It was great to arrive in Harrogate last week with the sun shining and a nice, warm hotel room awaiting for my two day stay.
I, like many who attend this show, really enjoy the ambience and location of the event. It caters well for all who attend. The show has a strong format, combining an education programme, various halls of exhibitors and a wide range of social gatherings, both during and after the show.
Busy show
This year’s show seemed a lot busier than previous years, with aisles full of people making their way around the show to see the many exhibitors displaying their latest products and innovations in sports turf.
Taking centre stage at one of the main entrances was Kress who were showcasing their cutting-edge robotic mowers and battery-powered outdoor power equipment. Kress are keen to help drive the transition to a zero-emissions future in the greenkeeping industry.
Kress's stand
They are attracting a lot of interest in their robotic mowers and, with over 17 models to choose from, they are becoming popular with many domestic, semi pro and professional users. A local golf course near to me has been trialling them with the aim of improving their efficiencies.
I caught up with Roger Moore from Dennis / SISIS who had a range of their latest product on show - namely the ES-22 Ultra 22” battery-powered mower, available with an 11-bladed cutting cylinder. Its 2–3-hour battery recharge with a 1.5kWh capacity, allows for up to 10km of cutting on a single charge.
Dennis Mowers
Also on show was their range of Dennis Gang Mowers that are a solution for maintaining sports turf, fairways, outfields, and amenity spaces. With options for single, 3, or 5 cutting cylinder units.
Next to Dennis was Campey Turfcare who for many years have been responsible for bringing into the industry many game changing products. One of their new products this year was the Fairway Falcon; an articulating, pull-type fairway brush, that uses a unique brushing system that contours to undulations. It covers a 4.5m span providing efficient, consistent performance. The unit can be towed by a wide range of equipment compatible with an electric 12-volt system and is ideal for pre-cut preparation, dew removal, de-thatching, disease control, worm cast and aeration core removal and brushing in topdressings.
Again, there was plenty to see around the show. The plethora of products we now have to maintain a healthy turf is staggering. Combined with the machinery options, the choice of fertilisers, soil enhancers, fungicides and pesticides, let alone the sundries of soils composts and seed products, is quite staggering.
Agrovista's stand
The likes of Agrovista Amenity , ICL, Syngenta, Origin Amenity Solutions , DLF, Barenbrug. Germinal Amenity, Compo Expert, Aitkens, Aquatrols, Greenbest, Indigrow, Mansfield Sands, Sustane were all showing off their diverse range of products.
As always, the show with its education programme attracts a lot of practicing greenkeepers from all over the world to come and listen and learn about the latest trends, management practices and the science of managing turf surfaces.
Stephen Bernhard
As a member of the trade press we also get to attend a lot of events and award ceremonies. On such presentation to was presented to Stephen Bernhard, founder of Bernhard and Company, who was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award with Kress at BTME 2025.
Me and Neil Stubley
However, the highlights of the show for me are meeting the people who have dedicated their lives to the industry as practitioners, innovators, manufacturers or exhibitors. During the show I caught up with some of these special people.
It was nice to speaka with Neil Stubley from Wimbledon All England Tennis Club who enlightened me on what he and his team had been up to in preparation of one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world.
Catching up with friends and colleagues
I was interested to hear about the soil sterilising techniques that they now undertake to ensure the courts are free from pests, diseases and any pathogens.
Representing some sales reps and pitch consultants I had a nice chat with Dean Gilasbey, Mark Allen and Matt Gresty to catch up with the latest gossip and what was happening in their lives.
Phil Helm
It was also good to catch up with Phil Helm, a seasoned course manger / consultant, who now works with Sami Strutt at Bernhard & Company delivering bespoke education programmes at their new training academy. I first met Phil many years ago when he was course manager at the Heythrop Park Resort in 2012.
Gary and Louise at Mansfield Sands
Other people spoke to were Gary and Louise at Mansfield Sands as I was trying to find out about which football clubs first used the fibre sand product when it was first introduced to help stabilise rootzone profiles in the mid-1980s.
David Hart, Howard Storey, and David Withers
Other notable key drivers of the industry who I caught up included David Hart, David Withers and Howard Story who I have known for many years and have supported the shows in their prestigious roles working for the likes of John Deere, Kubota, Ransomes and Iseki.
The meeting up of people continues after the show, when the networking continues well into the night at restaurants and pubs around the town and finally back at the hotel for a final night cap.
Richard Comley, Peter Driver and Rupert Price
Speaking of people, I would like to wish Peter Driver fellow PR / press consultant who for many years worked for Ransomes, and latterly helping Rupert Price promote the successful Ventrac brand, a happy retirement. I first met Peter, when I worked with him to promote Ransomes when I was at Pitchcare and had the opportunity to go on a press trip to Atlanta in the states with him in 2006.
I’m sure he, like many, will miss the great comradeship that comes from working in this industry. All in all BTME 2025 seemed to be very well attended. I have not seen the attendance figures. I know my colleague Steve Gibbs interviewed Jim Croxton for our sister title Service Dealer to gain his thoughts on this year’s show, which you can read here.
