This year’s SALTEX has two significant new features: extended opening hours on one of the days and a ‘roadtrain’ service for visitors. The IOG says these are both in response to visitor feedback.

The late night opening – until 7.00 pm – is on Wednesday 3rd September.

The free eco-gas powered roadtrain is a free hop-on hop-off service. It can carry around 40 passengers and runs continuously throughout the three-days, making frequent stops around the showground.

The show will again stage back-to-basics Sports Turf Skills Village demonstrations of turfcare skills. Last year’s inaugural staging was deemed a great success and for the second year running the IOG is joined by a host of suppliers in organising a daily programme of practical demonstrations, supported by ECB pitch advisors and IOG training instructors who will be on hand to answer questions. These will feature equipment and products supplied by Dennis, Fleet (Line Markers), Scott’s, SISIS and Terrain Aeration.

“Many of last year’s visitors commented on how useful these sessions were,” said Sports Turf Skills Village organiser Ian Lacy, IOG’s Head of Professional Services.

“Show visitors have been saying that not only did they provide younger professionals with an insight into established procedures and in particular the effectiveness of the Performance Quality Standard, but proved a useful reminder to the more experienced groundsman.

The sessions, located next to the south entrance, will be interactive and informal and cover assessment of surface; setting out / marking; pre and post operative machinery checks; setting height of cut; mowing; aeration; scarifying; fertiliser application; and top-dressing. Each one lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Information fact sheets will be provided for each of the sessions.

IOG Saltex 2008 runs from 2-4 September at the Windsor Racecourse. If you are thinking of going, but do not yet have details, you can register at the show website www.iogsaltex.co.uk to receive a free entry badge and show information. Alternatively, call the Ticket Hotline on 0844 557 2724.