HAIR RAISING GAME FOR FORMER PLUMBER

Uponor has pledged its support for Movember, the national charity that raises funds for prostate and testicular cancer this month, in recognition of the involvement of its sponsored darts star, Mark Webster.

Plumbing specialist, Uponor will donate £200 to the Movember campaign to support the former plumber who is growing a moustache to support the charity. Fans will get to see the results as he takes to the stage, at the Grand Slam of Darts tournament in Wolverhampton from 12- 20^th November, and which is broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Uponor’s Sonia Salisbury said: “We’re proud to back Mark and the Movember charity. The plumbing industry is very male orientated so we’re pleased to support a charity that raises awareness and treatment of men that could be working in our industry.”

Mark added: “Movember is a fantastic cause and I’m thrilled to be a part of it and that Uponor have sponsored me during the month.

“I’m probably going to look a bit silly at the tournament but if it raises funds and awareness for Movember, I’m happy to do it.”

To support Mark and his darts co

lleagues who are also taking part in the Movember campaign, you can make a donation at: http://uk.movember.com/donate/team-details/id/263232/searchTerm/modusdarts .

And Uponor’s sponsored player Mark is going from strength to strength: Mark has just been announced as 6th in the world rankings, his highest ranking since joining the PDC in 2009.

Mark’s success is running parallel to Uponor’s new professional fitting system that took plumbing to new levels thanks to its ‘Tool Inside’ technology and high pressure joint system.

The RTM, or Ring Tension Memory, system eliminates the need for tools to make quick, safe and professional joints and is the latest major launch for the company which continues to produce industry-leading innovative plumbing solutions.

For more information about Uponor click on www.uponor.co.uk, email enquiries.uk@uponor.com or call 01455 550355.

ENDS

Uponor is a leading supplier of plumbing and indoor climate systems for the residential and commercial building markets across Europe and North America and a market leader in municipal infrastructure pipe systems in the Nordic countries. Uponor's key applications include heating and cooling solutions and tap water systems. The Group employs ca 3,300 persons in 30 countries. In 2009, Uponor's net sales totalled 730 million euros. Uponor Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd., Finland. http://www.uponor.com

Speedy sponsorship receives a world-famous power boost

Three of the finest darts stars on the planet – including 15 time World Champion Phil Taylor – gave the UK’s leading equipment rental and support services provider the ultimate ‘Power’ boost when they stepped to the oche to unveil a prestigious sports sponsorship.

Speedy, the North West-based FTSE-listed business, are sponsoring the Speedy Hire UK Open and welcomed Taylor to their Newton-le-Willows headquarters, along with world number three Gary Anderson and former World BDO Champion Mark Webster.

The trio officially unveiled the sponsorship on Friday March 11 in a huge coup for the brand, ahead of the event itself at the Reebok Stadium in June.

Speedy will now activate their sponsorship of the tournament – known as “The FA Cup of Darts” – by offering 32 amateur players the chance to play their heroes in a unique opportunity for the sport.

Speedy will be giving budding throwers a genuine opportunity to play reigning UK Open champion Taylor, 2010 runner-up Anderson, two time PDC World Championship Semi-Finalist Webster and their rivals at the top of the professional game in front of millions of TV viewers in June’s Speedy Hire UK Open in Bolton.

Speedy’s group marketing director Steve McIntyre said: “We are thrilled to have forged this partnership with one of the UK’s most popular sports, and wanted to reflect our excitement with this unprecedented project.

“The Speedy Hire UK Open will be offering 32 staff and customers of all abilities the chance to compete in the event, which is widely regarded as “The FA Cup of Darts”.

“We are sprinkling even more magic into the format and are hoping that a Ronnie Radford moment might be around the corner.”

The Speedy Hire UK Open will take place from 2 to 5 June 2011 and Steve said that the sight of Speedy’s branding around the Reebok Stadium will represent the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the brand.

“This is one of the biggest projects that I have been involved with since arriving at the company last year.

“As former marketing director of Johnstone’s Paint, I know how much success can be leveraged from a robust sports sponsorship, so this is a partnership that really excites us all.”

PDC chairman Barry Hearn was delighted to welcome Speedy into the world of darts.

He said: “It is fantastic to have such a respected brand like Speedy on our roster.

“A lot of our audience are tradesmen and professional builders and installers, so if they haven’t heard of Speedy before the Speedy Hire UK Open, they should do afterwards.”

For more information about Speedy and its search for 32 darts players for the UK Open, click on www.speedyhiredarts.com

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Founded in 1977, Speedy is the leading UK provider of equipment rental and support services to a wide range of clients across the construction, infrastructure, industrial, manufacturing and facilities management sectors - as well as to local trades and industry.

Operating from over 325 fixed sites - together with a number of on-site facilities at client locations throughout the UK, Ireland and the Middle East - the company supplies a range of services including:

the provision of small tools and equipment
surveying and measurement instrumentation
lifting and materials handling equipment
powered and non-powered access equipment
temporary accommodation
compressed air
temporary power generation
mechanical pumps
temporary site communications

The Group also provides associated services through the provision of training, asset management and testing, repair, inspection and maintenance (TRIM), as well as offering advisory services in areas such as health and safety, environmental and regulatory compliance.

Website: http://www.speedyhire.com/

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) are the world’s leading promoters of professional darts tournaments, offering £5 million in prize money annually. June’s Speedy Hire UK Open televised finals will offer £200,000 in prize money, including £40,000 to the winner, and features the leading 96 professionals from the UK Open Order of Merit following eight Qualifiers held from February-May, alongside 64 Qualifiers, 32 of those from Speedy. The Speedy Hire UK Open will be screened live on Sky Sports HD from the Reebok Stadium.
Previous winners are Phil Taylor (2003, 2005, 2009, 2010), Roland Scholten (2004) Raymond van Barneveld (2006, 2007) and James Wade (2008)
Website: www.pdc.tv

WD-40 scores a bullseye with sponsorship deal

World number three darts player James Wade is stepping up to the oche with a new sponsorship deal under his belt. WD-40 is behind the ‘new face’ of darts until at least the end of 2010, for a significant five-figure sum.

The rising star from Cobham, who is just 26 years old, has climbed the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) world rankings year after year and in 2008 he became the first player to beat Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in the Premier League since the event started in 2005.

Following the sponsorship announcement James said: “It is fantastic news that such a big brand wants to provide significant support to me. I regularly used WD-40 when I was a mechanic and can’t believe it’s now on my shirt.

“This is the first sponsorship deal I have had that has not been related to the traditional sponsors in darts and marks a new era for the sport. I look forward to working with WD-40 and hope the backing helps me win more titles.”

European managing director for WD-40, Bill Noble, said: “We felt that darts was the perfect sport to link up with as it fits well with our target audience and has the second highest viewing figures for sport after Premiership football.

“James is a very talented player who is dedicated to the sport and is doing extremely well at such a young age and has a lot of potential to go much further.

“We look forward to cheering him on at the Grand Slam of Darts, later this month.”

The sponsorship begins at the Grand Slam of Darts on Saturday 14th November in Wolverhampton as James hopes to add the title to the Premier League he won in May.

James showed off his talents at the official launch day of the sponsorship deal by playing a few friendly games against journalists and WD-40 staff including Bill Noble. Needless to say he remained undefeated, with no one coming close to beating the world number three.