Pick Your Sport

The Game Changes podcast features British sailor Tracy Edwards MBE

written by Hugh

The latest episode of The Game Changes podcast features British sailor Tracy Edwards MBE who made history when skippered the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.

Speaking to host Sue Anstiss MBE, Tracy discusses the challenges and triumphs she’s experienced throughout her life and career in sport. From overcoming seasickness to work on a Mediterranean charter yacht and getting expelled from school, right through to learning to navigate, being introduced to racing and making history on Maiden – the first all female boat to take part in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.

Throughout the episode Tracy talks about the push back she and her team-mates faced as women taking on the race, the encouragement she received from her mentors, her mum in particular. And the mental struggles she faced after the race.

The Game Changers is available across all platforms including apple podcasts, Spotify, Google and Stitcher, or listen here https://podfollow.com/1464596772

You can find out more about all the guests at fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Image courtesy of https://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/cruising/tracy-edwards/

14th October 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Di Meglio signs off MotoE 2020 with another second place at Le Mans

written by Hugh

13th October 2020 0 comment

Esports

TALON ESPORTS RAISES $2M SEED ROUND TO ACCELERATE GROWTH IN ASIA PACIFIC

written by Hugh

HONG KONG, Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Esports and lifestyle brand Talon Esports has completed its seed funding round. Hana Ventures lead the investment round with other participants including Widus Strategic Investments, New Wave Esports Corporation, Sprout Investments, Gavekal Family, EMC Capital, Animoca Brands, HZL Capital, Felix LaHaye (United Esports) along with various family offices and individuals. With the USD $2.0MN seed funding Talon will seek to expand into new countries, titles and further develop its lifestyle value offering.

“Since being founded in 2017 we have seen Talon grow from competing in local competitions to making it onto biggest stage of esports: the League of Legends World Championship. We can’t afford to slow down and with the seed funding we will look to enter new markets and explore lifestyle and fashion opportunities and build a brand that pushes the boundaries of performance and imagination,” said Sean Zhang CEO and Co-Founder of Talon Esports.

“We are very excited to embark on this journey with Talon. The team’s strong focus on growth, combined with the rising demand and interest for e-sports in Asia, will make Talon one of the major leaders. We look forward to supporting Talon by bringing our e-sports knowledge from Korea as well,” notes Hana Ventures’ Director and Head of Global Investment Henry Choi. Hana Ventures is the investment arm of Hana Financial Group, one of the largest financial groups in Korea.

“Talon’s cross border aspirations in Asia mirror our own goals of breaking down borders and cross-pollinating innovation across markets. We look forward to working closely with Talon’s experienced management team by not only investing, but also providing strategic value to help foster Talon’s ambition of becoming the number one esports franchise in Asia,” said Jason Park, Partner and Head of Principal Investments at Widus Partners. Widus Strategic Investments is a subsidiary of Widus Holdings and an affiliate of Widus Partners Limited.

“Upon meeting with Sean and Jarrold, and having them meticulously explain their vision for Talon, it was an obvious choice for United Esports to invest in Talon, providing great synergies to both of our teams, and expending our mutual reach globally,” noted United Esport’s CEO Felix LaHaye. United Esports is a leading North American esports media organization.

About Talon Esports

Established in 2017, Talon Esports is an esports organization founded by Sean Zhang and Jarrold Tham and headquartered in Hong Kong. The organization has teams competing League of Legends, Arena of Valor, Overwatch, Rainbow 6, Clash Royale, Tekken 7 and Street Fighter V. Talon Esports won the Pacific Championship Series Spring Split 2020 and represented the PCS at Worlds 2020 in Shanghai as PSG Talon with a partnership with footballing giants Paris Saint Germain penned prior to the Summer Split. Operating out of Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand with creative studios in each location, they are one of the fastest growing teams in Asia Pacific with millions of fans globally. Visit https://www.talon.gg/ or contact info@talonesports.com for business opportunities.

Media Contact:
Jarrold Tham
Jarrold.tham@talonesports.com
+852 9105 8895Source: Talon EsportsRelated Links:

https://www.talon.gg/

Story courtesy of https://www.esportspress.co.uk/talon-esports-raises-2m-seed-round-to-accelerate-growth-in-asia-pacific/

12th October 2020 0 comment

Rowing

SAS to continue supporting British Rowing beyond Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

written by Hugh

SAS is delighted to announce that it will continue to provide its world-leading analytics solutions to British Rowing until December 2021 through the rearranged Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer.

SAS will work with British Rowing to develop powerful data solutions across the business including the GB Rowing Team, as well as investing in grassroots rowing. Since becoming the Official Analytics Partner of British Rowing in 2014, SAS has helped British Rowing maximise the use of data to inform decisions across the whole organisation.

Charles Senabulya, VP & Country Manager, SAS UK & Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to continue our support for British Rowing in what are extremely challenging times for all organisations. Coaches and athletes have had to adapt, just like businesses, to remote training away from the water and communicating virtually rather than face‐to‐face. On a positive note the postponement of the Olympics and Paralympics until next year at least gives British Rowing more time to use analytics to uncover important insights from performance data.”

Commenting on the extension of the partnership, Andy Parkinson, British Rowing CEO said: “In challenging times for the sport, it’s fantastic that SAS has agreed to continue its support beyond the Olympics and Paralympics next year. Through this partnership, we’ve been able to significantly accelerate our understanding of our data and build infrastructure that is now helping us make decisions and optimise our long‐term strategy.”

Through the partnership, SAS’ advanced analytics software and consultancy are being used across broad areas of the business including membership analysis, competition ranking algorithms (the SAS Ranking Points Index) and performance data analysis. In recent years, significant progress has been made in building data‐led models of performance data, helping British Rowing better understand the precise factors that can influence and affect an individual’s performance.

Nick Scott, Head of Performance Support explained how the partnership is helping the GB Rowing Team: “Rowing is an incredibly data‐rich sport, but just having lots of data does not mean you will automatically find the next competitive advantage. With this latest SAS project, we are using advanced analytics to link and interrogate never before combined data sources to do two things ‐ confirm what has made us successful in the past and find novel ways of optimising our training for the future.”1

11th October 2020 0 comment

TSF News

TEAM GB OLYMPIANS RECOGNISED IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS

written by Hugh

Brendan Foster, Olympic medallist and founder of the Great North Run, has been knighted for his services to sport and culture in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The 72-year-old won 10,000m bronze at the Montreal 1976 Games but his influence in athletics far from ended on the Olympic podium.

Five years later, Foster founded a race which has become the biggest half-marathon in the world, with the Great North Run raising millions of pounds for good causes each year since its first edition in 1981.

His legacy has remained and his voice has been a mainstay of British athletics coverage, with the former long-distance runner commentating for the BBC between 1980 and his retirement in 2017.

“It is a real privilege to receive this honour,’ said Foster.

“I’ve been lucky enough to spend my whole life doing something that I’ve loved from childhood; participating, sharing my enthusiasm through broadcasting and encouraging thousands to run for pleasure.”

Full story – https://www.teamgb.com/article/team-gb-olympians-recognised-in-queens-birthday-honours/5FS2zlAbXnGSqtBiLgdwzD

10th October 2020 0 comment

Athletics

HAWKINS, PURDUE AND DAVIS WITHDRAW FROM WORLD HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS

written by Hugh

Ahead of next week’s World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland, British Athletics can confirm that Callum Hawkins (coach: Robert Hawkins; club: Kilbarchan), Charlotte Purdue (Nic Bideau; Aldershot, Farnham & District) and Stephanie Davis (Phillip Kissi; Clapham Chasers) have all been forced to withdraw from the British team.

Hawkins, the European half marathon leader, was due to make his first appearance at the Championships since the 2016 World Half in Cardiff, where he claimed an individual 15^th position, and earlier in the week, clocked 14:05 over 5k in the Fast 5K at Aston-in-Makerfield.

He will be replaced in the team by fellow Scotsman Adam Craig (Steve Vernon; Inverclyde), who will make his British debut on the roads next week. In his maiden half marathon in Antrim last month, the 25-year-old clocked 63:24 to move 13^th on the British half marathon list for 2020.

Fellow European half marathon leader Purdue, who led the British team in Valencia’s World Half in 2018, has been forced to withdraw through injury. She clocked a season’s best of 68:23 in Marugame, Japan, back in February and was in line for a third consecutive appearance at the Championship.

Davis, who was due to make her debut at the Championships after a personal best 71:15 at the Big Half in London back in February, has also been forced to withdraw through injury. Neither athlete will be replaced in the team at this late stage.

The British team selected for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships on October 17:

Further information – https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/hawkins-purdue-and-davis-withdraw-from-world-half-marathon-championships/

9th October 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 continue season with French Grand Prix

written by Hugh

8th October 2020 0 comment

Rugby

Katie Sadleir features on The Game Changers

written by Hugh

This week Katie Sadleir features on The Game Changers, a podcast which showcases the incredible trailblazing women in sport.

Before joining World Rugby in 2016, Katie started her career in the pool, competing in syncronised swimming at the 1984 Olympic Games in LA before going on to win bronze at the CommonWealth Games in 1996. She then went on to become a board member at just 23 and has helped lead the way in transforming performance sport in New Zealand. She now heads women’s rugby at World Rugby.

Throughout her conversation with Sue Anstiss MBE (creator and host of The Game Changers), Katie talks about the challenges and triumphs throughout her career. From gender balance, female coaches, leadership and sport for development through to player welfare, sponsorship and World Cups.

Listen to Katie Sadlier in full: http://podfollow.com/1464596772

The Game Changers is available across all platforms including apple podcasts, Spotify, Google and Stitcher, or listen here https://podfollow.com/1464596772

You can find out more about all the guests at fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

7th October 2020 0 comment

Tennis

Ball Mishap Fails To Derail Novak Djokovic From Reaching 11th Straight French Open Quarter-Final

written by Hugh

The former champion, who last won the Paris trophy back in 2016, overcame some stiff resistance early on to prevail 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, on the Philippe Chatrier Court. Becoming only the second player in history to reach the last eight of a major for the 47th time after Roger Federer. Djokovic’s latest victory saw him hit 44 winners to 28 unforced errors as he clinched 70% of points behind his first serve. He is yet to drop a set in the tournament.

“It was definitely a closer match that what the score indicates,” Djokovic told Eurosport’s The Cube. “All three sets were kind of even and I managed to break his resistance towards the end of every set.’
“I’m happy with the way I closed out the match but it was a close one. Karen was very solid. Conditions, if you play a bit later in the day with the roof closed, there is no bounce at all.’
“I managed to find a way to win and that’s what matters.” He added.

It was during his latest encounter where Djokovic got flashbacks of his US Open disqualification for hitting a lines judge. Trying to return a monster Khachanov early on he accidentally hit the ball at an official and immediately apologised. Due to it being a pure accident, he received no warning or violation unlike New York.

Full story – courtesy of Adam Addicott https://www.ubitennis.net/2020/10/ball-mishap-fails-to-derail-novak-djokovic-from-reaching-11th-straight-french-open-quarter-final/

6th October 2020 0 comment

TSF News

Life Leisure CEO steps down after 14 years at the helm

written by Hugh

Malcolm McPhail, group CEO of Life Leisure has stepped down from the role after 14 years.

Malcolm leaves following a string of successes at the social enterprise, which runs leisure services across Stockport and Barrow on behalf of the local councils.

As well as winning numerous national and regional accolades, Malcolm was responsible for spearheading the acquisition of Stockport Sports Village and the group’s expansion into Barrow, Cumbria.

Malcolm, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the leisure industry, said: “After 14 successful years, I have taken the decision to leave Life Leisure to pursue new opportunities. This has been one of the hardest decisions in my professional career I’ve had to make, but feel now is the right time for me to take on new ventures and for Life Leisure to flourish with a new leadership team in place.

“I would like to thank all the colleagues I have worked with over the years. I would also like to thank Stockport Council and Barrow Council for our constructive working relationship and their continued support of Life Leisure.

“The last few months have been challenging, but I know that with Life Leisure’s great people and positive attitude, the organisation will continue to thrive and deliver a great result for the communities we serve. I wish Life Leisure all success going forward.”

Malcolm will be succeeded by current Operations Director Michaela Pennington, who has worked at Life Leisure for 13 years.

She said: “I have had the privilege of working with Malcolm for the past 20 years and I am grateful for his knowledge, experience and generous support over this long period. With this new change, I am extremely proud and excited to take the baton from him.”

Life Leisure, which was forced to close its doors for five months as result of the pandemic, has now begun phased re-openings of its centres with new safety measures.

Michaela, who has worked in the leisure industry for 22 years, added: “This is the start of our new journey. A journey that begins in the middle of a global pandemic, which has posed significant challenges to the leisure sector and society as a whole, but one we’ll overcome with our usual grit, determination and innovation.

“I am so grateful to all of our staff for their professionalism and support during this period. By working together, we have successfully and safely re-opened most of our sites and our members have returned. I have an unquestionable belief that Life Leisure will come out of this stronger.”

She added: “We provide vital services for the health and wellbeing of the community and we continue to work closely with our customers to maintain high quality leisure services in Stockport and Barrow.”

For more information about Life Leisure, centres and opening times, go to www.lifeleisure.net.

5th October 2020 0 comment

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