Category Archives: Sport

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.”

Neurodiversity, News, Sport

Neurodiversity specialists Creased Puddle team up with former footballer Jermaine Pennant this Neurodiversity Celebration Week or a special edition webinar ‘Neurodiversity in Football’

Neurodiversity specialists Creased Puddle are excited and proud to announce their partnership with former England, Arsenal, and Liverpool footballer Jermaine Pennant to highlight the challenges and barriers neurodivergent footballers and sportspeople face

Jermaine, who has been diagnosed as ADHD, will be working alongside Creased Puddle’s Founder and CEO Caroline Turner during Neurodiversity Celebration Week (18-24 March). They have teamed up to deliver a free webinar on Neurodiversity in Football on Tuesday the 19th  March at 10am with tickets available through Eventbrite.

The webinar will explore ADHD in football and will explore the prevalence of neurodiversity in sports, the skill sets it brings and the challenges neurodivergent footballers might encounter.

Jermaine, who began his career at Notts County before moving to Arsenal in 1999 as a schoolchild for a record £2M, had a troubled childhood and on and off the field controversies. In April 2022 he was diagnosed with ADHD and now spends much of his time advocating for better understanding of neurodiversity and mental health.

Jermaine said: “Now I have my diagnoses it’s made me understand why I behaved in certain ways in the past. Unfortunately, at the time I was playing professional football, there was very little awareness of ADHD, particularly in adults, which meant my behaviour played out in the media as me being a bad person. Although awareness of neurodiversity in sport is better, there still a long way to go to remove stigma and barriers and create an environment where footballers and other sportspeople feel comfortable enough to disclose their diagnoses or ask for help. This webinar along with my other work will hopefully start some of those discussions.”

 

Caroline added: “We are really grateful to Jermaine for agreeing to work with us as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week. It is such an important conversation to have. Sport can be an outlet for people who are struggling at school or in their personal lives, so it is essential that there is proper awareness and understanding of neurodiversity and how it can impact individuals playing grassroots and elite sports. Professional footballers have a platform to help change attitudes about neurodiversity and make football the leading sport in welcoming and celebrating neurodivergent players.”

Sign up for the webinar via this link: Neurodiversity in Football Tickets, Tue 19 Mar 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

 

About:

Creased Puddle is a Neurodiversity Training and Consultancy based in York, North Yorkshire and servicing the whole of the UK and beyond.  With a predominately neurodivergent workforce they also provide Workplace Needs Assessments, Coaching and diagnostic assessments.

Since 2018 Creased Puddle has worked closely with organisations and individuals to enhance understanding, empower decision makers, and identify opportunities for inclusion for neurodivergent staff, parents and customers. They also have a specialist Criminal Justice team of former Officers and staff providing bespoke services for Policing across the globe. Creased Puddle

The webinar is free to attend and tickets are available through Eventbrite via the link – Neurodiversity in Football Webinar with Creased Puddle and Jermaine Pennant

News, Sport

125-Year-Old British Oil Duckhams Joins British GT Championship

The original British motor oil, Duckhams, is delighted to announce a new partnership with British GT, continuing its winning partnership with British driver Adam Smalley.

Adorned with the iconic blue and yellow livery, reigning Porsche Carrera Cup GB Champion Adam Smalley will make his British GT Championship debut driving a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo for renowned British racing outfit Garage 59.

The British GT Championship is one of the UK’s most exciting motorsports championships. For over 30 years, viewers have been thrilled by the series’ multi-class format, which brings together production-based, race-tuned supercars. This year’s lineup will feature Duckhams-sponsored Smalley in his McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, alongside other incredible cars, including the Aston Martin Vantage, Lamborghini Huracan, Lotus Emira, and the Ginetta G56.

McLaren first drove to victory in British GT in 1996 in the McLaren F1 GTR. They dominated the opening weekend last year and will be looking to repeat that performance when this year’s championship kicks off with the traditional Easter Weekend races at Oulton Park. The championships then traverse through the UK’s premier circuits and the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium before culminating in a final race weekend at Brands Hatch on 28th & 29th September 2024.

Duckhams’ successful association with motorsport began in the 1950s, conquering the British Motorcycle Championship in 1955. In 1971, the company moved into Formula 1, Formula 3 and Formula Ford sponsorship, which proved to be a winning move. Duckhams-sponsored Jackie Ickx won the F1 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in 1974, and in 1975, James Hunt won the Dutch Grand Prix in a Surtees. During the 1980s and 1990s, the original British motor oil supported the Van Diemen Works Formula Ford Team and celebrated victory in 1981 when Ari Vatanen became World Rally Champion.

Duckhams’ involvement with the Porsche Carrera GB Cup began in 2021 with a first victory by Duckhams driver Dan Cammish, followed by Adam’s victory in 2023. Duckhams also triumphed at the OR BRIC Superbikes Championship in Thailand in 2023, continuing to earn accolades in motorsports and showcase the pioneering spirit that defines the brand.

Duckhams’ Global CMO, Rajat Moitra, said, “We are excited to be moving into the British GT Championship this year and thrilled to welcome Adam back to a new winning partnership. Adam’s championship win in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB last year underscores his exceptional talent and showcases the dedication and winning spirit that has fuelled Duckhams since 1899. Let’s continue the winning streak and add a British GT title to Duckhams’ motorsports legacy!”

Business, Business News, News, Sport, Swansea

Howden announces sponsorship of local Swansea rugby club

Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, has announced its sponsorship of Swansea youth rugby club, Loughor RFC.  

 

Howden’s Swansea office will be sponsoring Loughor RFC’s youth teams, from the under 6s up to under 15s, and sponsored the Loughor v Fishguard and Goodwick match on 2 March, which ended with a 20-14 win for the home team. This local sponsorship ties in with Howden’s commitment to further strengthen its foothold in the South and West Wales region, providing risk advisory services to businesses. 

 

The firm launched a new Swansea office in January 2023, aiming to be the leading provider of commercial broking in South and West Wales. 

 

Founded in 1882, Loughor RFC is an independent sports club located in Loughor, Swansea, and welcomes players of all ages to play in League 2 West. The club hosts regular fixtures and events for the local community and will be boosted financially through the sponsorship. 

 

The sponsorship will contribute towards general running of the club, including travel expenses for the teams, which have risen substantially in recent years. The club is well used by the local community, including the use of the clubhouse as a dementia café, and is currently undergoing a £50k revamp of its toilet facilities.  

 

Gary Stevens, Regional Director, Howden said: “Following the launch of our Swansea base, we are delighted to be partnering with Loughor RFC and supporting a local community hub.  

 

“I have been lucky enough to see firsthand the positive impacts that the club has on its younger members with my son’s participation, making it an honour to be supporting their hard work and hopefully helping to offset some of the rising costs they have been facing.” 

 

Kevin Lewis, Hon Secretary, RFC added: “We are very grateful for the support of Howden this year. As a grassroots rugby club, the current financial climate has been tough on us, but it is thanks to sponsors such as Gary and the Howden team that we are able to keep our teams up and running and continue to be a much-needed hub for the local community.” 

 

About Howden  

Howden is a leading global insurance intermediary group with employee ownership at its heart.  Founded in 1994, it operates in 50 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, employing 16,000 people and handling $38bn of premium on behalf of clients. 

  

For more information, please visit www.howdengroupholdings.com 

 

Accountancy & Accounts, Business, News, Sport

Supporting the football heroes of tomorrow

Accountants and business advisors Mercer & Hole are delighted to announce the sponsorship of The Elneny Football Academy in Hatfield, Hertfordshire which has been set up by Arsenal defensive midfielder, Mohamed Elneny with the aim of developing the next generation of football stars and providing them with an opportunity to shine. Mercer & Hole’s sponsorship will go towards providing the players and coaches with much-needed kit.

The academy offers the chance to train with experienced coaches for children as young as five right through to 16-year-olds, to grow their skills and have a chance of playing football at the highest level.

Applications to join the academy can be made via https://elnenyfootballclub.com/our-academy

Mohamed Elneny joined Premier League club, Arsenal in 2016. He follows in the footsteps of players such as David Beckham, Wilfried Zaha and others who have established football academies in their own names. These academies provide opportunities for children who to progress their talent. England International Harry Kane trained at David Beckham’s football academy which demonstrates the high level and support and coaching available.

Maria Kelly, Mercer & Hole’s Marketing and Communications Director comments: “I am absolutely delighted that we are sponsoring the Elneny Football Academy. Supporting our local community and helping the younger generation get a develop in football, which might even lead to a successful career, is extremely important to us. As a firm, we believe in harnessing passion and talent, and this extends to the wider community.”

Mercer & Hole has 24 partners and over 250 employees across its offices in London, Milton Keynes, St Albans and Rickmansworth.