Category Archives: Sport

Midlands, Sport, Transport

Veezu supports local cricket team in new sponsorship

VEEZU, the Midlands’ fastest growing private hire operator, is sponsoring Tipton Tigers Cricket Club to mark the second year of their partnership.

As the club’s official sponsor this season, Veezu, formerly known as A2B Radio Cars, will provide a new kit for the team.

The sponsorship continues Veezu’s support of local community groups through its Funded by Veezu programme. Funded by Veezu is an initiative in which local residents, charities and sports teams can apply for funding and grants, set up to improve the communities in which Veezu operates.

Zukky Shabir, Tipton Tigers Team Member and driver-partner with Veezu, said: “We are very appreciative to Veezu for their generous donation last year as it helped set up our team and has provided a solid foundation going into our second year.

“With our team being a group of local players, and some of us working with Veezu, its ongoing support for the local community is all the more valued. Our hopes are to win the title this year in the Wolverhampton League, and we are proud to have Veezu by our side throughout this.”

Graham Hoof, Regional Operations Director for Veezu, said: “We are delighted to be supporting another local team in the Midlands. Our Funded by Veezu programme has been an incredible success already in giving local groups the opportunity to access funds and resources they may not have had before.

“With our growing presence in the Midlands, supporting our local communities and forming positive connections is one of our top priorities.”

Book Releases, Books, News, Sport

NEW BOOK: ‘Rest. Practise. Perform. What elite sport can teach leaders about sustainable wellbeing and performance’.

‘Rest. Practise. Perform. What elite sport can teach leaders about sustainable wellbeing and performance’ is the new book from Karen Meager and John McLachlan.

The authors take the latest scientific and academic thinking and make it useful and easy to apply for everyone from the leader of an SME to the CEO of a blue-chip corporate.

Whether you grapple with the relentless demands of your leadership role or are struggling to balance your team’s wellbeing with delivering results, or are simply worried you, and those around you, may not be performing in a way that is both effective and healthy, this book can help.

Contemporary workplace cultures often shackle employees to a culture of ceaseless high performance and productivity. This results in lacklustre productivity, diminished creativity and a shattered workforce.

In contrast elite sports have honed time-tested strategies for sustaining peak performance, consistency and getting results without burnout or exhaustion.

‘Rest. Practise. Perform.’ is a practical and illuminating guide that offers a fresh perspective on leadership, unleashing an empowering, harmonious approach that’s inspired by elite sports’ proven disciplines.

Karen Meager and John McLachlan draw from extensive research and their deep understanding of leadership behaviours to provide you with a playbook for adapting elite sports’ winning techniques to your own team or organisation.

Discover how to apply the incredible rhythm of the rest, practise, perform cycle and explore how it can revolutionise you and your team’s productivity, performance and wellbeing.

‘A game-changer. I wish I’d read it sooner. This should be in every leader’s toolbox.’

Aaron Phipps MBE – paralympic champion

‘Rest. Practise. Perform.’ …

Sheds light on the pitfalls of contemporary workplace cultures that emphasize relentless high performance and productivity.

Provides time-tested strategies for sustaining peak performance, ensuring consistency and achieving outstanding results.

Presents a fresh perspective on leadership inspired by proven sports disciplines.

Expertly adapts elite sports’ winning techniques to enhance team or organizational productivity, performance, and overall well-being.

John and Karen’s approach is grounded in research and professional practice that spans 20-plus years. Both Karen and John hold Masters degrees in psychology and health research. Karen’s specialist research area is mental health and burnout in organisations, and John’s is what organisations can learn from elite sports performance.

The goal of ‘Rest. Practise. Perform.’ is to help leaders and organisations find a working rhythm that delivers top performance whilst also prioritising people and their health.

Available from all good bookstores and via Amazon.

For more information see: www.monkeypuzzletraining.co.uk/rest-practise-perform 

BOOK DETAILS

Author: Karen Meager and John McLachlan

Pub Date: 21st February 2024

ISBN 13: 978-1-915483-27-0

RRP: £16.99

Format: Paperback; 216 x 138 mm

Extent: 176pp

Category: Management and Leadership

News, Sport, Sports Tech

SailGP to offer its Emmy Award-winning LiveLineFX graphics overlay for other sports properties and rights owners

SailGP confirms its patented, award-winning on-screen visuals and graphics solution is being developed for use in other sports

LONDON (May 9, 2024) – SailGP, the world’s most technologically advanced and exciting racing on water, has today announced its industry-leading production technology, LiveLineFX, is now being developed for use in other sports properties.

The patented in-house broadcast graphics package, which powers the storytelling of SailGP and demystifies the sport, has enabled the championship to broaden its fanbase. The technology, which has received numerous accolades including an Emmy Award, has helped underscore SailGP’s reputation as one of the most innovative leagues in sport.

LiveLineFX, which is produced remotely from SailGP’s broadcast studio in London for SailGP’s broadcast partners in 212 international territories, processes 1.15bn data requests per hour from each of the ten state-of-the-art F50 catamarans per hour. Supplied by Oracle Cloud, it is all done in real time to generate unrivalled performance information.

LiveLineFX collects the data from the 125 sensors positioned on each F50, with data points ranging from the speed and direction of the boats, weather conditions as well as the sea current, which is then presented as a graphical overlay on top of the racecourse. This not only enhances the broadcast experience but is fundamental to the racing and helps educate the viewer.

It is all made possible by a unique combination of live race course video shot from a helicopter, high-accuracy GPS and the Oracle Cloud. Together these components offer real time data to the LiveLineFX team, enabling them to track the boats within two-centimeter accuracy and deliver seamless graphical overlays of geo-positioned race markers, boundary lines as well as boat positions and relative performance statistics.

The technology and creative elements of LiveLineFX lends itself naturally to a variety of out-of-stadium sports, such as cycling, horse racing, surfing, and any mass participation sports, where it can be tricky for viewers to get the full picture and understanding of what is unfolding in front of them.

 

SailGP Chief Technology Officer Warren Jones said: “From the outset, SailGP has prioritized patented, leading-edge immersive media technologies and LiveLineFX is an award-winning example of this. It is truly unique and hasn’t just been built for use by SailGP, it has been developed with other sports properties and broadcasters in mind where the viewing experience can be difficult due to the nature of the sport. We are now welcoming conversations with a range of potential partners and are excited to see how other sports can benefit from LiveLineFX.”

LiveLineFX has also been a successful tool as part of SailGP’s commercial and audience growth. The league now has an average of 14 million dedicated broadcast viewers per event and its audience has increased by over 300% in the last year alone.

The commercial growth of the league has been aided by the ability of LiveLineFX which has enabled SailGP to not have to rely on traditional infrastructure such as fixed advertising hoardings or pitch branding, which are typically single use and unsustainable, at its events.

LiveLineFX provides 2D and 3D on-screen advertising opportunities which has seen SailGP’s premium partners, such as Rolex and Emirates, being able to enjoy multiple branded opportunities during live broadcasts of its events.

 

SailGP Chief Content Officer Melissa Lawton, said: “We have seen huge audience growth thanks in large part to LiveLineFX and the understanding it brings to a very complex sport. Our success, and the fact that LiveLineFX is perfect for a variety of out-of-stadium sports, such as cycling, horse racing, surfing, and any mass participation sports, has led to active conversations with other sports properties about how they too can utilize the technology to grow their fan bases.

“The capabilities of LiveLineFX enable SailGP partners to generate significant value through branding placements around the course without the need for typical, physical commercial infrastructure. Where other sports rely on screens, temporary structures and mass on-site logistics, LiveLineFX can deliver impactful placements on the boundaries and at key areas on the course fully remote.”

SailGP also recently launched a ‘refreshed’ opening title sequence to its live broadcast alongside a new soundtrack, which was aimed at targeting and engaging new and younger audiences. More info HERE.

SailGP Season 4 concludes with events in Halifax, Canada (June 1-2) and New York (June 22-24) before the Season 4 SailGP Grand Final in San Francisco (July 13-14).

 

Sport

Making waves: connectus to sponsor sailing team in exciting new partnership

The Connectus Group is delighted to announce it will be sponsoring a J70 class sailing team for the forthcoming season.

Competing under the name Connectus Racing, the collaboration is the latest commitment to supporting sport at both an amateur and professional level.

Connectus Racing will be led by skipper Oliver Bayes-Shelton and include Ben Harris and Thomas Parkurst as the core team.

The new venture got off to a great start last weekend, as the team joined 21 others vying for top-spot in the opening Grand Slam of the season.

Despite blustery conditions in the Solent, it was a great start to the campaign following the disappointment of a previous event having to be cancelled due to the Storm Kathleen.

Hosted by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, the race comprised a mix of professionally crewed yachts and amateurs, with the Connectus Sailing boat being the youngest crew in the fleet.

It is one of the few teams that is sponsored rather than being paid for by an owner.

Oliver said: “The support of Connectus has enabled us to assemble a dynamic young crew that will relish competing with some of the best sailors in the country.

“Sailing can be a challenging pastime, even more so when 21 other boats are competing for the best position on the start line.

“The winner of the start has a higher probability of winning the race as they control everything. However, one of the biggest obstacles in yacht racing is creating a team and, most importantly, having the resources to put this team on the water. Thanks to Connectus we now have a great chance to make our mark.”

The sponsorship deal is the latest sign of Connectus’ commitment to sport. It has a long-established relationship with rugby giants Sale Sharks, has sponsored the Midland Speed Championship and also supports a range of other sporting organisations across the north west .

Andy Marsden, Connectus Business Development Manager, said the company was delighted to be supporting Oliver and the team.

He said: “At Connectus, we believe that supporting the journey of sports teams at the grassroots level is important because it gives opportunities to talented individuals and helps to develop their skills.

“We believe that everyone should have the chance to pursue their passion and achieve their goals, regardless of their background or financial status.

“By supporting teams such as Connectus Sailing, we are able to help create a more diverse and inclusive environment within competitive sports. We look forward to seeing the progress and success of the team throughout the season.

“At Connectus we pride ourselves in helping businesses to grow, and to navigate the waves that come with growing and scaling any enterprise.

“That’s another reason why we think we will be so well placed to make this exciting new collaboration with Oliver and his team a success. We are looking forward to attending some of the regattas in the weeks ahead and cheering on Connectus Sailing to success.”

Sport

Victor of ‘prestigious’ British golfing tournament Jake Potter:   “It’s the biggest win of my career so far”

Kent’s Jake Potter emerged victorious at Copt Heath Golf Club in Solihull, marking the 43rd edition of the Peter McEvoy Trophy.

After an intense competition, Potter managed to capture the biggest win of his young career, narrowly beating second placed Alex Wells and Jack Peters in third, with a score of 208 from three rounds.

The annual competition is one of the most prestigious junior golf events in the country, giving the chance for top British, Irish and international prospects to showcase their abilities. It has often been cited as a defining moment in the careers of many golfing legends including Justin Rose and Lee Westwood, careers which Potter will certainly take great inspiration from.

 

Speaking with Growth Consultancy Champions (UK) plc, the 17-year-old said: “The first round was obviously tough in the rain, I was on the late side of the draw which made the last few holes difficult but I managed to remain solid throughout.

“I made a good few pars through the tricky first four or five holes, and then put a good run together over the last few holes and maintained a great score to win.

“It’s the biggest win of my career so far.”

 

The Englishman’s best moments came in the form of two eagles and a birdie on hole seven, as well as setting the groundworks for tournament victory by hitting the green with a 336-yard drive on hole eight in the third round.

 

Potter emerged as the tournament’s frontrunner, and went into the final afternoon of play with a four-shot lead. When asked if this made for a nervy lunchtime, he said: “It was obviously better than a one, or two shot lead I can tell you that, but no it wasn’t the most comfortable lunch though!”

He continued: “My short game really bailed me out today. I hit a few loose drives on that back nine, but I managed to get the ball up and down well.

“My best shot was definitely on the back nine, the second into 15. I got my birdie back, I’d just bogeyed the hole before, and getting that birdie on the five was important.”

Unlike previous tournament winner and his good friend Jack Lee, Potter doesn’t plan on enrolling in a US College. Instead he intends to continue playing in the amateur circuit for the next couple of years before turning pro.

 

When asked about Lee and his plans going forward, Potter said: “Jack (Lee) is a brilliant player, winning the Peter McEvoy Trophy back-to-back over the last two years. He’s a good friend of mine.

“For me, I just want to play as well as I can really, and get as many wins in the bank as possible. This is a good start.”

The competition’s final scoreboard can be seen here.

Driving, Sport

Nicolas Hamilton: “I went through a period of my life where I hated life. Now I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

THE brother of F1 racing legend Lewis Hamilton has admitted he went through periods of “hating his life” – but says he wouldn’t now change his disability for the world.

Nicolas Hamilton lives with a form of cerebral palsy, and his inspirational outlook on life now forms the basis of a new book which is out later this month.

The 32-year-old, who made history after becoming the first disabled driver to go up against able-bodied racers in the British Touring Car Championship, is also one of the country’s most sought-after motivational speakers.

 

Talking about the approach he takes to life, Nicolas said:  “I went through a period where I hated life. I hated my condition. I didn’t understand why I was the way I was and why I was given my condition and why I couldn’t be like my friends, who were all able bodied.

“But now I wouldn’t change it for the world and I’m so grateful to have it. I try to always play with the cards I’ve dealt in the best way possible. I strive every day to overcome any barrier that comes in front of me. It could be the smallest or the biggest barriers, but I tackle them each the same.”

 

Nicolas says his philosophy in life is “the only person that can tell me I can’t do things is me.”

“I would say I’m a very resilient person,” he said. “I never take ‘no’ as an answer and I believe that the only person that can tell me I can’t do things is me.

“So regardless of what people say, I make my own decisions and I thrive off negative criticism. If someone told me I couldn’t do something, I’d do my utmost to prove them wrong.

 

It’s a philosophy which runs through his new book, ‘Now that I have your attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expected’.

It follows his remarkable journey to the top of British motorsports and beyond.  He also talks about this journey through his work as a motivational speaker.

 

Nicolas said: “I would say with my condition, I’ve been a great problem solver, over the years; always trying to find ways of getting out of situations or overcoming certain obstacles. It could be the most difficult of obstacles to the simplest of obstacles such as maybe carrying a bowl of cereal to your desk and not spilling it.

“I think I have many qualities. I don’t like talking about myself, believe it or not, even though I am a speaker, and I have to talk about myself. But I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved, and what I’ve overcome.

“I’m a very solid human. It’s not always been that easy: I’ve had a lot of ups and downs but I think generally I would say resilience is everything for me and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and hopefully, there’s more to come from me in the future.”

 

Discussing the importance of having good mental health he added: “Mental health, I believe, is everything. The way I like to think about it is that life is 90% mental and 10% physical. It doesn’t really matter how physically fit you are and how strong you are if you’re not there mentally.

“If you don’t believe in yourself mentally, then I personally believe that you’re never going to achieve your full potential.  Now I would say mental health is a trial-and-error situation. It’s all about working out what works for you. Sometimes what people tell you would work, sometimes it doesn’t and what works for others doesn’t necessarily work for you personally.

“How I go about to try and build myself mentally is trying to find ways that I know helped me and stay true to my vision, to my desire.

 

“Also I think what a key thing of overcoming a bit of mental toughness and struggles is going through failure as well. I think failure is also very key. You’ve got to learn how to fail before you can succeed. That is how I feel.

“And so with every failure I have, I feel like it only gets stronger and stronger and my, have I had a lot of failures. And I think that’s sort of what’s made me who I am today.

“But it’s a never-ending journey and with every day that goes past, you learn something new about yourself.”

News, Sport, Sports Tech

TeamViewer Launches Flagship Initiative Encouraging Women to Pursue Careers in Sports Technology

Launched in collaboration with sports partners Manchester United and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the program offers inspiration, training grants and access to unique experiences, all geared towards helping women explore the career possibilities afforded by this growing industry.

London, 4th April 2024: TeamViewer, a leading global provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, announces the launch of SheSportTech, an initiative designed to inspire and support women1 to pivot towards a career in sports technology. The SheSportTech Pathway offers five recipients the chance to be paired up with a female professional working in sport technology. This professional will provide support, guidance, and advice based on their experiences. Recipients will each receive a €1500training grant to help support their development.

The initiative’s creative campaign showcases the variety of female talent powering Manchester United, both on and off the pitch. Stand-out players Mary Earps, Ella Toone, Katie Zelem, Hinata Miyazawa, and Nikita Parris feature alongside women who help make the club a success through their roles across insights, data analysis and security, CRM and talent management.

 

Faith Wheller, VP of Brand, Sports and Integrated Marketing Communications at TeamViewer says: “At TeamViewer, we believe that technology is made better by a diverse workforce. And we know that representation matters in making women feel that sport tech is a field where they could thrive, which is why our campaign brings all these amazing women – and their roles – into the spotlight. We’re hoping their stories will inspire more women to join the industry. Applying for the grants and experiences within our SheSportTech program can be a great step in this direction.”

A key pillar of the initiative is the tangible support that women can benefit from as they shape their own success story in sport tech. Starting today, women with an interest in this field can apply to be a part of the initiative. In addition to training grants worth €1,500 each, winners will receive one to one support from the pathway’s role models – women in a variety of sport tech roles within Manchester United and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team and some of the tech team at TeamViewer – as part of a buddy scheme. They will also get to explore how technology powers performance within the three organizations, through bespoke events and experiences.

Marilou McFarlane, founder and CEO at Women in Sports Tech (WiST), the leading global non-profit organization that drives transformative growth opportunities for women and employers in the sports tech industry and is supporting the initiative, comments: “We are honored to join forces with TeamViewer on this exciting, educational and engaging initiative. This partnership aligns with our vision of creating a more diverse and inclusive sport tech ecosystem, and ultimately more innovative and successful businesses, through proven, tangible solutions. Together, we look forward to driving positive change and providing valuable and equitable opportunities for networking, learning, and professional growth.”

Women with a passion for sports who are interested in exploring a career in technology can discover more on SheSportTech.com. Applications for the SheSportTech initiative close Sunday 30th June at 12.00 AM GMT.

The following criteria will be considered by a selection panel in awarding the grants. More details can be found on www.SheSportTech.com

  • Reason for seeking a career transition into Sports Tech.
  • Description of potential opportunities you would like to pursue utilising the funds.
  • Quality of written proposal.

 

News, Sport

Ballymoney United Youth Academy look to net European football trophy

Fourteen young footballers from Ballymoney are looking to emulate the likes of Conor Bradley, George Saville, and Josh Magennis when they take on a host of international teams in Spain.

Ballymoney United Youth Academy’s Under 14s are travelling to Barcelona to take part in the prestigious Football Cup, pitting their skills against 100 teams from 15 different countries on April 6th and 7th.

The boys, who are being backed by payroll, HR and time attendance solution provider PayEscape, will have two full days of matches and will start by competing against Park’s Academy (England), Shannon Town United (Ireland) and CEF Bosc de Tosca B from Catalonia.

Lee Patrick, who coaches the team with Trevor McLernon, commented: “This is a significant milestone for the boys and should really help them in their careers and in making lifelong memories.

“We currently compete in the Premier Section of the South Belfast League, but this is the first time we have competed in the Football Cup and represents a great opportunity for our players to test themselves against international opposition.

“It’s going to be a tough, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring the trophy back to Northern Ireland.”

Ballymoney-based PayEscape is doing its bit to support Ballymoney United Youth Academy, sponsoring the team £1000 on its international adventure.

This has gone towards the first team kit that the players will be wearing in Spain during the two-day tournament.

Managing Director John Borland picked up the story: “We are passionate about the communities we operate in and Ballymoney is home to our head office, so it made perfect sense to back a local football team.

“Sport is important in the development of young people, and we know what a great opportunity it will be for the boys to take on sides from different parts of the world, with their different playing and coaching styles.

“We wish Ballymoney United Youth Academy all the best in the competition – bring that title home!”

Coach Trevor McLernon concluded: “A big thank you to PayEscape for supporting the team and for providing us with our playing kit for the tournament – we are all extremely grateful.”

PayEscape offers cloud-based Payroll, HR and Time and Attendance Solutions for hundreds of businesses operating in the UK.

The company, which has also backed the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance Service, removes the administrative burden from the client, delivering simple, effective, and reliable payroll and people management solutions for the likes of University Academy 92, Air France-KLM Group, and vehicle manufacturer IVECO.

For further information, please visit www.ballymoneyyouthacademy.co.uk or www.payescape.com

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Italy, Motoring, News, Sport, Sustainability, UK

Hansen Motorsport extends longstanding partnership with Sparco for 2024

Hansen Motorsport has today announced that Sparco, the Italian auto part and accessory company, will continue to supply the driver equipment, team kit, and teamwear for Hansen World RX Team and #YellowSquad.

Sparco will also support Timmy Hansen as the Swede faces his exciting new challenge in the E1 Series, by providing technical racing equipment from the Full-Efficiency line, which is globally the first and only product line aimed at the principles of “zero waste”.

The long-standing partnership between Hansen Motorsport and Sparco has been built on shared values and decades of joint experience in motorsport. This partnership supports innovation through constant collaboration with the drivers, whose valuable feedback gained from their skills on track continues to back research and development towards the highest level of performance.

Kenneth Hansen, Team Founder of Hansen World RX Team, said: “All of us at Hansen Motorsport are proud of our work as a family company. Having dedicated partners like Sparco, who share our commitment and passion, plays a crucial part in our legacy as a team. Together with Sparco we’ll continue to push what’s possible and pick apart every detail as we look to continue innovating and improving both on and off the track.”

Diego Lamura, Sparco Chief Marketing Officer and Global Partnerships, said: “Sparco is proud to partner with Hansen Motorsport. This long-term partnership gives us the opportunity to continue and deepen our commitment to innovation and sustainability, while benefiting from the world-class expertise of the drivers, who play a key role for us at Sparco in our ongoing research and development activities.”

Multiple World Championship winning outfit Hansen Motorsport will take on the 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship – which sees the introduction of the ‘Battle of the Technologies’ – with Sparco branding at select locations on their cars.

The most successful rallycross team in history will be looking to build on last season’s performance, this time against new competition in the form of sustainably-fuelled combustion counterparts.

Led by 14-time European Rallycross champion Kenneth Hansen and European S1400 champion Susann Hansen, the squad is adding lessons learned from last year to an intense off-season ahead of its 2024 title challenge with the added support of Sparco.

The 2024 FIA World RX campaign kicks off in Höljes, Sweden (6-7 July), before heading to Hungary where the drivers will take on Nyirád’s ‘Red Cauldron’, which steps up to World Championship for the first time (27-28 July). Two familiar World RX venues follow in Mettet, Belgium (17-18 August) and Montalegre in Portugal (7-8 September). An exciting season finale is in store as the championship heads oversees to Australia (30 November-1 December).

Driving, Sport, Transport

Veezu announces sponsorship of Pontypool United RFC

Veezu, the leading private hire firm in South Wales, is sponsoring Pontypool United RFC in a new partnership.

 

This sponsorship follows a series of partnerships Veezu has made with local groups in order to strengthen their connections and support its local communities as part of its Funded by Veezu programme.

 

Pontypool United RFC is one of the leading rugby clubs in Torfaen, welcoming more than 250 players, its teams span across under 6’s to under 16’s, youth and first team.

 

Funded by Veezu is an initiative in which local residents, charities and sports teams can apply for funding and grants. It was set up to improve the communities in which Veezu operates.

 

As the club’s official sponsor this season, Veezu will provide branded post protectors and new training tops for the squads.

 

Mark Jones, Chairman at Pontypool United RFC, said: “We are delighted to announce Veezu as sponsor and we are very grateful for their support. Looking after our club members is our number one priority, and Veezu has shown continuously how important the local community is to them.”

 

Nathan Bowles, Chief Executive Officer at Veezu, said: “We are delighted to be starting this partnership with Pontypool United, a local club that supports so many young people in the area. Being from New Inn myself, it’s especially exciting to be able to sponsor a team so close to home. I’m very much looking forward to the future of Veezu’s work with Pontypool United to see how we can continue to support the club.”