Firstly today, a quick reminder that it's SALTEX at the Birmingham NEC on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

As ever, Service Dealer and TurfPro will be in attendance. We have a stand at C130, but we will inevitably be flitting all around the show, gathering information and chatting with the great and the good. Please if you do see any of the team, stop us and say hi. We always love to find out how our dealer readers are doing.

It will be interesting to see how many dealers choose to make the trip to the NEC this year. Indeed, it'll be interesting to see just how well-attended in general the show will be. Organisers have certainly made a huge effort in the run up, for which they should be applauded. It seems to me that the pre-event marketing has been upped both in terms of its reach and, most importantly, it's impact. I feel that the target audience will have seen much more about the exhibition going into it, than in years gone by.

As well as all the exhibitors who'll be showing their latest wears, the GMA have announced innovations for the show including The Community Sport Zone, The Arcade and The Clubhouse that could all add to the attraction for turf professionals. And perhaps the most significant tempter of all to get undecided punters to rock up, could be the recently announced free parking! This has been a bugbear for many over the years, so the removal of that not-insignificant penalty, could very well prove fruitful for their numbers through the door.

Coming soon after what was an undeniably popular GroundsFest, it will be fascinating to take the temperature of SALTEX next week. Plenty of dealers went to the recent event at Stoneleigh, so is another trade show visit on the cards for you? Please let us know what your thoughts are regarding SALTEX's place in the industry calendar in the comments below.

Outstanding dealers

One thing I absolutely do know our dealer readers' thoughts on, is customer service. The exemplary standards seen across the network were highlighted to me again this week as I was privileged to be part of the judging panel for our Dealer Of The Year awards.

L-R: Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke; editor, Steve Gibbs; TurfPro editor, Laurence Gale; and contributor, Keith Christian

The panel who met on Wednesday, were once again blown away by the quality of the nominations. We also had more dealerships than ever before choosing to enter the fray. So it was quite the task to carefully and fairly work our way through all the entries - with the sense of responsibility that we were entrusted with, not lost on any of us.

We heard stories from dealerships specialising in garden, agricultural and professional turf machinery - all different in size and from locations across the UK and Ireland, yet sharing a common mindset. There was a clear and consistent theme of putting customer satisfaction at the heart of everything they do. This ethos came through not only from the dealerships themselves, but was echoed in testimonials from their suppliers and customers too.

Alongside the business stories, we also learned about some truly outstanding individuals working in a wide variety of roles within these dealerships. We heard about impressive young technicians just beginning their careers, about valued team members who bring vital support and positivity to their workplaces, and about leaders who set the standard through their own actions - inspiring loyalty, commitment, and success throughout their teams for the good of the whole business.

Coming after what has been a tough season for many, it's incredibly heartening for us to hear about these wonderful working practices and team members - all of whom are laser-focused on making sure their homeowner, commercial and farming customers have the best experience possible with their local specialist.

When the judges finally concluded on Wednesday, I think I can speak for all by saying we were utterly delighted with the finalists chosen across the categories. They are a superb selection to represent the quality of the entire dealer network. All should be rightly proud of their achievements. 

We are now excited to celebrate each and every one on December 4th at the Crown Plaza in Stratford-Upon-Avon, at our gala awards dinner - following on from what is shaping up to be a most special Conference.

See you there.

The Service Dealer Conference & Awards takes place on Thursday 4th December at the Crown Plaza, Stratford-Upon Avon - and dealers can grab their tickets now to make sure they don't miss out.

The organising team say the venue is almost full to capacity, so this will be one of your final opportunities to make sure you are in the room where it happens!

This year's theme is Resilience and there's packed programme of talks, seminars and breakout sessions, all geared specifically to the needs of our valued dealer readers.

Head here to register your interest and Nikki will explain the various packages still available.

See you there! 

EMS Machinery, based in Naas in Co. Kildare, the main dealer for Develon (formerly Doosan Construction Equipment) in the Republic of Ireland, has completed delivery of Ireland’s first ever Develon electric excavators - two DX20ZE-7 Electric 2 tonne mini excavators - to Fingal County Council. 

Joseph Mandolil, fleet manager for Fingal County Council

A local authority, north of Dublin City, Fingal County Council has offices at Swords and Blanchardstown. Fingal County Council serves a geographical area of 448 sq km which spans rural, coastal, urban and suburban communities and is home to several key elements of national and regional infrastructure, including Dublin Airport.

EMS say the arrival of the new electric excavators underscores their shared commitment with Develon and Fingal County Council to pioneering innovation and sustainability in the construction industry.

Seamus Flynn, sales director at EMS said, “This milestone signals a significant step forward in the Irish construction sector’s journey towards sustainability. EMS Machinery and Develon are committed to continuing this progress, supporting stakeholders such as Fingal County Council in building a greener, more efficient future.”

The DX20ZE-7 mini excavator is the first mass-produced electric-powered excavator manufactured by Develon. The manufacturer says the 2 tonne excavator combines low-noise and zero emissions with the features and performance enhancements that are found on the next-generation DX-7 Series family of mini excavators. 

Jason Nettle, director of Winchester Garden Machinery, is this year undertaking the challenge of 12 marathons in 12 months for good causes. Here he updates us as he prepares for his penultimate marathon that will also honour the contribution and sacrifice of those who have served.

Hi everyone,

The end of this monumental 12 Marathons in 12 Months challenge is so close I can almost taste it! I’m down to the final two runs, and the next one is happening this Sunday.

This weekend, I’ll be running the Remembrance Day Run alongside my brother. This event holds extra significance as we dedicate our miles to honouring the contribution and sacrifice of those who have served.

However, prep work for this one has been, shall we say, non-existent. Between manufacturer dealer conferences and this week’s AEA 150th celebration dinner, my calendar has been completely dominated, leaving me seriously short on training time. I'll be relying purely on accumulated grit (and perhaps a little blind panic) to get through the 26.2 miles!

I am extremely grateful to announce that this crucial penultimate marathon is being sponsored by Kress. Their support means the world as I tackle these final, exhausting miles. Thank you, Kress.

The power of familiar names

I've been checking the sponsorship page, and it's fantastic to see so many familiar names pop up. It really drives home the community support behind this challenge. Thanks to all your incredible generosity, the total has now soared to a staggering £13,442! That is truly phenomenal.

Right now, my main focus is sticking my feet back together and just hoping they will last these final two events. The end is in sight, but the body is definitely making me work for it.

Why we keep running

Even with the body aching and the training schedule a mess, the motivation remains laser-focused.

We’ve already smashed the fundraising target and are aiming higher for Cancer Research UK, Prostate Cancer UK, Naomi House Children’s Hospice and St. Michael's Hospice. Every agonising mile I run this Sunday is dedicated to turning pain into real support for these causes.

Please, help us maximise the final total! If you haven't yet, there's no better time to sponsor this challenge.

Wish my brother and me luck this Sunday - we’re going to need it!

Westbrook Agri Ltd., based in Calne, 4.5 miles west of Devizes, has become an official McCormick dealer in the South West having struck a dealership agreement with Argo Tractors GB. 

Westbrook Agri's Lewis Johnson and Argo's Richard Haines

“Bringing the McCormick brand under our roof strengthens our ability to offer a ‘one-stop shop’ for farmers who now have a tractor range to consider here in addition to the trailers, diggers and low loaders we also sell,” explains Lewis Johnson, director of Westbrook Agri Ltd. 

“Along with the responsibility of sales of the McCormick range of tractors, we are also offering full after sales support to all our McCormick customers, and thanks to our agricultural engineer, we can respond to any repair query at any time, seven days a week.” 

Richard Haines, commercial director of Argo Tractors GB added, “We are delighted that Westbrook Agri Ltd has joined the McCormick team, thus extending our commercial footprint into Wiltshire. Lewis is leading an ambitious operation that is keen to grow and innovate, mirroring Argo Tractors GB’s wider vision for boosting our sales and aftersales business throughout Great Britain."

Lewis Johnson continued, "Westbrook Agri Ltd. plans to expand rapidly across Wiltshire, responding to customer demand, offering McCormick’s finance deals to support new and existing customers.

"We’re looking forward to meeting new customers and showcasing how the McCormick range can deliver sustainable performance and offer real value on farm.” 

More than fifty apprentices have graduated from John Deere’s Ag Tech, Turf Tech, and Parts Tech programmes, joining dealerships across the UK and Ireland as qualified technicians and parts specialists.

The graduates, trained in partnership with ProVQ at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre in Upper Saxondale, Nottinghamshire, were recognised at a special ceremony celebrating their achievement and the ongoing success of one of the longest-running manufacturer apprenticeship schemes in the industry.

Jacob Ellwood from the Thomas Sherriff dealership was named Technician Apprentice of the Year for 2025, while Alex Hind from Farol won the Parts Apprentice of the Year award. Both received trophies and iPads to mark their success.

Now in its fourth decade, John Deere say their apprenticeship scheme continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of modern machinery dealerships. The programme equips students with a mix of technical, diagnostic, and digital skills, alongside customer service and communication training.

“Our apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in developing the next generation of talent for our dealer network,” said John Deere Training Centre manager Allan Cochran. “The industry is moving fast, with connected machines, advanced diagnostics, and precision technology becoming standard, so it’s essential that our apprentices leave fully prepared for those challenges. Seeing them graduate and take their next steps with our dealers is hugely rewarding.”

Apprentices on the Ag Tech and Turf Tech courses work towards the Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Level 3 qualification, while those on the Parts Tech route complete a Level 3 parts diploma.

The expanded Parts Tech programme, introduced last year, now includes greater emphasis on technical knowledge and customer interaction in response to the growing importance of aftermarket and service support.

An apprenticeship programme is also available to those working in the construction industry with the John Deere-owned Wirtgen Group.

Recruitment for the next intake is now underway, offering school and college leavers the opportunity to build long-term careers in the agricultural and turf machinery industries.

2025 John Deere Apprentice Graduates

Ag Tech apprentices:

Ethan Pywell (Farol), Joe Wroughton (Farol), Tristan Ingram (Hunt Forest Group), Dennis Goode (Hunt Forest Group), William Edmunds (Hunt Forest Group), Oliver Crowden (Hunt Forest Group), Robert Smith (J S Montgomery), Lewis Goddard (Masons Kings), Kieron Knights (Tuckwells), Kane Rose (Tuckwells), Dexter Cox (Tuckwells), Kieran Day (Tuckwells), Carter Gagg (Tuckwells), George Lane (Tuckwells), Harvey Resker (Tuckwells), Luke Francis (Tuckwells), Harry Douglas (Ripon Farm Services), Ryan Ford (Ripon Farm Services), Marcus Bulled (Smallridge Bros), Thomas Tamblyn (Smallridge Bros), Edward Girdler (Smallridge Bros), Ben McNally (Stephen W Moore), Shane Kirwan (Templetuohy Farm Machinery), Noel Morton (Templetuohy Farm Machinery), Colin Power (Templetuohy Farm Machinery), Ben Ballantyne (Thomas Sherriff), Daniel Campbell (Thomas Sherriff), Jacob Ellwood (Thomas Sherriff), George Rutland (Ben Burgess), Jack Balls (Ben Burgess), Ben Rimmer (Ben Burgess), Niall Lambert (Cornthwaite), Cameron Steele (Cornthwaite), James Holden (Cornthwaite), Robert Ward (Farol)

TurfTech apprentices:

Nathan Tilley (Ripon Farm Services), Ellis Lane (Tallis Amos Group), Dylan Philip (The Double A Trading Company), Aiden May (Farol)

Parts Tech apprentices:

Elisabeth Akers-Wood (Ripon Farm Services), Jasmine Grant (Thomas Sherriff), Libby Holden (Balmers GM), Alex Hind (Farol), Holly Ward (Farol)

Construction apprentices:

Dyllan Du Plessis (Wirtgen)

Diploma apprentices:

Declan Bryan (Farol), Nicholas Cokayne (Farol), Joshua Hartwell (Farol), Bradley Kebej (Farol), Daniel Lewis (Farol), Gaurav Patel (Farol), Kacper Racziewicz (Farol), Max Spiers (Farol), Lucy Walker (Farol), Lucy Winfield (Farol)

STIGA has been appointed Official Groundskeeping Partner of England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Ian Ayling, grounds manager, RFU; Jack Brown, sales director, STIGA UK; James Gordon, managing director, STIGA UK; Claudio Borges, director of commercial and marketing, RFU

In this role, the manufacturer will support both the senior men’s and women’s teams, as well as grassroots rugby clubs nationwide.

The company says their multi-year partnership with the RFU reflects their "commitment to easing the load on volunteers and grounds teams in pitch maintenance, while ensuring world-class playing surfaces for sports players at every level, contributing to nurturing rugby from the ground up."

As part of the agreement, the brand will support the maintenance of pitches and green spaces across the country, from elite England Rugby training facilities to grassroots clubs, by providing access to its autonomous robot mowers and battery-powered equipment.

James Gordon, managing director of STIGA UK, said, “Rugby is built on strong foundations, and we believe great games start with great grounds. By showcasing the quality and innovation of STIGA products, we will support clubs, inspire fans, and elevate standards across the sport.”

Claudio Borges, RFU executive director of commercial and marketing, said, “We are very excited to start this partnership with STIGA. We have aligned values and are excited to see where we can take this new relationship. Having the best pitches and training facilities is paramount to any professional team’s performance, and we are delighted that we will be getting support on this from STIGA.”

The partnership will be showcased through joint activations, branding across the Union’s channels, as well as those of the senior men’s and women’s teams and grassroots clubs, alongside a strengthened presence during key matches. Furthermore, demonstrating its commitment to the wider rugby community, STIGA will introduce an exclusive discount programme for all England Rugby clubs, the players and their members available via stiga.com. A portion of proceeds from these purchases will be reinvested directly into the RFU community.

This partnership between STIGA and RFU complements its existing collaborations with clubs such as Stade Toulousain in France, Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany, Benetton Rugby in Italy, Lech Poznań in Poland, and many others across Europe. This alliance also aligns with the manufacturer's recent expansion into the professional sector.

Built for Stadiums and Elite Pitches

Cobra has announced the upcoming launch of the Fortis Stadium 34, the largest and most advanced cylinder lawnmower in the Fortis range. Launching in Spring 2026, it has been engineered for stadiums, training grounds and elite sports pitches, where precision and reliability are essential for world-class playing surfaces.

First previewed at GroundsFest 2025 and to be showcased again at Saltex 2025 (Stand B110), the Stadium 34 impressed turf professionals with its 34-inch cutting cylinder, robust build and ergonomic design, delivering the perfectly even, tournament-ready finish that professional sport demands.

Power and Versatility

The Stadium 34 will be available in two versions: a Honda-powered petrol model for proven performance, and an EGO battery-powered model offering the same 34” cut with reduced noise, zero emissions at the point of use and lower running costs – ideal for stadiums where sustainability and noise control are priorities.

It also works with the full range of Fortis lawncare cartridges, so groundskeepers can carry out jobs such as aeration, scarification, verticutting and brushing with a single machine – keeping pitches in peak condition all year round.

Comfort and Innovation

For extended mowing sessions, the optional Trailed Premium Seat allows operators to cover large pitches with reduced fatigue while maintaining complete control.

“We’re incredibly proud to reveal the Fortis Stadium 34,” said Peter Chaloner, Managing Director at Cobra Garden. “This cylinder lawnmower has been developed in close collaboration with professional grounds teams and is designed to raise the standard of turf care for stadiums and sports pitches. With a choice of Honda petrol or EGO battery power, cartridge versatility and the Trailed Premium Seat, it gives stadium groundskeepers everything they need to achieve world-class playing surfaces.”

Launching in Spring 2026, the Cobra Fortis Stadium 34 sets a new benchmark in professional turf care, joined by the new Cobra ZT Series to further expand Cobra’s product portfolio.

The New Cobra ZT Series - Stand-On and Zero-Turn Ride-Ons

Alongside the Fortis Stadium 34, Cobra will also be previewing the new Cobra ZT Series, which includes stand-on and zero-turn ride-on mowers.

Designed for large estates and commercial properties, the ZT Series combines precision control, power and productivity, offering mowing solutions for demanding conditions.

The ZT Series also features a high-quality engineered 3-in-1 combi-deck that gives operators the freedom to adapt to every mowing condition. Each model can be configured by the dealer for rear discharge, side discharge, or mulching (with the included mulch blades fitted). Whether fast, efficient clearance or a finely mulched finish is required, the ZT Series’ precision-engineered cutting decks delivers outstanding performance and a premium results every time.

For more information on Cobra, visit: www.cobragarden.co.uk

To become a Cobra dealer, please contact Andy Marvin on 07771 581 296 or call our sales team.

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