Like many of you this week I'm sure, I'm heading to Harrogate for the traditional start to the turfcare industry's year, BIGGA's BTME exhibition.

Always a valuable event, I have to say I was somewhat concerned for a moment the other day when I received notification that BIGGA had announced changes for the show going forward. Luckily however, it's evolution rather than revolution, with just more space within the Harrogate Convention Centre itself being utilised by the show from next January.

It can't be underestimated how significant an element to the show's success the town of Harrogate is. As BIGGA's Jim Croxton said in a statement, "The Harrogate Convention Centre remains the ideal location to host BTME, as not only are the facilities ideally suited to hosting such a huge event, but the North Yorkshire market town itself is integral to the success of the exhibition."

So sticking to Harrogate is the first reason to be pleased about BIGGA's decision. The next is that having the ever increasing educational Continue To Learn element of the show, front and centre from next year is a superb notion. One feels that more than the exhibition itself, it's this element which draws the numbers each year. Certainly it makes a couple of days away from the workplace incredibly justifiable for visitors.

The exhibition is of course, important too. If this now has more floorspace devoted to it, allowing more exhibitors to take stands, in an area which gives visitors the best show experience, that is also a great move by BIGGA.

Jim Croxton went on to say, "We’re delighted that BTME has grown to the extent that it can no longer be contained within the four traditional exhibition halls that we have utilised. The move to alternative facilities within the centre enables us to retain all that is good about BTME, while presenting an improved visitor experience and allowing all our exhibitor base to take the space they need to show their wares. It is critical that all events evolve to suit the needs of their stakeholders and I’m thrilled we have the opportunity to do so with BTME 2019."

We've seen with SALTEX that after some initial scepticism, a change to an established show, if done correctly, will become accepted and indeed embraced. And this change which BIGGA are undertaking is obviously nowhere near such an upheaval as the IOG's move was a couple of years ago. I'd be surprised to hear any complaints about this.

I'm certainly pleased that the show is staying indoors as well. January isn't the time to try to put on an exhibition in a field. Some of you might have heard that the agricultural machinery show, LAMMA, was forced to close a day early last week due to high winds affecting the showgrounds overnight. A decision had to be taken on Thursday morning by the organisers that because of damage to stands and structures it simply wasn't safe to allow the public on site for the final day of the exhibition.

That show had already taken the decision to move indoors to the NEC from January 2019 - a choice now which I'm sure the organisers feel explains itself.

So to all who are planning to attend BTME this week, I hope you have an enjoyable and productive time - safe in the knowledge that we'll all descend on the Harrogate Convention Centre this time next year once again.

On the eve of BTME 2018, BIGGA has announced major changes that reveal how the turf management exhibition will look in coming years.

The 30th annual BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, taking place next week from 23-25 January at the Harrogate Convention Centre, will be the final one in its current incarnation, as the organisers have announced a restructure that will see the size of the exhibition floor space grow by up to 25% for 2019.

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre will continue to host BTME. The venue has seen significant investment made in recent years, and BIGGA has opted to take advantage, in a move that they believe will further improve the experience for visitors and exhibitors alike.

The focus of BTME will shift away from the Ripon Road end of the convention centre, to the main auditorium entrance, further down King’s Road. This opens up different exhibition spaces, creating what BIGGA describe as "an improved, structured journey for the visitor" and that they say "brings a whole host of possibilities for innovation and creativity."

Following BTME 2017, the association say they experienced an unprecedented surge in re-bookings, with additional exhibitors also eager to take part. By September 2017 all four exhibition halls were completely filled and a waiting list was established in an attempt to cope with the additional demand.

With Continue to Learn education numbers also reaching record levels, it became clear that BTME had outgrown its current configuration, and so avenues were opened to explore possibilities to allow expansion.

As such, in 2019 BTME will no longer utilise Halls A and M. Halls B and C will be retained, but the King’s Suite, Halls D and Q and Studio One will become the main exhibition spaces, with the primary entrance to the exhibition coming through the Harrogate Convention Centre’s main entrance.

The Continue to Learn education programme will remain in the Queen’s Suite, but the new layout will mean the education programme will now be situated at the centre of the entire visitor experience, rather than at the very rear of the facilities used. Meanwhile, the impressive modern auditorium will be utilised for the key educational and celebratory events during the week.

BIGGA Chairman Les Howkins MG, course manager at The Richmond Golf Club in London, said, "Following 2017 and with the huge excitement that we’ve experienced building towards BTME 2018, it has become clear the exhibition has outgrown its current shell, and we’re delighted to announce the next evolution of BTME for 2019.

“As a consumer of the show myself, I’m excited about the possibilities these changes present, with the result being a brighter, more exciting and more engaging exhibition for everyone.”

BIGGA has now engaged the services of JR Exhibitions, led by Jill Rodham, who has substantial experience of BTME, to manage the exhibition sales process.

During the exhibition next week on Monday 22, Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 January there will be tours of the new layout available for current and potential exhibitors.

After an independent audit confirmed a record-breaking SALTEX attendance at the NEC, the show’s visitor survey has now revealed a fascinating insight into the 8,909 who attended.

According to the survey results 89 per cent of SALTEX 2017 visitors rated their overall SALTEX experience as being either very good or excellent.

The majority of the visitors were aged between 31 and 60 and represented a wide variety of businesses and organisations - with sports clubs, local authorities and schools, colleges and universities leading the way.

In further exploring the type of sports or recreation facility that the visitors were responsible for maintaining, football led the way closely followed by golf, parks, cricket, rugby and tennis.

More than 70 per cent of visitors held a senior position within their respective companies and over 80 per cent of them were either solely responsible or contributed to the purchasing process.

Almost 60 per cent attended SALTEX with a view to buying and 40 per cent said that they placed orders on the show floor.

In terms of product categories they were interested in:

• Machinery, power and hand tools – 84 per cent
• Seeds, turf, aggregates and treatments – 49 per cent
• Sports surfaces, facilities and equipment – 43 per cent
• Arboriculture and horticulture – 40 per cent
• Landscaping and materials – 38 per cent

Primarily, attendees came to search for innovations and new products while 84 per cent said they attended due to the number and mix of exhibitors. 67 per cent said they attended SALTEX with the main objective of networking; 74 per cent said the location of the show was a determining factor in their decision to attend and nearly 50 per cent of attendees made use of their visit for training and educational opportunities.

Whatever their reasons for attending, an overwhelming 92 per cent of SALTEX 2017 visitors said that they were successful in meeting their objectives.

SALTEX continues to attract an international audience and a large proportion of European visitors attended from countries such as Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Czech Republic and Spain. Further afield, visitors from Sri Lanka, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia also made the journey to the NEC.

Visitors also attended from every corner of the UK. In particular, the counties of Warwickshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and London recorded a huge number of visitors.

SALTEX 2018 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on 31 October and 1 November, and 92 per cent of SALTEX 2017 visitors concluded the survey by indicating that they will be returning.

Agriculture and turf dealership Tallis Amos Group Limited (TAG) has acquired the trade and assets of Bristol based professional turf dealer BS Mowers Limited, as part of John Deere’s ‘Dealer of Tomorrow’ strategy.

Bristol outlet managing director Bob Culverhouse (left) with Tallis Amos Group director Colin McIntyre.

BS Mowers is largely known for its expertise in the fine turf machinery industry throughout Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset. To provide continuity of sales and service to customers in the area, all the BS Mowers staff led by branch managing director Bob Culverhouse have been retained and the dealership will continue to operate as a turf only outlet under the TAG banner from January 2018. The business’ existing trading area will remain largely unchanged as a result of the merger.

“I am delighted that the Tallis Amos Group has agreed to acquire our company and bring its combination of experience and expertise to this part of south-west England,” says Bob Culverhouse. “It will allow us to grow the business and continue delivering the best possible parts and service support to existing and new customers, across a wider range of products from John Deere and other leading brands.”

The Tallis Amos Group is owned by the Tallis and Amos families, with managing director Ben Tallis, who is based at TAG’s Evesham head office, and sales director Simon Amos, based in Leominster, running the company as partners. With this latest acquisition, the group now manages five outlets in Evesham, Leominster, Bibury, Narberth and Bristol.

TAG was identified as one of London Stock Exchange's 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain in 2015. This annual report is a celebration of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized businesses.

“As a strong family run business, we firmly believe the Tallis Amos Group is the right long-term partner for customers across its newly expanded sales area,” says John Deere Limited division sales manager Joedy Ibbotson. “The dealership has a long history with Deere, a great deal of experience and a reputation among its customers for consistently delivering the highest levels of after-sales support.”

ISEKI UK has been announced as title sponsor of GolfBIC, the Golf Business & Industry Convention.

The Japanese tractor manufacturer has recently announced the launch of a dedicated UK & Ireland business from 1 January 2018 and in addition to hosting GolfBIC, ISEKI UK has also pledged to join BIGGA’s Education Supporter programme.

GolfBIC 2018 takes place in Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall on Wednesday 24 January and will be hosted by the BBC's Naga Munchetty.

Produced in partnership by BIGGA, the UKGCOA and OGRO, GolfBIC is described as an opportunity for golf club owners and operators to gain access to some of the best education and networking opportunities available within the industry.

ISEKI UK Managing Director David Withers said: “While ISEKI UK is a brand-new venture, we already know and understand the philosophy and attitude that we will bring to the market. Part of our approach is a respect for and commitment to education.

“There is no doubt that while the golf industry can be a tough challenge, those people who learn from others, invest in their own education and strive to deliver year-on-year improvements tend to thrive, despite difficult conditions.

“Attending GolfBIC is one of the ways people can help themselves achieve these goals and we are delighted to be able to participate in what will no doubt be a great event.”

Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course extended its hotel in 2016 to 55 rooms, and has since invested in golf course maintenance equipment and vehicles from Textron Golf to reduce noise levels around the hotel grounds.

Kenny Harper, Golf Course and Estate Grounds Manager, right, with the maintenance team and new equipment from Textron Golf outside the newly renovated clubhouse

The equipment included on the five-year lease deal includes mowers and vehicles across the Jacobsen, Cushman and E-Z-GO brands. Local dealer Fairways GM facilitated the purchasing process and is providing continued after-sales support.

Meldrum House Country Hotel is a four-star hotel in a 13th-century estate house, the oldest stone building in Aberdeenshire. The hotel is set in beautifully manicured grounds which are maintained by Kenny Harper, Golf Course and Estate Grounds Manager, and his team. Having spent five years at Gleneagles, and 20 at Meldrum House, Kenny said, “The golf course here is a members-only course, and it is crucial that whilst we keep our members happy, we also need to be mindful of our hotel guests, as the rooms and the golf course are very close to each other geographically.

“I looked into the Jacobsen Eclipse 322 riding greens mower, and it ticked all of the boxes for us. The noise levels are dramatically reduced, meaning that we can cut greens around the hotel whenever we like without disturbing anyone. As well as the noise advantage, the Eclipse 322 doesn’t use any hydraulic oil, which means there aren’t any disastrous leaks on the greens either. I also like being able to set speeds and clip rates using a passcode so that everything is being cut consistently. The members have noticed the difference on the course; our greens have never looked better.”

As well as three Eclipse 322 greens mowers, Meldrum House has also invested in two LF570 fairway mowers, two Cushman Hauler Pro vehicles (one with a sprayer, and one with a topdresser), three Cushman XD-R vehicles one Jacobsen TR-3 mower, one AR-3, one HR500 wide-area mower, one Truckster XD and 10 E-Z-GO RXV electric golf cars.

“The Eclipse 322 and the electric E-Z-GO vehicles are another addition to our environmental plan. The reduced noise and air pollution is important to us, and we are already using wood-burning boilers to provide hot water and heat to the hotel and maintenance facility. We also use recycled rain water for washing down machines, and wild-flower plantations were used around the hotel extension which has allowed us to have bee hives on site which we produce our own honey from. Pesticides are being reduced to protect our bees and wildlife, and our new machinery also plays a crucial role in our environmental efforts.

“We’re very pleased with what we have, and most importantly, the back-up from Fairways is superb; nothing is too much trouble, and a representative is always in to check on us.”

Rochford Hundred Golf Club in Essex celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2018, and has recently seen the arrival of a new John Deere machinery fleet supplied by golf division sales manager Neil Peachey of local dealer P Tuckwell Ltd at Ardleigh, near Colchester.

Neil Peachey of John Deere dealer P Tuckwell Ltd and Rochford Hundred Golf Club course manager Dave Rand (foreground), with deputy Andy Holman, greenkeeper Simon Balfe, first assistant Ian Smith, and greenkeepers Jethro Reading and Nathan Hedges

This includes three 2500E hybrid electric greens & tees mowers; a 7700A PrecisionCut fairway mower; a 7400A TerrainCut rotary trim & surrounds mower; 9009A and 1570 TerrainCut rotary rough mowers; a 3038R compact tractor; a TE 4x2 electric Gator utility vehicle; two Pro Gator utility vehicles plus an HD300 sprayer with covered boom; and an Aercore 800 pedestrian aerator.

In a first for the club, most of the new machines have been acquired using a John Deere Financial operating lease including PowerGard Protection Plus warranty and maintenance cover. Course manager Dave Rand describes this as the ideal solution to help fix costs and enable the purchase of advanced technology equipment with a good resale value at the end of the term.

“We were falling behind on the latest technology, and also had a couple of years when we had to buy more machines than we’d budgeted for in order to keep up, which was proving more expensive than it needed to be,” Dave Rand explains. “With this new leasing deal, we’ve been able to bring in more kit compared with paying for individual machines in a year by year purchase programme, and the annual expenditure is actually less.

“We’ve now got everything covered in one simple monthly payment plan, plus the machines have extended warranty for the length of the deal so there will be no unforeseen costs or additional bills. With the key annual maintenance work included, it takes downtime out of the equation, raises standards and helps us to be more productive and efficient.

“In turn that means more golf can be played, which provides more income for the club. The members also pay their fees monthly now, so it’s a much more financially viable solution all round.

“We bought the new 9009A mower to do a better job on the rough, and this works on the large grass areas alongside the 1570 front rotary, which does the more intricate work around the trees and other landscape features,” Dave adds.

“The electric Gator is also great for getting around the course quietly without disturbing golfers, and I really like the new A Model mower technology with the TechControl display, which helps to deliver a more consistent, quality finish around the course.”

Double A have recently been appointed as the authorised dealer for the full range of professional battery powered tools by Pellenc, in the North East of Scotland.

Double A is a family run business owned by Sandy Armit and his wife Aileen. They started the business working from home in 1996 and have since seen it grow into one of the largest turf dealerships in the UK.

The company now operates from two depots, situated in Cupar and Aberdeen, and has built up a complete portfolio of products and services for customers covering all aspects of the business, including service contracts, repair and maintenance plans, detailed estimates, overnight parts delivery and finance options.

The success of the company has been based on providing their customers with quality products along with a first class after sales service. To achieve this Double A has always aimed to source quality equipment franchises, and it is for this reason that managing director Sandy was keen to work with the Pellenc brand.

“I first saw Pellenc at a show in France in 2015 and was instantly impressed,” he says. “We have customers who are looking for this type of product so I made enquiries at SALTEX and it was obvious that they had advanced even further since I last saw them.

“A meeting with Etesia, (the exclusive distributor of Pellenc in the UK) ensued and we are now delighted to be promoting the brand in the North East of Scotland.

“We sell high end professional equipment and there are alternatives in the lower price bracket but it is always lower quality,” Sandy continued. “We prefer to sell higher quality products to high end users and Pellenc fits that bill because they are extremely well made and I’m a believer that you always get what you pay for.”

As a multifunction venue, Newmarket Racecourse not only hosts horse racing meetings, they also hold a number of concerts and corporate events throughout the year too.

To keep both the Rowley Mile Racecourse and July Course worthy of a ‘photo finish’, Estates Manager Alan Hatherley relies on his Trilo kit of blowers and collectors to keep on top of the maintenance of the 27 hectares of mixed turf, tarmac and car parks.

Estates Manager, Alan Hatherley

The 2017 Newmarket Nights season saw acts including Little Mix, The Jacksons and Olly Murs, all take to the stage on the July Course. “Throughout July and August we generally have racing on a Friday evening, followed by a concert and then racing again on a Saturday. For a good act we often host a sell-out crowd of 22,000 people, creating mess and litter with only a turnaround of less than 12 hours to get the course fit again for racing the following day. The act and the type of audience they attract will ultimately determine the amount of waste we have to deal with and therefore the machine used.”

Within their multitude of kit, Alan and his team of eight Groundstaff and four Gardeners have a Trilo BL960 blower, a SG1170 vac, and they also hire an S4 vac direct from local dealer Ernest Doe to cover the summer events season.

“When there’s a considerable amount of rubbish, the S4 is our main machine of choice. We use this to collect bottle tops, wrappers and litter from the site which ensures the clean-up is as quick as possible.”

The larger SG1170 has been in action at Newmarket Racecourses since 2001. “Its size makes it ideal for collecting debris around the racing surface, and by using the units wander hose attachment, it can efficiently empty the stables and clean piles of rubbish or leaves - used in conjunction with our BL960 blower.”

“With the units that we have at our disposal, we have the tools to keep our site clean year-round” explains Alan.