insideKENT Magazine Issue 69 - December 2017 | Page 163

NEWS
LOCAL GREENKEEPER WINS
PRESTIGIOUS INDUSTRY AWARD
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club’s 31-year-old Nick Machin
has been crowned this year’s winner of the Toro Student
Greenkeeper of the Year Award, a competition that brings
together the best greenkeeping students in the UK.
To mark this accomplishment, Nick has won an eight-
week all expenses paid Toro Scholarship, which includes
a six-week residential turf management study course
at the University of Massachusetts, a trip to the Golf
Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory in
Minneapolis.
Award sponsor and UK distributor of Toro machinery,
Reesink Turfcare’s managing director David Cole says:
“The award is in its 29th year and we’re continually
heartened by the quality of the applicants we see coming
through. This is something that must be attributed to
the standard of education in the industry, and Nick is
the epitome of that. He was an all-round worthy winner
with a good knowledge of greenkeeping.”
Nick says: “I’ve always known about the awards and
wanted to compete in them. This year I felt confident
in my knowledge, so when my course manager
suggested putting me forward I went for it! It felt pretty
unbelievable to hear my name called out at the finals. I
did a lot of work in preparation for the awards and feel
proud that it paid off.”
BLUEWATER’S
CHRISTMAS ICE RINK IS BACK!
Bluewater’s spectacular covered outdoor ice rink, with a
central Christmas tree and a backdrop of the beautiful lakes,
is back for 2017, and promises a great skating experience.
Skating at Bluewater is fun for all, with seal shaped skating
aids for kids and bob skates for those a little unsteady on the
ice. Plus, new for this year, there are skate lessons, Friday
party nights with KMFM DJs, baby and toddler mornings, ice
parties (great for corporate group bookings) and after-school
skate club.
KENT JUNIOR SCHOOLS
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017
On Saturday 18th November, 1,245 young
runners from 104 schools across Kent took
part in the Kent Schools Cross Country
Championships held at the Kent County
Showground, Detling.
The annual event was organised by Ashford
Leisure Trust (ALT) and is one of the largest
Junior schools cross country events in the
UK. Year 3 and 4 runners ran the 1km course
with the year 5 and 6 course being 2km. The
course is challenging with all runners doing
incredibly well.
Emma Wood, Chief Executive of ALT, said:
“ALT is incredibly proud to again organise this
event and see so many primary school
children taking part. The event provides
opportunities for all, from the winners who
won in great style to many others who were
possibly running such a course for the first
time with their school friends.”
This event forms part of Ashford Leisure Trusts
‘Participation to Performance’ programme
engaging people to take part in sports related
activities.
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