CHILDREN VOTE WITH THEIR NOSES

Chocolate and baked treats have been voted the nation’s favourite canteen smell as children across the UK go back to school.

According to a survey carried out by leading pen brand uni-ball, the delicious tasting foods are a firm favourite with young starlets. The survey also revealed that children continued to turn up their noses to bad smells such as boiled cabbage, semolina and liver.

uni-ball carried out the survey amongst 200 children as it launched its Signo Scents range – ten brightly coloured gel pens available in fruity and sweet scents such as Pineapple Yellow, Coconut Brown and Bubblegum Pink.

Stuart Barker, marketing manager at uni-ball said: “The results of the survey confirmed that fruity and sweet smells remain the talk of the playground, underlining our decision to emulate them within the Signo Scents range.

“We now want children to design their own pongy pens of the future. It could be the smell of cheese and onion sandwiches, freshly cut grass, lavender or the salty sea air – you never know, the scent may even go into production and prove to be a best seller for us one day.”

The winning ‘suggest a smell’ design will receive a VIP trip for five to ZSL London Zoo, with special opportunities to get up-close and personal with some of the zoo’s smelliest animals. Five runners-up will also receive a special uni-ball goodie bag.

Entry forms can be requested by emailing scents@connect-group.com or by writing to the uni-ball press office, c/o Connect PR, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT. Closing date for entries is December 17, 2010.

For further information visit www.signoscents.co.uk or follow uni-ball on Facebook by becoming a fan of uniball_uk.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of uni-ball by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com

WINNER RIDES AWAY WITH PRIZE

A man is celebrating after scooping a £100 worth of vouchers at Somerford Horse Trials.

Iestyn Lewis (30) from Congleton won the tack vouchers, after entering the competition at Crewe Volkswagen’s stand at the annual equestrian event.

The three-day event attracted over 600 competitors and over 2,000 spectators from the region, with significant funds raised for the North West Air Ambulance (NWAA).

Somerford Park’s co-owner, Simon King, said: “The horse trials were a complete success and we have raised a healthy amount of money for the NWAA, which will help keep the helicopter operational.”

Competition winner Iestyn, said: “I can’t believe I’ve won. I’ll be spending the vouchers on some new riding gear and look forward to trying it out.”

Crewe Volkswagen’s brand manager, Ken Potter said: “The horse trials were a great day out and we’re delighted with the huge amount raised for the NWAA.

“As a business it’s important we support local events like the horse trials. Congratulations to Iestyn for winning the vouchers.”

ROMFORD GIRL’S SUMMER HOLIDAY CHEER

A teenager from Romford is celebrating during her six week summer holiday after scooping vouchers worth £250 in a prize draw.

Becky Curtis (16), from Rainham, was the first name drawn out of the hundreds that had entered a prize draw organised by Inchcape Volkswagen.

Becky quickly decided she wanted the £250 worth of vouchers to be split between her favourite stores River Island and Miss Selfridge in Liberty Shopping Centre.

The prize draw was carried out live, on local radio station, Time FM, a thrilled Becky said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the phone call from Time FM telling me I’d won. I was in bed asleep when they called but I came running down once I knew.

“I’m going straight down the shops to spend them straight away.

“I’ve already decided I want to spend them on clothes, so I will treat myself to a new summer wardrobe!

“I can’t thank everyone at Inchcape Romford enough for this prize and hope I win more prizes in the future.”

Inchcape’s brand manager, Richard Taylor, said: “It is always nice to hear about local people winning something, especially a young winner like Becky, who will fully enjoy spending the vouchers on herself.

“I’m sure Becky will love whatever fashionable items she decides to purchase.”

SURF'S UP FOR CHILDREN

Goodyear is offering young beach-goers the opportunity to hit the surf in style this summer.

The global tyre giant, in partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), is asking children from across the region to design their own bodyboard. The competition is being run to draw attention to the importance of beach safety.

One lucky winner will receive a bodyboard complete with stylish carry bag and four runners-up will win a Goodyear / RNLI goodie bag filled with a cap, t-shirt, sun cream and leash string as well as other summer safety related prizes.

Michelle Fisher, brand manager for Goodyear, said: “This is a great opportunity for one lucky person to be at the forefront of bodyboard fashion this summer.

“As people head to the region’s fantastic beaches we want to equip them with all the safety advice they need to have a great day out. It’s especially important to remind people to make sure their vehicles are in good condition before they embark on a long journey. For example, avoid potentially dangerous situations by checking the pressure and tread depth of your tyres.”

Goodyear has continued its support for the RNLI by becoming the official sponsor of the charity’s Beach Safety Roadshow. Reaching over 15,000 people during a planned summer schedule of events, the RNLI’s mobile beach safety roadshow will look to communicate key messages of safety to beach-goers across the UK. The charity’s key beach safety advice is to always swim at a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags.

To enter the competition, send an email to safety@connect-group.com to request an entry form or download the competition template by becoming a fan of Goodyear_uk on facebook.

ENDS

Photo caption: Goodyear’s brand manager Michelle Fisher with children from Beechcroft St Pauls Primary School in Weymouth.

News release issued on behalf of Goodyear by Connect PR

For further information call Lee Southen on 01902 714 957 or email lee@connect-group.com

UNBELIEVABLE COMPETITION WINNER AT 81

A Crewe pensioner is celebrating after winning the Chronicle’s recent competition with Crewe Volkswagen.

Graham Wadkins (81) picked up his £400 cheque last week from Crewe Volkswagen’s brand manager, Ken Potter.

The competition was launched after a couple were spotted in June observing two posters near Crewe railway station and asking passers-by to take photographs of themselves with the posters in the background.

The ‘Unbelievable Value’ campaign posters from Crewe Volkswagen got the unknown couple hooked, so the retailer teamed up with the Chronicle for the competition.

Born and bred in Crewe, Graham, who worked as a joiner for nearly 50 years before retiring, said: “To win this is unbelievable, a bit like the posters that started the competition.

“I’m delighted to win as it means I can afford the odd little luxury. I can’t thank the Chronicle and Crewe Volkswagen enough for the prize and looking after me.

“I’m partially sighted and need to visit hospital regularly so the money will also help me get there and back.”

Ken said: “I couldn’t think of a more worthy winner than Graham. It was a pleasure to meet him and hand over the prize.”

Yale Searches for the Oldest Truck in Anniversary Year

Widely recognised as introducing the very first electric powered low lift platform truck to the European market, Yale is searching for the oldest Yale forklift truck or pallet truck, still in operation today, to mark its 90th anniversary year in 2010.

In 1919, the very first battery powered low lift platform truck was manufactured in Staten Island, New York by C.W. Hunt Co which was purchased by Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co in 1920.

Yale is offering a trip to the Big Apple in return for information on the oldest Yale forklift truck or pallet truck still in operation*.

Richard Czepukojc, Yale Europe’s marketing communications executive, explains: “We regularly receive feedback from our customers saying they are still using a Yale forklift truck or pallet truck purchased in the 1960s and we know of one operator that up until a few years ago was using a platform truck that was well over 40 years old, but we are certain that there must be more examples out there.

“As well as being at the forefront of forklift innovation and technology our products are recognised as being robust, durable and hard wearing so we are looking forward to discovering where these forklift and pallet trucks are still in operation today.”

The competition is open to operators of Yale forklift trucks or pallet trucks in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa who currently operate Yale materials handling equipment that is at least 20 years old.

Operators can enter the competition by visiting www.forkliftaction.com/yaleoldesttruck or by emailing a picture of it in use, together with your name, company and age of the truck, to yaleeurope@yale.com. A selection of images will be uploaded on the gallery on the new Yale blog site: http://forkliftsrus.blogspot.com/ and entries will be updated on Twitter at www.twitter.com/yale_forklifts.

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* Prize details and terms and conditions can be found via http://forkliftsrus.blogspot.com/.

JOHNSTONE’S SEARCH FOR TROPHY TOTS IN TEAM COLOURS

Football fans across Britain are being invited to help create a ‘young and hungry’ fan base for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, after the competition launched an appeal to find little dribbling stars of the future.

The trophy, which enjoyed its best ever attendance figures for the 2008/09 season, is now looking for happy new football faces courtesy of an alive-and-kicking baby competition.

Johnstone’s is asking all fans to send pictures of their little ones - clad in team colours – for the chance of their “young star” to feature on its new official website, where they will be displayed in a special Trophy Tots gallery section ahead of the new season.

The first 50 entries will receive a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy mini-football and a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy panel will then pick a shortlist of six in August, which supporters will be able to vote for on the website.

The competition has been created in an attempt to find some of the nation’s cutest and youngest football fans, in a light hearted effort to engage with Football League clubs up and down the country.

It will also coincide with the launch of the trophy’s radical new website, which has been redesigned to engage with more football fans than ever.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy sponsorship manager Sally Binns said: “We have created a Trophy Tot competition in an attempt to find some budding new fans of the future.

“We’re always keen to interact with supporters of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and we thought this would be another fun and colourful way of doing so.”

The Trophy Tots initiative will be split into three age categories; 0 - 12 months; 12 months to 2 years and 2 years to 4 years.

All fans have to do is email a picture and age of their little son or daughter, complete in club scarf, hat, shirt or any other memorabilia, to sally.binns@PPG.com by Sunday August 30.

Selected entries will be displayed on http://www.johnstonespainttrophy.com/ in three age categories once the new website launches in early August, each age range will then be shortlisted for fans to vote for the winner.

ENDS


Johnstone’s. Bringing colour to the beautiful game.

Issued on behalf of Johnstone’s by Sarah Allen, Connect PR, sarah@connect-group.com ( 01902 714957