News
BTME 2014 is a Record Breaker
Continue to Learn education programme complemented the success of this year’s BTME
A RECORD breaking BTME 2014 has energised the turf
management industry with over eight and a half thousand visitors packing into the Harrogate International Centre.
Full halls, a sold out education programme, new client partnerships, an audience with Peter Alliss, plus a string of new initiatives to benefit existing members and attract new ones have ensured BIGGA enjoyed a phenomenal start to 2014.
The buzzing halls were complemented by BIGGA’s thriving Continue to Learn education programme, which began on the Sunday prior to the exhibition and welcomed an all- time BTME record of 2,764 delegates to a varied range of seminars, workshops,
conferences and presentations. James Bledge, Assistant Links Superintendent at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, said: “The education has been brilliant. The
‘Stepping up to Head Greenkeeper – The Realities’ presented by a current Head Greenkeeper was a real eye- opener and brought to life the areas I need to work on to further my career. Every year I take away even more from Continue to Learn, the whole set up is fantastic.”
The programme proved so popular that BIGGA took the unprecedented step of repeating a seminar. Steve Chappell, Head Greenkeeper at the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, presented his ‘Ryder Cup 2014 – The Journey Continues’ seminar twice in quick succession to meet demand! The Turf Managers’ Conference was another notable success with over 100 delegates attending a wide range of topical presentations and debates.
During a very eventful week, Chris Sealey, Course Manager at Chippenham Golf Club, became BIGGA’s new Chairman,
West Ham agree Upton Park sale
Galliard Group will become new owners once the Hammers Olympic Stadium move has been completed
WEST HAM have agreed to sell Upton Park to London developer, the Galliard Group, once they have completed their move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016.
The Hammers said they chose the group for its “close links to the community”.
Vice-chairman, Karren Brady, said the deal demonstrated the club had kept its promise to regenerate two areas of east London through its stadium move.
The developer plans to build new homes on the site as well as retail and leisure facilities by 2018.
It has also been in talks with the family of former West Ham and England captain, Bobby Moore, about the possibility of placing a
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landscaped garden named in his honour at the centre of the site, as well as a statue of him.
In a statement, Moore’s daughter Roberta Moore said: “I have always believed that there should be some form of permanent West Ham United presence at the Boleyn Ground site after the team leave and I’m really pleased that the centre point of the development is planned to be named in honour of my father.”
replacing Tony Smith who was made a life member of the Association. Les Howkins MG, Course Manager at The Richmond Golf Club and one of the week’s many Continue to Learn presenters, is the new Vice Chairman.
The BIGGA Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund, set up to assist current or past members and their dependents who have suffered hardships - financial or otherwise - got off to a flying start with a £2,500 donation. Ransomes Jacobsen Managing Director Alan Prickett presented BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton with the cheque at Tuesday evening’s Welcome Celebration, a brand new event recognising outstanding achievements from BIGGA members. A typically warm and amusing speech from golf commentary legend Peter Alliss rounded the evening off perfectly.
Chris Sealey
Yet another highlight saw four exhausted greenkeepers complete the ‘Hard Road to Harrogate’ - an arduous 200 mile trek pushing mowers from Ransomes Jacobsen’s Ipswich HQ for charity. They arrived at the Harrogate International Centre to a rapturous reception, and are still welcoming donations at
www.bmycharity.com/HardRoadTo Harrogate.
Somerset CCC ‘bale out’ Exeter City
Blotter to the rescue as it heads down the M5 to mop up after torrential rain at St James Park
EXETER City called on a favour from Somerset County Cricket Club to help get a League Two fixture with Portsmouth on at St James Park following the violent storms that shook the west country in early February.
The Grecians had already been forced to call off two league games so far this year due to the shocking weather, along with an Under-21 Premier League Cup clash with Burnley.
So, to give themselves every chance of ensuring the game went ahead, Head Groundsman, Clive Pring, brought in Somerset’s ‘blotter’ machine to help clear the water.
“We’re building a good
relationship with Somerset,” Clive said. “We all like to help one
another out - we asked the question and they said yes.”
“Their Head Groundsman, Simon Lee, came down to operate it, which is even better because it gives us another pair of hands!”
“It’s a small world and we like to help each other as and when we can.”
You can read about Clive Pring on page 54 of this issue.
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