p4,6,8,9 Sports news 7/17/08 2:27 PM Page 8
BUSINESS - Sports News SGB
Sports and Outdoor w w w. s g b - s p o r t s . c o m
Wilson pushes Mitre takes All England Netball into the next
badminton with new decade
appointment
Sports manufacturer Mitre
has announced a four-year
Wilson Sports has appointed former Welsh International extension to their contract
Steve Yates as its first Badminton Marketing Manager with with the All England Netball
the aim of establishing Wilson as the No.1 badminton brand Association to continue as
in the UK. their official ball supplier
Steve brings a wealth of experience with him in the sport. until 2012.
Having reached their third
consecutive season as Team
England’s official ball
supplier, Mitre will look to
follow on from their
successful involvement as ball
suppliers at the Melbourne
2006 Commonwealth Games
as well as currently providing the Netball Superleague, the NSL, with official match balls.
The ball in question is the newly developed Mitre Venturi Pro. With new technology introduced into the ball for this
season, it most definitely a ball for the world’s best who rely on having the advanced performance needed for a fast and
exciting game to match the player’s skills.
Gary Hibbert, Managing Director of Mitre International, said: “We are delighted to have renewed our contract with
the All England Netball Association for another four years. It is important for a sponsorship relationship like this to be
He previously represented Wales at a Senior International based on mutual and shared goals and aspirations; we very much look forward to working with Team England over the
level and reached a Top 70 ranking. His past 15 years of next few years both at the top end of the game and at a grass-roots level."
marketing roles have seen him encompass trade marketing,
sales, brand management and product development.
“Steve is a great addition to the team,”said Jon Ballardie,
Aqua Sphere triathlon news
Sales & Marketing Director for Wilson Racket Sports.“His Continuing its pledge to support the growth of triathlon across Europe, Aqua Sphere has become the official swim
knowledge of the badminton industry is second to none and equipment partner to Waterways Ireland triAthlone, Ireland’s biggest triathlon. Held in Athlone in and around the
his focus will undoubtedly help to establish Wilson as the beautiful River Shannon in the heart of Ireland, the race has come a long way in just three years and joined the ITU
No.1 brand for players at all levels of the game.” European Triathlon Cup for the first time on July 12th 2008. This event saw Ireland host an ITU event for the first time.
Wilson is launching a new range of badminton Furthermore, underlining the event’s impressive prominence, the European Triathlon Championships will be held for
equipment for the coming season designed for players of all the first time in Ireland in Athlone in 2010 with an anticipated 4,000 competitors creating the largest ever triathlon in
abilities.As the biggest racket sport manufacturer in the the country. The race organisers have an ultimate
world, it has a complete top-to-toe product range including goal to bring the World Triathlon Championships to
rackets, shuttles, luggage, clothing and footwear. Athlone around 2015. Aqua Sphere are supplying
For more information on the Wilson badminton range, triAthlone with swim caps as well as prizes and
see www.wilson.com goodie bags and look forward to a supporting the
event for the next three years and beyond.
In a further move to strengthen their triathlon credentials, Aqua Sphere has also become the first brand to offer a
FSPA looks to ispo
FREE open water swim training DVD with every triathlon wet suit. From June 27th, Aqua Sphere has been giving away
the acclaimed 'Open Water Swimming' DVD by Rick Kiddle, one of Britain's best coaches. The DVD covers a range of
winter 09
essential topics including turning, sighting and quick wet suit removal.
For further information on triAthlone see www.triathlone.com, and for Aqua Sphere call + 44 (0)1254 278873 or visit
After the success of last year's pavilion, the FSPA is again www.aquasphereswim.com. For Aqua Sphere distribution in Ireland contact Tommy Lynam at Daricia Ltd, tel: 01 –
organizing an exhibiting group at the ispo winter show, 45111677 or email tmlynam@eircom.net
which attracts more than 60,000 visitors from across
Europe. The pavilion will be in the C Halls which is the
showcase of year-round activities like running, triathlon,
ODLO looks to recruit
team sports, swimming, racket sports, darts and more. ODLO is seeking to appoint an Area Manager to cover northern England and Scotland, an announcement which comes
Eligible companies may also apply for an export grant following consistently rising sales, bringing in its wake an increasing share of the sports, ski and outdoor markets where
available through UK Trade & Investment. Priority will be ODLO has reported an overall 50 per cent increase in turnover.
given to those companies who are either new to export or Commenting on the proposed announcement and brand’s dramatic sales success Ian Latham, ODLO's Country
new to market. Manager, said: “We need to strengthen our sales operation to capitalise on the brand’s burgeoning popularity in all our
For further information of the costs of exhibiting with markets and this will be the first in a series of appointments.”
the FSPA, please call the FSPA ispo Team on 02476 414999 He continued: “I believe that a key factor in our success is directly linked to consumer sentiment where, in a tough
or visit the FSPA website for a booking form and exhibitor climate, consumers, more and more, are looking for their money to stretch further, demanding not only style but also
terms and conditions www.sportsandplay.com lasting quality from the products that they decide to buy.”
The cut off date for applications is 31st October 2008. ODLO will also be concentrating much of the brand’s marketing effort in supporting the specialist independent
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trade, the bedrock of its distribution strategy.
JULY 2008
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