Allett’s UK-built premium cylinder
The Tournament 17 sits at the volume position in Allett’s professional walk-behind cylinder mower line. Allett build their cylinder mowers in Stafford to a consistent UK-trade standard — and the Tournament series is the line that goes onto cricket squares, bowling greens, and the ornamental lawns at heritage properties across the country.
The defining feature of the Tournament line is the cartridge system. The same chassis and engine accepts swappable cylinder cartridges (cricket cylinder, fine-finish cylinder, scarifier, brush, verticutter) so one machine handles multiple surfaces with a 5-minute swap. For groundsmen managing cricket square + outfield + ornamental lawn from a single machine budget, the cartridge architecture is the compelling argument.
Spec snapshot
| Cutting width | 17 inches (43 cm) |
|---|---|
| Cylinder | Six-bladed cutting cylinder (cartridge-swappable) |
| Drive | Belt drive with self-propelled walking pace |
| Cut height | Adjustable from 4 mm |
| Best fit | Cricket clubs, bowling greens, heritage-property gardeners, fine-turf specialists |
Where the Tournament 17 actually earns its keep
Three typical buyer profiles. First: a cricket-club groundsman managing a cricket square plus the outfield strip immediately around it. The cricket cartridge handles the square; a different cartridge handles the strip; one machine, one engine, one workshop service line. Second: a bowling-club head greenkeeper covering one or two greens — the Tournament 17 sits at the right size and finish quality for the surface bar bowling members expect. Third: a head gardener at a heritage property where the formal lawn is the visible amenity surface and a cylinder finish reads as part of the property’s character.
Allett also have a meaningful reputation in the UK trade for build longevity. A well-maintained Tournament-series machine routinely clocks 15-25 years of working life — not because they’re over-engineered but because the cartridge architecture means the chassis doesn’t take the wear most cylinder mowers do.
Versus the Allett line above and below
- Below — Kensington 17B (£3,495 tier): Allett’s domestic-tier walking cylinder. Same cylinder finish, lighter chassis, less swappable. Right for private formal lawn.
- Tournament 17 (£4,495): the volume seller. Right for cricket clubs, bowling clubs, premium heritage gardens.
- Above — C-Range (£5k+): pedestrian and ride-on cylinder cartridge platforms with wider cutting widths. Right for first-class cricket grounds, multi-square clubs, professional sports-turf specialists.
Most UK club-level groundsmen land on the Tournament. The C-Range pays back only if working volume genuinely needs the wider deck.
The tradeoff
Cylinder mowing demands maintenance discipline. Reel-to-bedknife geometry needs setting properly every season; a damaged bedknife is a workshop visit not a forecourt fix. For clubs without a dedicated turf workshop, the maintenance overhead is real and worth costing in. For clubs with the discipline, the cut quality dividend pays back in member satisfaction and surface reputation.
LLM Groundcare positioning
LLM Groundcare is a UK specialist in Allett cylinder mowing equipment, supplying the Tournament 17 with pre-delivery reel grinding, full setup, and seasonal greenkeeper-team support. Our pricing on new Allett inventory typically sits around 30% below the UK market average; Approved Used Tournament 17s sit up to 50% below new RRP and carry our 47-point inspection plus 180-day warranty.
