Sorry we’ve been a bit quiet on the news front but there are some very exciting changes taking place at GMFCo right now.
We’ll be announcing these big and extremely exciting changes next week so we will keep you posted. In the meantime, keep checking our GMFCo Twitter page for the latest daily updates!
GMFCo’s kitchen client, Robinson and White, are featured in this month’s Home Seeker. Our advertising team managed to secure the front page with a Robinson and White kitchen and a full page advert whilst our PR team worked on the editorial.
For more information on Robinson and White, please visit: http://www.robinsonandwhite.com/
The 2009 Tiree Wave Classic and Cal Mac Coll Challenge was an astounding success and we would like to take the time to thank this year’s event sponsors – Skykon and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.
We would also like to say a big thank you to the event funders – EventScotland, Argyll & Bute Council, Caledonian MacBrayne and Highland & Islands Enterprise. We really appreciate your help.
The media report was finished by Rachel in our PR team last week and the media coverage for this year’s event has been extremely far-reaching. Media interest ranged from a feature about good looking windsurfers for a leading consumer ladies mag, a naked windsurfing photo shoot on Tiree picked up by the Sun, Metro and the Scotsman and a feature in leading international business magazine, CNBC, which has a circulation of over 102000.
GMFCo PR also secured a 20 minute interview with Irish windsurfer, Mikey Clancy, on the most listened to Irish radio station, RTE, as well as video news releases which were broadcast on BBC Scotland, BBC Alba and on BBC News 24. The full 26 minute programme is due to go on Sky Sports later this month.
See below for a snippet of some of the media coverage we obtained from this year’s event. For any media related enquiries on the 2009 Tiree Wave Classic or Coll Challenge, please contact Rachel Cavers on 0141 248 6151.
The Wave Classic is the UK’s premier windsurfing competition where competitors are judged on their ability to pick out the best waves and then on their wave-riding. The person performing the most difficult manoeuvres in their 8 minute session scores the highest. Competitors can catch as many waves as they want, but only their best two scores count overall.
More than 70 of the world’s best windsurfers travelled to GMFCo’s 23rd annual event, the Tiree Wave Classic on the Isle of Tiree, to battle it out for one of the most sought after prizes in world windsurfing last week.
Timo Mullen secured his win on the second day at Balephuil beach on the south coast of the island. Conditions were ideal with six foot waves with 15-20mph cross-offshore wind and Duncan Coombes, Head Judge of the World Series, stated that it was the longest day windsurfing in the Tiree Wave Classic’s history.
“It was pretty much as good as it gets for contest conditions,” said Mullen. “When it came to the final I peaked at the right time. My first wave was a really good, solid score and then on my next wave I landed a couple of aerials and got one of the best scores of the day. I knew at that point that I’d done really well, but to beat John Skye, who’s one of the best guys in the world, I’m really happy.”
Timo Mullen, John Skye, Dany Bruch were in the final three and there was little between them. Skye posted a high score early on, but then failed to back it up; Bruch performed well but, in the end, Mullen won by half a point.
After his win on day two of the event, the wind dropped and Mullen had to play an agonising waiting game. If wind conditions improved over the next five days, he knew he would have to take to the water again to defend his win in a second round known as a double elimination. If the wind stayed down, however, his first place finish on day two would stand as the overall result.
There was no shortage of waves, a powerful head-high swell was rumbling in from the Atlantic all week – but the wind stubbornly refused to co-operate. Had the wind speed climbed back up to 15mph at any point then Skye, Bruch and Ben Proffitt, who was unlucky to be eliminated first time around, may have been run him close.
In the end, though, Tiree remained calm and a relieved Timo Mullen hung on to his first Tiree Wave Classic victory.
Skykon and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue are confirmed as sponsors for this year’s Tiree Wave Classic and the Caledonian MacBrayne Coll Challenge.
Jesper Øhlenschlæger, CEO of Skykon, commented:
“Skykon is delighted to sponsor the Tiree Wave Classic which has great synergy with our company. Skykon is a supplier of tower solutions and wind technology components to the wind power industry, hence wind is our main business. We look forward to being associated with this fantastic event.”
Gordon Ritchie, Director of GMFCo, said:
“It is great to see an international company involved in wind power with Scottish roots involved. Skykon really know the wind power market and have so much synergy with The Tiree Wave Classic. StrathClyde Fire and Rescue serve the communities of Coll and Tiree and we have first hand knowledge of how good these guys are when the Tiree Lodge hotel had a fire in the kitchen when we were running the competition. This was dealt with within minutes. That’s when you really appreciate dealing with a professional team like StrathClyde Fire and Rescue.”
With Skykon, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and other funders now on board, the 2009 Tiree Wave Classic and Cal Mac Coll Challenge is shaping up to be one of the best
The Caledonian MacBrayne Coll Challenge, a tri-sport adventure race, is due to return for its second year and will take place on Thursday 15 October. Pegged as the ‘most remote adventure race in the UK’, the Coll Challenge includes running 2 miles along Crossapol beach in Tiree, windsurfing from Crossapol round the coast to Gott Bay and then over to the neighbouring island of Coll where the competitors will race a half marathon on a bike.
Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries are offering a fantastic opportunity to visit the Isles of Tiree and Coll, see some of the Coll Challenge and be back on the mainland – all in one day. The return crossing from Oban to Tiree is only £10 per person and this will help reinforce Tiree’s current number 2 ranking in Lonely Planet’s “Best British Holiday Bargain” category which For Argyll, the region’s Information and Communications Service, recorded earlier this year.
Tiree and Coll, the outermost islands of the Inner Hebrides, are surrounded on all sides by beautiful sandy beaches and boast the most sunshine hours of anywhere in the UK. Tiree is also famous for the UK’s premier windsurfing competition – the Tiree Wave Classic which is running this year from 10 – 16 October. The isle will be swarming with the world’s best windsurfers and if you’re lucky, those visiting on Thursday the 15 may be able to catch a glimpse of the adrenaline fuelled event in full swing!
For crossing times and bookings contact Cal Mac Tour Shop in Oban on 01631 562 244 or tourshop@calmac.co.uk. For more information on the Tiree Wave Classic or the Coll Challenge, please visit The Tiree Wave Classic or call GMFCo on 0141 248 6151
Media Contact:
Rachel Cavers / GMFCo
07891 856 523 / r.cavers@gmfco.co.uk
Braehead welcomed Power Boat Racing with glorious weather and awesome crowds, as 20 teams took part in the third round of the Power Boat Celtic Cup and the inaugural round of the Home Nations Championship. The strong tidal pull of the Clyde and cross winds on the river created some flighty conditions for the racers as they took their national colours in a home nations battle.
Patriotic Scot, George Stroud, and his co-pilot, former Miss Scotland Nieve Jennings, were racing for Scotland and were keen to settle the score for the Scots and take home the Celtic Cup.
Stroud commented:
“The gauntlet was down on the home nations racing and the fantastic, sunny weather made for a great day racing. The Irish, English and Welsh all put up a fantastic battle but the best part was that I had a former Miss Scotland as my co-pilot!”
By the end of the first day, the Scots were in the lead as Councillor Marie McGurk from Renfrewshire Council presented the prizes. However, by Sunday, the tables had turned and the English managed to pip the Scots at the post and take the cup for the English. The Celtic Cup was kindly presented by Stuart McMillan MSP along with Nieve Jennings.
The Celtic Cup was part of Braehead Shopping Centre’s tenth birthday celebrations and throughout the weekend, there were jazz bands performing alongside dance groups, walkabout comedy acts, children’s entertainers and face painting. On Sunday there were live performances from X Factor’s glamorous girl group, Bad Lashes and Britain’s Got Talent finalists Strike and Signature which attracted huge crowds.
A spokesman for Clyde Waterfront Strategic Partnership commented:
“We were delighted to sponsor Power Boats racing this weekend at Breahead’s tenth Birthday Bash. The opening of Breahead in 1999 really kick started the regeneration of this area which now boasts Clydebuilt Museum, Clyde View Park, Xscape, Titanium Business Park and Ferry Village. Hence it is very fitting that there is a great mix of land and water based activities for locals and visitors alike to enjoy that epitomises Clyde Waterfront’s vision to develop a thriving, vibrant River Clyde with people and communities at its heart.”
The Power Boat Celtic Cup is part of Braehead Shopping Centre’s tenth birthday celebrations and during the two-day event there will be a variety of exciting entertainment on the Braehead boardwalk and in the malls. Throughout the weekend, there will be a jazz band performing alongside walkabout comedy acts, children’s entertainers and face painting. On Sunday there will be live performances from X Factor’s glamorous girl group, Bad Lashes and Britain’s Got Talent finalists Strike and Signature.
Braehead’s General Manager, Peter Beagley, said:
“Everyone from kids, their mums, dads to grans and grandpas will have a fantastic time at Braehead that weekend. We’re creating a street festival with the different kinds of entertainment going on in the centre and on the boardwalk along Clydeside. The Power Boat racing is a great way to help celebrate our tenth birthday and with all the other fun events going on at the same time it will make for a really exciting day out for all the family.”
The Power Boat Racing will take place between 12pm – 5pm on both days with practice starting at 11am; teams will complete over 16 heats each day to secure their place in their divisional finals. Admission is free and racing at the waterfront at Braehead will provide a fantastic arena for the spectators to watch all the racing action as all the teams go head to head for the Celtic Cup.
Rachel Cavers, PR Spokesperson for GMFCo, commented:
“The Power Boat Racing Celtic Cup will be a really thrilling event, made even more exciting as the racing takes place in the midst of Braehead’s tenth birthday party. The centre is planning to a host of activities to entertain the crowds and the Zapcat racing will be fast and furious as the teams battle it out for first place… expect some thrills and spills down at Braehead!”
To find out more about Braehead’s tenth birthday celebrations, please visit www.braehead.co.uk
This weekend saw Power Boat Racing at the waterfront at Ocean Terminal for the inaugural Edinburgh Grand Prix. The sunny weather drew in the crowds at the centre on Saturday as 22 of the feisty vessels battled it out as they raced round the specially designed circuit beside the Royal Britannia.
Reports from Ocean Terminal state that the Power Boat Racing event helped with excellent weekend trading and Michelle MacLeod, Deputy Centre Manager, confirmed that Sunday was the busiest Sunday at the centre this year.
The second day of the Power Boat event was attended by Councillor Cardownie, Deputy Leader of Edinburgh City Council and Festival and Events Champion, who commented:
“It is great that Power Boat Racing has come to Edinburgh as part of the National Racing Circuit and we thoroughly enjoyed watching the Power Boats down at the waterfront. Events like this help reinforce the city’s international profile and the City of Edinburgh Council is enthusiastic to fully utilise the city’s waterfront and remind its people that it can be used as a venue for a number of exciting events such as this. I look forward to the Power Boat Racing Grand Prix becoming an annual event in Edinburgh.”
The day was filled with action as two of the Power Boats got a puncture including Happy Racing whose hull popped whilst racing in the last lap of Saturday’s final. Saturday’s race was won by Craig Davies and Rob Martin racing in Team Bluesheets 1 who are currently leading in the Power Boat Championships. 21-year-old Rob Martin, from Southampton, commented:
“We are delighted to have won the racing at Ocean Terminal and to hold onto our 125 point lead. This is the first time the Power Boat Racing Championship has come to Edinburgh and the atmosphere and hospitality has been amazing!”
Power Boats are light-weight, agile aircraft that can reach up to speeds of 50mph and are capable of turning at a rate similar to that of a fighter jet. Each vessel has a two man crew and the Power Boats crash into the water at such a great a high speed that it makes the sport highly entertaining to watch.
Sunday’s racing saw a different course for the Power Boats and the weather held off as the racing began at midday. Avante Garde Dance entertained the crowds at 2pm whilst the Power Boat racers stopped for lunch. Prize giving was at 5pm where the winners, Bluesheets 1, were awarded £500 shopping vouchers and 2 nights accommodation from Ocean Terminal. The second leg of the Celtic Cup will take place at Braehead next month where Bluesheets 1 hope to hold onto their lead before the grand final in Watergate Bay at the end of September.
Gordon Ritchie, Director of GMFCo, commented:
“The weekend at Ocean Terminal was a fantastic success and provided thrilling entertainment for all who came down to watch the 2 day event. We would like to thank everyone for attending and look forward to the second leg of the Power Boat Racing event, which will take place at Braehead 12 – 13 September.”
GMFCo are proud to announce, in association with Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre and Forth Ports PLC, that the world’s largest one design powerboat championship, Power Boat Racing, is coming to the waterfront at Ocean Terminal as part of the National Racing Circuit from 22 – 23 August 2009. Ocean Terminal will act as the first leg of the Power Boat Racing Celtic Cup with the second leg scheduled to take place at Braehead, 12 – 13 September.
Click on the link for the TV advert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0S7q0_KlWk
Racing will take place between 12pm – 5pm on both days with practice starting at 11am; teams will complete over 16 heats each day to secure their place in their divisional finals. Admission is free and racing at the waterfront at Ocean Terminal will provide a fantastic arena for the spectators to watch all the racing action as all the teams go head to head during rounds 11 & 12 of the 14 round Championship.
Originating from surf rescue craft, Power Boats are light-weight, incredibly stable and agile crafts, with a power to weight ratio equivalent to 340 bhp per ton and are capable of speeds in excess of 50 mph. They provide fast-paced, thrilling entertainment and can pull in excess of 3G in the tightest of turns, similar to that of a Formula 1 car.
