Toro cab clinches school deal

An independent school in Hertfordshire, famed for its rugby, has snapped up a Toro Groundsmaster 4500-D with cab after seeing its benefits at Rugby School.

Ian Smith, grounds manager at St Albans School, says he chose the rotary mower to complement the cylinder mowers he already operates. "The first time I saw the Toro rotary deck mower was at Rugby School and I was very impressed," he comments. "I decided that would work well for us alongside our cylinder mowers. We looked at four machines from different companies - we thought the Toro gave a better cut and that its productivity was particularly good, but it also had the best cab."

With Woolham Playing Fields a sprawling site comprising 21 winter pitches, this protection from the elements was a deal-breaker for Ian. "We're cutting all year round on a very exposed, cold and windy site. All our cylinder mowers have cabs, so we didn't want to go backwards and not have one. It's important our operators are protected from the elements."

The grounds also play host to last season's Aviva Premiership champions Saracens Rugby Club and the Old Albanian's Rugby Football Club as well as hoards of eager students. Suffice to say quality of cut and high performance are of the upmost importance to Ian. "This machine is just right for rugby pitches," he adds. "It presents well even when there's moisture about - some of the other machines we tested left cuttings everywhere, but we've invested in the mulcher blades to keep the grounds looking their best. I'm very pleased."

For more information on Toro machinery, call distributor Lely UK on 01480 226800, email toro.info.uk@lely.com or visit www.toro.com.