Toro and
Reesink Turfcare are delighted to announce they will be sponsoring the SALTEX
College Cup 2019, managed by the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).
The
SALTEX College Cup is a student-led sports turf challenge, testing teams of
students on their turf management knowledge with paper-based questions, a
presentation and live test samples.
The
competition held during SALTEX, the industry’s leading turf management
exhibition at the NEC Birmingham from 30-31 October, presents a real challenge
to its young contestants but with the promise of big rewards.
To
celebrate the inaugural partnership, a once-in-a-lifetime prize with Real
Madrid Football Club has been planned. The winning team of the 2019 competition
will travel to Spain at the end of February 2020 for an invaluable groundscare
work experience placement at the club’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the run up
to a major international game.
Working
to raise awareness of academic rigour in turf management, the SALTEX College
Cup is a fantastic way to reward those dedicated to and passionate about the
industry while promoting the importance of education.
Commenting
on the challenge, Dan Prest, Head of Member Services – Learning and Consultancy
at the IOG, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for turfcare students to
witness the working practices at an elite venue and draw inspiration from Paul
Burgess, a respected UK grounds manager. The winning team will have proven
their knowledge in the competition and will also be able to add to their
practical skills under the guidance of Paul and his team at Real Madrid.”
As
companies dedicated to supporting the grounds sector and to encourage younger
people into the industry, Toro and Reesink, an official Toro distributor in the
UK, have teamed up with the IOG once again, to complement their successful
partnership as sponsors of the IOG Young Board of Directors.
Reesink
Turfcare’s marketing manager Rochelle Bedford says of the sponsorship: “By
sponsoring the SALTEX College Cup, we are demonstrating Toro and Reesink’s
long-term commitment to the development of the industry and providing valuable
learning opportunities for the brightest young groundsmen out there, which we
hope will help them further their careers. Young talent and excellence in the
groundscare industry is where the future lies and this latest partnership with
the IOG will, we hope, help ensure progression in the sector. We are delighted
to be involved.”
