VOL 16 ISS 152 £3.50 sportsSPORTS OUTDOORS TRIATHLON RUNNINGinsight FITNESS TRADE sports-insight.co.uk INTERVIEW CYCLING TECHNOLOGY CARTER AND GET ON TRACK IT’S NOT JUST A THAT 2015 TEAM P36 WITH WOMEN P40 CRICKET GIMMICK P18 COMMERCIAL QUALITY STUDIO EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER HY PRO page_SPORTS INSIGHT 06/08/2019 14:31 Page 1 THE RUGBY SHOW page_SPORTS INSIGHT 10/09/2019 10:03 Page 1 4 WELCOME Raccoon Events announces key appointments and new launches to this month's Sports Insight Raccoon Events, the company Technical Director, Darren behind the multi award- Pinder and Commercial Director winning National Running Addie Brake, both founding Show, has announced a series directors of Raccoon Events, will of key appointments and new remain on the board, while Mike event launches. Seaman will move to CEO. Strengthening the board further Rebecca Richardson will continue will be three new appointments: her working relationship with Ralph Collett as Chairman, Aurore Raccoon Events as a Strategic Braconnier as COO and Matthew Consultant on Major Brand, Lambert as Operations Director. Sports Retailer and Media Between them, they boast Partnerships. Nathalie Davies will a wealth of experience within be promoted to Event Director for the exhibitions industry. Ralph the run portfolio. Excitement, heroics and Collett has over 25 years’ industry The strengthening of the disappointment. experience including senior management team at Raccoon That just about sums up the positions at Closer Still, UBM, Events is an important step forward Ashes series from an England William Reed, RBI and Kernal for this dynamic, high-growth perspective but congratulations Events. Aurore Braconnier brings events business focused on health Mike Seaman, CEO of Raccoon brand-new event that will be to the Aussies for retaining the over 14 years of experience in the and wellbeing markets. Events, said: “We are delighted announced imminently. prize. exhibitions industry in the UK and The in-house expertise that to announce three key “We have ambitious plans for the Talking of cricket, we have France, working for companies the new appointments bring will appointments to Raccoon business and these appointments an interview with Australian such as UBM and Clarion while support plans for aggressive but Events and are privileged are an important first step in our legend Greg Chappell who talks also leading Closer Still Media’s sustainable growth in local and to welcome the breadth of development towards becoming a about his career and a nifty new growth in France. Matthew international markets. As part of experience that Ralph, Aurore and market leading event organiser in innovation that may help a lot of Lambert also benefits from 25 years this growth, Raccoon Events will Matthew will bring. the health and wellbeing space.” batsmen. in the exhibitions industry and is be moving into a new, larger office “This extra firepower will But turning to another major Managing Director for Maelstrom space and recruiting additional enable us to launch two new sporting event, the Rugby World Event Solutions, a company staff to work across two new initial events this year, including our Editor: MARK HAYHURST Cup is well under way in Japan managing 50 events each year. event launches. first geo-clone and a second Tel: 01206 508618 and all the home nations are Email: [email protected] looking to put their stamp on the tournament. As always England, Advertising Manager: Wales, Scotland and Ireland American Golf acquires Stromberg KEITH MARSHALL will eventually have to battle Tel: 01206 505947 their way through the southern American Golf has purchased through my son Richard, who has Email: [email protected] hemisphere sides. UK golf apparel brand become a newly appointed Director In this issue we talk to one of Stromberg. of Business Development with Advertising Sales New Zealand’s greatest players, The deal sees the brand and American Golf Brands.” AGBL will 21-23 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Rd, Dan Carter, about his life, career business of Stromberg Holdings continue to supply Stromberg’s Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY and that 2015 team. Ltd move to the newly formed existing network of approximately Also, Tony James talks to American Golf Brands Ltd 200 pro shops throughout the UK, a Group Advertising former Olympian and one of the (AGBL). move that broadens the company’s Manager: SAM REUBIN UK’s most successful personal Rodney Taylor, outgoing penetration into the UK market. Publisher: MATTHEW TUDOR trainers Sarah Lindsay. Managing Director of Stromberg, Gary Favell, American Golf CEO, Paul Sherratt explores options said: “The acquisition by AGBL said: “Rodney and Richard have Art Director: LEE WHITEFORD for anyone looking to sell not only allows me to retire in an built a fantastic business with high and I’m delighted that Richard products on amazon. orderly manner, but also gives quality products and an impressive has agreed to come on board at MS TYPESETTING AND DESIGN I hope you enjoy reading this me gratification to see the legacy network of retailers. Stromberg AGBL to help further develop the Photography: issue of Sports Insight! of the Stromberg brand continue is a great addition to the business Stromberg brand.” CLIQQ PHOTOGRAPHY www.cliqq.co.uk OPRO announce partnership with Rugby Canada Twitter: @CliQQphoto Accounts: SUE CARR OPRO, the world’s largest well as providing access to their “We have huge respect for manufacturer of the most entire range of award winning the work they are putting into Tel: 01206 505903 technically advanced Self-Fit mouthguards to Rugby education around player welfare mouthguard, has announced Canada’s grassroots level of and are looking forward to Published by Maze Media (2000) an official partnership with rugby across Canada. working together to help foster Limited, 21-23 Phoenix Court, Rugby Canada, the national With over 20 years’ improvements across all levels Hawkins Rd, Colchester, Essex governing body for Rugby Union experience, OPRO is dedicated of the game moving forward.” CO2 8JY in Canada. to bringing leading technology Rugby Canada’s Director All contents © Maze Media (2000) Limited. The views expressed in With player welfare a key and safety to athletes at all levels of Athletic Performance, this magazine are not necessarily component of OPRO’s commitment of sport. Matt Barr: “Player safety is those of the publisher. Every effort to developing the game of rugby of injury awareness, prevention and OPRO Sports Marketing paramount in everything is made to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, at all levels, the new partnership recovery. Director, Daniel Lovat said: that we do. We are very products and services mentioned in draws a parallel with Rugby Specifically, OPRO will provide “Canada has a long and pleased to partner with OPRO this publication and details given are believed to be accurate at the Canada’s ‘PlaySmart’ initiative, elite level mouthguards to all junior successful history in the sport of Mouthguards and for them time of going to press. However, no which aims to put players first by and senior players from Rugby Rugby, and we’re excited to now to provide our athletes with a responsibility or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence educating them on the importance Canada’s national programme, as be a part of that. quality product.” or repercussion of responding to any information or advice given or inferred. No part of this publication may be copied, broadcast, interpreted, or stored, in any form, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH for any purpose, without the written permission of the publisher. The official publication of the Sporting Goods Industry Association Sports Insight has a current ABC certified circulation of 5,281 (audit period July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017). The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) is an independent audit watchdog that verifies magazines’ circulation figures, providing accurate and comparable data for advertisers. ABC Certification demonstrates a media owner’s integrity, in their willingness to be audited and to conform to industry standards. UK/ROW subscription: £25/£42.50 for one year (10 issues). @SportsInsightUK ORTHOSOLE page_SPORTS INSIGHT 16/08/2019 09:09 Page 1 All the very latest in the NEWS sports industry... KLM to Run on ASICS Pentland Brands uses ground- ASICS EMEA has partnered with KLM breaking face scanning technology to enable more of their employees and (frequent) Pentland Brands, the company The AR app marks Speedo’s first travellers to discover behind some of the world’s foray into App Store shopping, the physical and mental best sports, outdoor and allowing consumers to try all benefits of running. fashion brands including available goggle styles before they As part of KLM’s Speedo, Berghaus and buy, with the option of purchasing Vitality programme, the Canterbury of New Zealand, is in-app. partnership will give bringing digital innovation and Ben added: “What’s significant employees access to augmented reality (AR) into the is that the technology can be running events, training sportswear sector with applied to any footwear, apparel and ASICS footwear the trial of the new Speedo or accessories that are custom- and apparel, including Mirror app. fitted. Across the Pentland Brands the “ASICS KLM100” Speedo Mirror is a ground- portfolio there are plenty of running shoe, a specially breaking digital shopping opportunities for us to think about designed running shoe experience, which helps customers how we can use AR to make our THE SPEEDO MIRROR GOGGLE APP OFFERS CUSTOMERS A GROUND-BREAKING to celebrate KLM’s find the best goggles for their face DIGITAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE brands and products even more centenary. shape and size anywhere by simply accessible.” Alistair Cameron, using the app on their smart phone. the technology. Using a tablet becoming increasingly important Pentland Brands aims to CEO ASICS EMEA, said: Using the latest 3D face scanning device, 3,500 users have virtually as consumers interact with innovate to grow its active, fashion “We’re really excited to technology, the app recommends tried on over 30,000 goggles and products in the digital space.