

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity

As part of Souters Sports continual investment in ensuring that clients receive the highest level of customer service, the contractor will now be offering free no-obligation pitch inspections.

Souters Sports have the expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to provide complete refurbishment or simple and effective maintenance procedures to any playing surface. With packages available to suit all budgets, Souters Sports can assess your needs promptly and efficiently.

A member of the Souters Sports team will visit your facility to carry out the free inspection and then provide a written report. This will advise the groundsman or facility manager with the options available to improve and maintain the playing surface.

Souters Sports offer several maintenance packages from aerations to over seeding – all designed to relieve the stress and strain caused by seasonal use on the playing surface.

The contractor is firmly established as one of the UK’s leading specialist sports turf contractors, providing sports ground construction, land and sports pitch renovation services. They have experience ranging from national stadiums to local authority sports pitches, but their expertise is not confined to sports facilities; in recent years the company has designed and constructed nature reserves, wildlife habitats, reservoirs, lakes and ponds throughout the UK. The core business of Souters Sports is land drainage, sports ground construction, golf course development / upgrading and natural turf maintenance.

Your pitch is a living breathing part of the club. With help from Souters Sports, you can provide the care it needs.

Book your free pitch inspection now by contacting Gary Cunningham, the Souters Sports business development manager on 07712 394 153 or email gary@souterssports.co.uk

For further information, please contact Souters Sports Limited on 01236 453030 or visit www.souterssports.co.uk. Souters Sports are also on Twitter @SoutersSports

The Facility at SCORE by Leyton Orient have renewed their service agreement with artificial sports maintenance specialists Replay Maintenance for a further five years – building on the already successful partnership the two companies have enjoyed for the last three years.

SCORE opened in 2005 after six years of planning and funding and currently provides a range of activities, services and facilities for the local community, with over 2000 using SCORE on a weekly basis. SCORE has been pioneered and managed by Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme, The Trust of Leyton Orient Football Club.

The pitch forms the centre piece at SCORE and is used by a range of local clubs, social teams, schools, colleges and Leyton Orient’s Academy.

As Neil Brown, SCORE Operations Manager explains: “The artificial sports pitches are used around the clock 7 days-a-week. We used to have continuous problems with the pitches flooding during heavy periods of rain. McArdle, who installed the surface, recommended we brought in Replay Maintenance to help solve our issues.”

Following a site visit by the experienced technical team at Replay back in 2010, a three year Replay Revive® service agreement was recommended with a Replay Rejuvenation® scheduled for late 2013 - ensuring that the pitch was always kept in the best possible condition and that flooding of the pitches would soon be a thing of the past.

The patented Replay Rejuvenation® process can restore compacted and contaminated artificial football, rugby, hockey and tennis surfaces to an ‘as new’ performance and appearance using compressed air to remove the contaminated top layer of infill and restore the pile to a vertical position. New clean infill is then added. The process can often double the playing life of a pitch or tennis court for less than a quarter of the cost of installing a new carpet. And, unlike replacing a pitch, the Replay Rejuvenation® can be completed in days – saving time and minimising loss of revenue to any facility.

“Prior to Replay, we had continuous problems with the pitch flooding. The maintenance that we have received over the last three years has greatly reduced the flooding. Since the Replay Rejuvenation, and even during the recent torrential rain, the pitches have performed remarkably well – I don’t think any other 3G pitches were playable in the area – which is testament to the on-going maintenance work carried out by Replay.”

“As a charity, ensuring that the facility is always available for use and fit for purpose enables us to meet our community targets. We had just completed a three-year service agreement, and because the pitches had been consistently performing over that period, we had no hesitation in signing a longer five-year agreement with Replay Maintenance. It makes budgeting easier having a fixed price for five years and we know that we won’t have any issues with the facility in that time. I’ve been impressed with Replay’s level of technical expertise and would recommend them to any other facility.”

For further information, please contact Replay Maintenance on 01636 640 506 or visit the company’s website www.replaymaintenance.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @ReplayMaintain

Premier League Football Club Chelsea FC has transformed the entrances to the first team training pitches at their Cobham training ground with the installation of baseguard - a new product and service by Complete Weed Control, the UK’s leading specialist contract service for the eradication of all problem weeds.

Head Groundsman Jason Griffin has a long a successful relationship with Complete Weed Control (London South) having dealt with the company for almost twenty years. “Cobham is such a big site – probably the largest training complex in the country, and legislation with spraying changes so much. It’s far easier for me to take that headache out of the equation and let Richard Allen and his team deal with all of our spraying needs.

“They are reliable and I know that they have very high standards, so I don’t have to worry about their work as they are so good at what they do. We have access areas on to the pitches, which was previously covered in bark and I was looking at alternative surfaces as there is a lot of traffic from footfall and machines going onto the pitches – all of which was bringing mud and mess onto the pitches. Richard suggested a new product - baseguard.

Following a site survey, Complete Weed Control (London South) sent a team to remove the existing surface and create what Jason describes as ‘the finishing touch’.

The baseguard surface is available in a wide range of colours to create attractive finishes and bespoke designs and can also be readily installed on both new and existing surfaces. Typically, it is ready for use within 24 hours of application. Uses include:

 Children's play surfaces
 Pedestrian areas
 Anywhere that needs an impact-absorbing safe surface

“The new surface is cleaner and far more practical than what we previously had. baseguard just finishes the area off and looks very professional.”

As well as working at the Cobham training, CWC carry out work at Stamford Bridge. “Anything we want doing here, I will ask Richard to do, and his team do it. We have a very close relationship. I have used them for many years – first dealing with Richard’s father John and can’t fault them. They save us so much manpower and are experts in what they do.” said Jason.

For more information, please contact Complete Weed Control’s National office on 01325 324 277 or visit www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk. You can also follow CWC on Twitter @CWCLimited for more news, reviews and insightful views.

Sedgwick Cricket Club of the Westmorland League had a season to remember in 2013 both on the pitch and because of the pitch, thanks to Sherriff Amenity, one of the UK’s leading turf care and sports equipment suppliers.

The village club, just south of Kendal in Cumbria, topped the second division and took the League’s Fair Play trophy. A memorable hat trick of wins was completed by taking the Best Ground Award for accumulating the highest marks of all 21 clubs in the League’s two divisions from match by match assessment of pitches and outfields by visiting umpires.

At the League’s recent awards dinner to collect the Best Ground trophy were the two clubmen who look after it, Eric Mackereth and Ken Illingworth.

Sedgwick has had a cricket club since the early 19th century, when one was formed by Lord Wakefield. The club as it is now was set-up in 1978 and games are played on the village ground by two senior and three junior teams. It achieved the best ground accolade amongst all of the West Moorland league clubs across south Cumbria, North Lancashire and West Yorkshire because of Eric and Ken’s tireless efforts, but Eric, also club Vice-Chairman, gave huge credit to an outsider.

“Ken does all the pitch preparation: I do the mowing, but we have to give a big vote of thanks to Kevan Grieve of Sherriff Amenity for his valuable advice over the past couple of years,” he said. “Our square and outfield have undoubtedly benefitted in a big way from soil analysis he regularly conducts and the feeding and maintenance programmes he’s suggested.

“Our pitch surfaces are now firmer and our outfield faster. Three centuries and three hat tricks last season: it’s never been a better venue for bat and ball. Clubs love to play here and say as much. We’re really proud of our ground, and our award.”

Kevan Grieve’s recommendations to Sedgwick CC over the past two seasons, which helped them take the Best Ground trophy, were:

Tank mix of Headland X-Tend and Relay Turf as a weed and feed treatment for the outfield, which also had Caste Off applied to stop worm casts.

The square was oversown with Johnsons J Wicket Seed and then given alternate liquid feeds of Headland N-Sure and Headland Turfite.

For autumn renovations granular Evolution2 5:5:10 was applied followed by GoGreen Granules.

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or email info@sherriff-amenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity.

Maintaining their commitment to educating groundsmen and greenkeepers, Dennis and SISIS have kicked off their 2014 series of ‘on the green’ seminars, starting at Potton Bowls Club in Bedfordshire.

Continuing its programme of working closely with turf professionals, and on a warm and sunny day, over 50 keen greenkeepers from bowls clubs across the region enjoyed a comprehensive educational programme before seeing the latest machinery in action from the British manufacturer.

The programme for the day was started by Robert Jack, the company's Area sales manager, who welcomed delegates before handing over to Patrick Hulbert from Bowls International magazine and an Ex-International bowls player who gave his take on what a player expects from the green. Patrick was followed by Alistair Hollis, operational services manager for Bowls England who gave an update of the national governing body.

Next up was Mike Williamson of Sherriff Amenity who gave a technical presentation on seed and fertiliser including the correct formulations to use at different times of the year.

The morning session was concluded by Chris Sherriff, a bowling green contractor who gave his thoughts on the problems he had suffered during a thoroughly wet winter and how he has overcome them to get the greens ready for the start of the season.

After lunch, everyone went outside in the sunshine for a demonstration of a wide range of Dennis and SISIS turf maintenance machinery by the company’s field support team which included spikers, scarifiers and a range of mowers.

The day was brought to a close with the now infamous 'Turf Clinic' - a question and answer session, which proved to be quite lively with delegates getting the chance to ask the experts questions which they had about their greens.

Arthur Lindsey, the greenkeeper from Potton Bowls Club commented: “I was very happy to have the Dennis and SISIS seminar here at the club. The demonstration of all the machinery has given us a chance to see the latest turf maintenance equipment, whilst the presentations have been very interesting. The day has gone very well, the weather has been great and everyone has learnt something from being here.”

Roger Moore, customer manager at Dennis and SISIS, said "The aim of these seminars is to give groups of greenkeepers the latest information about how they can improve their playing surfaces. We’ve already had some positive feedback from attendees, who said they found the day very informative and interesting, which is pleasing to know that we have got the correct mix of technical presentations and also machinery demonstrations. We will shortly be announcing other seminars across various geographical locations in due course.”

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and SISIS @SISISMachinery. You can like the Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK and www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers and www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery