FOR those of us who had to pass up the invite to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Harrogate (snowy, but lacking in the mountain department) was a welcome alternative.

BTME 2015 could have stood for Baroness Turf Machinery Exhibition, so prominent was the branding across the show. Free Baroness bottled water, lanyards, posh carrier bags, the brand was everywhere – and extended to possibly the largest stand in the show.  Mention Langar or Ipswich and you know who they are talking about. Perhaps Ian Kerry is hoping to establish the same connection with – Basingstoke.

In contrast, Toro had no machines on the stand, using their space instead to meet and greet, and use videos to showcase their machines. This may be the way that some exhibitors will go when SALTEX moves indoors in November and floor space is at more of a premium at the NEC than it was on the open spaces of Windsor Racecourse.

However, it was good to see the Big Three with an albeit modest presence at BTME in a year when they weren’t originally expected to exhibit. If you remember, by a stroke of sheer co-incidence, the triumphate of Toro, Ransomes and Deere all made the same decision to support SALTEX and Harrogate in alternate years.

That line, individually taken you understand, appears to be softening. My guess is that you find all three represented at both shows from now on, either on a big stand, small stand rotation – or as one dealer commented “I would rather it was medium, medium”.

All that supposes that the IOG and BIGGA shows remain annual events. They are, and will be, different shows by dint of their timing, location and audience. Harrogate has much to offer the showgoer. Compact, walkable and with a huge choice of eating and drinking options. And should you overhear a group of greenkeepers discussing ‘lapping’, it is probably not because of a piece of serious advice they received on the Bernhards stand, but their previous evening in the 'adult gentlemen’s' King's Club.

By all accounts, the IOG are building up a solid exhibitor base for SALTEX at the NEC, and the concept of an indoor show is growing on people. Certainly those with twin stands at the overlapping BTME and LAMMA (and there were quite a number), were somewhat loathe to substitute the warmth and cosiness of the Harrogate International Centre for the open spaces of the East of England Showground on a day when icy winds and snow were forecast (you plan for shows, then two come along together. Needs sorting!)

As for BTME, there was an undeniable ‘buzz’, more so than in many previous years. And more to the point, there appeared to be an appetite to buy with many dealers reporting strong levels of enquiries and tenders flowing out since the New Year.

As ever, BTME attracts a heady mix of the present practioners together with those who enjoy the ‘craic’ and camaraderie of the industry. Good to see the likes of Richard Bishop, ‘Bish’, in good form and those many alumini of the greenkeeping profession for whom Harrogate in January is a date not to miss.