Insurance broker JLT has extended its sponsorship of Newbury’s Group One Flat season highlight, the Lockinge Stakes, for another three years.

The one-mile Lockinge Stakes, set to be staged on 17 May, was first run in 1958 and secured top-level status in 1995.

It’s been run under the JLT name since 2011 and recent winners have included the unbeaten superstar Frankel, Canford Cliffs and Farhh. The deal will push total prize-money up to £200,000.

JLT will also continue their sponsorship of the £37,000 Listed Stakes (Registered as the Aston Park) and will also lend their name to the three-year-old maiden over seven furlongs on the same day.

Newbury’s Chief Executive Julian Thick said: “We’re thrilled that JLT has extended its sponsorship for one of the best Group 1 contests in the Flat calendar.

“The roll of honour in recent years has been wonderful and we would like to thank JLT for their continued support.”

Jonathan Palmer-Brown, Chairman of International Specialty, JLT, added: “JLT is delighted to continue our sponsorship of one of the most prestigious prizes on the Flat and it reflects our growing position as a major force in the insurance and reinsurance broking markets.”

Leading fishing tournament FLW have announced a sponsorship agreement with Fishidy, a free, map-based, fishing social network, for the 2014 season.

Fishidy allows members to connect with other anglers and log catches and spot information at various levels of privacy. Fishidy features free access to detailed fishing maps on thousands of lakes and coastal saltwater areas nationwide.

Fishidy will receive exposure across all of FLW’s platforms, including its tournaments and Expos, multiple websites, FLW Bass Fishing magazine and the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show on NBC Sports Network. “FLW” is broadcast Sundays in high-definition (HD) to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world.

 

Richard Childress Racing has entered into a long-term partnership with Lucas Oil Products.

This marks a return to the NASCAR track and garage for the Indianapolis-based lubricants company.

“Richard and I have a lot in common, as we both like long-term relationships and neither of us want to settle for anything but the best,” said Forrest Lucas, founder and CEO of Lucas Oil. “Knowing that Richard wanted a long-term oil partner and consistent high-performance with research and development support for his engine program, I wanted to commit our resources in R&D and production. He committed his personnel to help with the development and we think we’ll have the premier oil performance in the sport.

“Richard has a great staff from top to bottom and that’s what we need. We look forward to being back in NASCAR and using this partnership to tell the ‘Lucas story’ and what our products stand for. We’ve already developed a strong relationship with RCR and ECR.”

RCR and ECR Engines will benefit from having a lubricants partner with strong roots in racing and one that understands the high-powered competition platform. In turn, the technology can transfer over to short-track racers and everyday consumers.

“We’re very proud to be associated with a company like Lucas Oil and represent their market-leading products,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. “Forrest and his group have been great to work with and have developed some incredible products for us to compete, win races and contend for championships in NASCAR.

“All levels of racing have benefitted from the work and commitment Forrest has made to the racing community. We are looking forward to winning races with Lucas Oil inside our cars and promoting the Lucas brand on the outside of the cars.”
Lucas Oil becomes the official motor oil of ECR Engines and a technical partner to both RCR and ECR Engines. Their oil will run in RCR’s No. 3 and No. 31 entrants in the Sprint Cup Series and in all of RCR’s Nationwide Series entrants this year.

“We have been testing their products diligently for quite some time now with strong results,” said Richie Gilmore, COO of ECR Engines. “Everyone at Lucas Oil has gone above and beyond to make sure this partnership was going to work on both ends. They have durable, reliable products and we have had nothing but great results with everything we’ve tested.”

The Brazilian post office, site known as Correios, generic has become the latest official sponsor of the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The company will play a key role in the first Olympic and Paralympic Games in South America by running the logistics operations. It will be responsible for delivering more than 30 million items for the events, including athletes’ equipment.

“I am delighted to have Correios on our side in this great challenge,” said Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman. “The Games logistics operation will involve moving about 30 million items, ranging from sports equipment to all athletes’ baggage, as well as all the furniture for the Olympic Village. Correios’ experience in transporting all kinds of materials makes us confident that we will carry out this mega-operation with complete success.”

The company was also responsible for logistics operations during the Rio 2007 Pan American Games, when it was in charge of all the transportation and assembly of structures for the competitions.

“The choice of Correios as the competition’s official logistics operator is an acknowledgement of our quality and efficiency in this free-market sector, in which we compete against many companies, including giant multinationals,” said Wagner Pinheiro de Oliveira, the company’s CEO.

Scotiabank have become the new title sponsors of the Ottawa Marathon as well as its half-marathon, the organisers of the event have revealed.

Effective immediately, the IAAF silver-label Ottawa Marathon will be known as the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, the half-marathon will be known as the Scotiabank Ottawa Half-Marathon, and the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend charity program will become the Scotiabank Charity Program.

“We are ecstatic to have Scotiabank, one of Canada’s biggest supporters of the sport of running, sign on as a title sponsor for our two longest distances and charity program,” said John Halvorsen, President of Run Ottawa and the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend’s Race Director. “We couldn’t have hoped for a better way to celebrate the 40th running of the Ottawa Marathon!”

Organizers are planning to use the newly secured funds to enhance runners’ experience as part of the overall 40th Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon celebrations.

“We are excited to become the title sponsor of the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon as this great event celebrates its 40th running,” said Frank Bilodeau, Scotiabank Vice-President of the Ottawa and West Quebec District. “This marathon weekend is a special showcase for the city of Ottawa, bringing together walkers, runners, spectators and neighbourhoods to celebrate running and give back to the community. We are looking forward to the Scotiabank Charity Program and we encourage the public to make their run this year even more meaningful by supporting one of our featured charities.”

Scotiabank is currently the title sponsor for five marathons across the country: the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k, the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal et 5k and the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon.

Gardner Denver, a leading worldwide manufacturer of highly engineered compressors and pumps, will serve as title sponsor for the June 21 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America, The Gardner Denver 200 Fired Up by Johnsonville.

The Gardner Denver 200 Fired Up by Johnsonville will feature a 50-lap format on Road America’s legendary 4-mile, 14-turn road course and is slated for a 1:45 p.m., start time. The feature event will be run in-between races from both the Pirelli World Challenge and the SCCA Trans-Am Series, providing fans a full day of action-packed racing. 

“We are very excited about our new relationship with Road America because it allows us to promote Gardner Denver’s market-leading products and solutions on a unique platform while showing appreciation for our team of highly talented employees,” said Tim Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gardner Denver, Inc. “Motorsports is fueled by innovation and through this entitlement we intend to use the power of motorsports to further increase our momentum in the industry while raising the level of recognition for Gardner Denver’s best-in-class technologies to a whole new level.”

The event has also been known to draw an influx of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars and various sports car series veterans, eager for seat time and a chance to capture a win at one of the nations’ most storied circuits. 

“Without question we are very excited that Gardner Denver has agreed to be the title sponsor for our NASCAR Nationwide race,” said Road America President and General Manager, George Bruggenthies. “We look forward to showcasing Gardner Denver’s passion for NASCAR with their employees and our fans and we are equally excited that the Pirelli World Challenge and SCCA Trans-Am series’ will be joining in the fun because this is going to be a tremendous weekend of racing.”

The race weekend begins with Pirelli World Challenge action on Friday, June 20.

Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games have announced today Allstream, Canada’s all-business communications provider, as their Official Managed IP Communications Supplier and Official Hosted Collaboration Solutions Supplier.

Allstream will provide services to connect the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015), athletes, officials, volunteers and broadcasters at the Games with advanced telecommunication tools enabling them to collaborate and share information. This recognizes and affirms Allstream as an innovative, national competitive provider that delivers important, end-to-end IP communication solutions to customers – or events – with sophisticated and demanding requirements, such as an event like the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

“Allstream’s advanced IP networking solutions will enable TO2015 to quickly and easily engage with sponsors, partners, suppliers and volunteers and will truly help make the TORONTO 2015 Games the most connected Games ever,” said Allstream President Michael Strople.

“Our entire team at Allstream is very proud and excited to showcase our network and expertise in managing complex technology environments to a world-class event like these Games,” Strople continued. “Events like this become part of our national identity when every Canadian is connected to what is happening. Allstream is critical to making that happen.”

In 1999, the last time Canada hosted the Pan Am Games, Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. – the parent company of Allstream – was also a corporate sponsor of the Games when Winnipeg hosted them for the second time.

“We’re pleased to welcome Allstream to the TO2015 family and look forward to working with them to help deliver a fantastic Games experience for our athletes, communities and guests,” said Saäd Rafi, chief executive officer of TO2015.

Allstream joins previously announced members of the TORONTO 2015 sponsor family, including: Lead Partner CIBC; Premier Partners Chevrolet Canada, CISCO and Loblaw Companies Limited; Opening Ceremony Creative Partner Cirque du Soleil; as well as Official Suppliers Beanfield Metroconnect, Coca-Cola, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, FUSE Marketing Group, McKesson Canada, Royal Canadian Mint, Schenker of Canada Ltd., Toronto Pearson International Airport, the Toronto Star, and Official Broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada.

Major League Soccer team Sporting Kansas City have announced a partnership with The Roasterie for the release of Sporting Blend.

The brand new coffee blend is now available at each of three The Roasterie Cafes and The Roasterie’s more than 75 grocery partners, and will also be sold at Sporting Park for Sporting Kansas City home games during the 2014 season.

“We could not be happier or more proud to partner with Sporting KC,” said The Roasterie’s Bean Baron Danny O’Neill. “Not only do our cultures and values totally align, but so does our love for all things Kansas City. It was natural to kick things off with the introduction of our new Sporting Blend. Hopefully the great fans of Sporting KC will enjoy it.”

Marketed as “smooth and satisfying, like the sweet taste of victory,” Sporting Blend is a premium quality French (medium) roast with origins in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sumatra. The blend’s one-of-a-kind taste is tailored for a flavor profile described as delicate and pleasing brightness with a sweet, mesquite-like aftertaste.

The new Sporting Blend is currently available in custom designed 1.75-ounce and 12-ounce bags, and will soon be available in 12-count single serve (K-Cups) cartons.

“Aligning with an iconic local brand like The Roasterie is an obvious fit for us,” said Sporting Kansas City’s Chief Marketing Officer Andy Tretiak. “We are constantly exploring unique opportunities to activate with our partners. The creation of our own blend of coffee certainly reflects that approach.”

Super League team Hull Kingston Rovers have secured a new stadium naming rights agreement with local communications provider, KC.

The five-year deal will see Craven Park renamed the ‘KC Lightstream Stadium’ – after the company’s fibre broadband service – with immediate effect.

Linton Brown, Hull KR Director of Commercial Affairs, said: “Having KC on board as our stadium naming rights partners is a major step forward with our brand strategy in what are very exciting times for Hull Kingston Rovers.

“As a commercial team, we did a lot of research on identifying a brand which matches our own ambitions and values as a club and KC certainly fits that perfectly.

“This sponsorship is one which will go beyond the renaming of the ground to the ‘KC Lightstream Stadium’.

“We’ll be working closely with KC to engage with our supporters and the East Hull community with plans already in place to create a carnival atmosphere when we welcome Leeds Rhinos on the opening day of the season.”

Gary Young, KC’s Director of Business and Consumer Services, said: “Over recent years we’ve developed a close partnership with Hull Kingston Rovers, supporting both the club’s community trust and its youth academy.

“Sponsoring the stadium takes our partnership to the next level as one of the club’s major supporters.

“KC Lightstream is our flagship service and we’re very happy for it to be associated with a club that holds a special place in the heart of so many of our customers, as well as being an important asset to the city as a whole.”