One of the top boys’ boarding schools in the country, Tonbridge School, in Kent, has added to its Toro machinery fleet with a new Reelmaster 5410.
The new machine has the important job of tending the school’s cricket outfields and hockey pitches and in doing so is maintaining an illustrious history.
Director of grounds, George Alexander, says: “Sport is an essential part of life here at the school. The boys play three times a week and have matches on Saturdays, so it’s vital the playability and presentation of our sport pitches are impeccable at all times.
“For 22 years I have been responsible, with my grounds team which currently stands at eight, for maintaining the grounds here. All our main mowing equipment is Toro and has been for some time. From 36-inch ride-on box mowers to five-unit fairway mowers, we’ve got a wide and comprehensive fleet of machines to help us take care of 100 acres of grounds.
“The RM5410 fairway mower is a straight replacement of older Toro machines and is used to cut the cricket outfields and hockey pitches on a daily basis at 15mm to maintain these areas to the high standards required. Because we’ve been more than happy with the RM5410’s performance, I wasn’t looking for anything different.”
The RM5410 has the power of a 35.5hp, four cylinder Kubota diesel engine, but its lightweight design reduces soil compaction, turf stress and abrasion damage and makes the machine an excellent choice for all types of sports fields.
Tonbridge School has a long tradition of cricket excellence with the grounds producing a roll-call of fine cricketers over the years many of whom have gone on to play county and international cricket. In fact it is said there are not many better grounds in England than The Head, as it’s called, which stands in a prominent position in the centre of the school grounds, right beside the chapel.
The school continues to strive for excellence, with the next aim Regional Centre of Excellence status for the hockey academy. High standards of presentation will always be in George’s words “massively high on the agenda” and as a manufacturer that echoes these values, it’s something Toro is proud to help George and his team with.
Tel 01480 226800,
turfcare.uk@lely.com
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