Great Yarmouth Racecourse Invests In Groundsmaster
Norfolk’s Great Yarmouth Racecourse – one of 15 racecourses run by the Arena Racing Company (ARC) across the UK – has invested in a new Toro Groundsmaster 4110-D.
Richard Aldous (centre), Richard Bradley (right) and Daniel Lake with new Toro Groundsmaster 4110-D.
The new mower, delivered late June this year, was brought on board following the ARC’s plans to improve the racing surface at Great Yarmouth by levelling the home straight.
With the work successfully carried out over winter, Richard Aldous, clerk of course, says that the next move was to invest in a lighter, modern mower.
“We spent a lot of money levelling off the home straight, which led us to look for a new, lighter and more modern machine that was really up to date,” he says.
Previously, the 7.4 hectare course relied on a tractor to mow the turf, but the new purpose built Groundsmaster 4110-D offers many benefits in comparison, says Richard.
“It’s brilliant; it cuts the course beautifully, is easy to use and is much more versatile now we don’t have to use the tractor out on the course,” he explains.
Equipped with a powerful 58hp diesel engine, the Groundsmaster 4110-D is an innovative wide-area rotary mower featuring an all out-front mower deck for superior operator visibility and outstanding productivity.
Richard says Great Yarmouth’s head groundsman Richard Bradley is also a fan: “We couldn’t get him off it for the first 10 days of it arriving! We trialled a few other machines, but our head groundsman was keen to get a Toro.
“Danny Lake [Lely area sales manager] showed us a couple of different models, but the one we chose was in the right price bracket, and we also liked that it’s a front mower.”
Lely’s reputation for great after sales care and customer service was another reason for choosing Toro, Richard explains. “Danny is first-class – he really knows his stuff. We’re confident we’ll get looked after.”
With a newly levelled home straight and Toro mower on hand to maintain optimum turf condition, racing at Great Yarmouth looks set to recommence 30th August this year.
