Duncan Lawrie Private Bank has announced that it is to partner motor racing legend, arthritis Mark Blundell, medicine during his 2013 race season in the British GT Championship with United Autosport.

The sponsorship will initially run for the course of the season and will see the Duncan Lawrie Private Bank logo appear on Mark’s race suit.

As a former Formula One driver, winner of the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race and television presenter for ITV Sport, Mark is a well-recognised figure in the world of motorsports. Mark started his sporting career at just 14, and for nearly twenty years he has competed at the very top of world motorsport, including IndyCar and World Rally. 

Matthew Parden, Managing Director, Duncan Lawrie Private Bank, commented: “Working in partnership with Mark on his return to racing is a fantastic opportunity for us. Mark is a very popular figure in the world of motorsports and will be integral to helping build the Duncan Lawrie Private Bank brand. We are honoured that he has chosen to accept our offer of partnership.” 

Mark Blundell, Driver for United Autosport, British GT Championship, said: “I love sports car racing; the teamwork, camaraderie, sharing the highs and lows. Presenting on live television was great but it didn’t quite tick all the boxes; getting behind the wheel of a racing car and challenging yourself is something entirely different. The support of our partners is a critical element of our success and I look forward to a great season with the support of Duncan Lawrie Private Bank.”

British racquet manufacturer, sales MANTIS has renewed its sponsorship of the 2013 Allam British Open as the Official Racquet Partner to the event.

The Allam British Open is the most prestigious squash tournament in the world and is the first major squash event to be held in a football stadium, generic with the KC Stadium in Hull playing host to the world’s best male and female players between the 20-26 May. 

MANTIS, a relatively new brand on in the market, is already being used on the tour by South African World number 20 Steve Coppinger as well as Nottingham’s Eddie Charlton, WSA top 25 player Emma Beddoes and rising stars David Ryan (Under 17) and Elise Lazarus (under 13) the European number 1 in their respective age groups.  

Martin Aldridge, founder and Managing director of MANTIS commented:“MANTIS are delighted to continue to be the Official Racquet to the Allam British Open and look forward to a great event in Hull. As a British company with a commitment to expand the brand in the coming years, we are immensely proud to be associated with The British Open, which is arguably one of the most prestigious championships in all racquet sports. ”

Jim Lord, Operations Director at England Squash & Racketball commented: “It’s fantastic that we have such a positive relationship with a truly British brand, the Allam British Open promises to be a spectacular event and we look forward to working with MANTIS over the next couple of years.”

Nike Golf is increasing its commitment to amateur golf by announcing that it has taken over as title sponsor of the prestigious UK amateur Matchplay Championship.

Now in its 18th year the Championship has established itself as the most popular matchplay event for club golfers with over 2100 pairs and 1300 individuals from 1500 different golf clubs taking part in 2012. 

With the signing world no. 1 Rory McIlroy to its roster of Tour staff athletes and the launch of the groundbreaking VR_S Covert range of woods and irons, 2013 is set to be a landmark year for Nike Golf with golfers everywhere recognising the benefits of swinging the Swoosh. 

The Nike Golf Matchplay Championship is open to all current golf club members who have an active CONGU handicap and there’s an individual and betterball pairs format to choose from. After entries close in mid May the draw is made on a regional basis to minimise traveling and then four rounds of knockout matchplay are played locally between June and September. The successful pairs and individuals from each region then go forward to one of the eight regional finals played in October with the leading three or four from each venue qualifying for the Grand Final at Vale de Lobo resort in the Algarve in January. 

“Nike Golf is thrilled to become the new title sponsor of the Matchplay Championship. Having been involved on a lesser scale over the past three years we have seen the competition grow substantially to become one of the most prestigious amateur events, attracting entries from thousands of ardent golfers in the UK,” said Angus Moir, Nike Golf’s EMEA general manager. “Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to ushering in the future of this great sport by developing groundbreaking innovations that enable and inspire athletes to become better and this partnership serves to reinforce our support for amateur golf.” 

David Hughes, Managing Director of GMM Ltd, event managers, said “This is a major coup for the competition, Nike Golf has been a great supporter of the Matchplay Championship over the past three years and we are very excited to attract such a high profile global brand as our new title sponsor.” 

Nike Golf is also a sponsor of the very popular European Amateur Golf Tour (previously the Volvo Amateur Tour) that provides amateur golfers with the opportunity to play competitively on some of the world’s most renowned courses. 

Mumbai Indians has signed on Bajaj Allianz as its principal sponsor for the next three years.

The deal, according to sources, is worth Rs 100 million ($1.8m) per annum or Rs 300 million ($5.5m) for the duration of the agreement.

“The deal will be for the back of the shirt,” says the source. “And
Bajaj Allianz is coming in as a replacement for MasterCard which
recently completed a five year arrangement for the same with the
Mumbai Indians.”

The Mukesh and Nita Ambani owned Mumbai Indians has already roped in Videocon d2H as its principal sponsor, Air India as an associate sponsor (its logo will feature on the back of players’ helmets) and also has Dheeraj Realty and DHFL as sponsors for this year’s edition of the IPl tournament.

Also fellow IPL 6 team, Chennai Super Kings has announced USHA International, India’s leading consumer durables manufacturing and marketing company, will continue to sponsor the team.

As a part of company’s plan this year to strengthen the brand presence and visibility through CSK and IPL, USHA will bring a host of exciting contests and activities for the Indian Premier League fans across the country. To build the excitement further, USHA would also organize ‘Meet and Greet- biggest fan fair’ for consumers to meet their favorite cricket stars of Chennai Super Kings team.

Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates have announced they have agreed a sponsorship deal with Pittsburgh area-based Rivertowne Brewing Company that includes the naming rights to the PNC Park Hall of Fame Club.

The partnership between the club and the local brewing company began in 2009 and gradually grew into a long term commitment by the brewer. This is in large part attributed to the great relationship developed between Rivertowne Brewing and the team, but also to the Pirates locally-based philosophy of incorporating Pittsburgh establishments into the PNC Park experience.

“The Pirates continually strive to use local vendors at PNC Park when possible and this is another great example of the success the team has had in incorporating local businesses,” said Pirates President Frank Coonelly. “The inclusion of Pittsburgh businesses like Rivertowne Brewing in and around the ballpark is what makes every visit to PNC Park a true Pittsburgh experience.”

The new Rivertowne Brewing Hall of Fame Club is a unique area of the ballpark open to all ticket holders before, during and after each game. 

The club offers a casual dining and sports bar atmosphere with wait service and features an open-floor plan with table seating for more than 215 guests and 20 flat screen High Definition televisions to ensure fans do not miss a moment of the action on the field.

“Much like the Pirates, we believe in bringing family and friends together to celebrate good times,” said Christian Fyke, Founder of Rivertowne Brewing. “Rivertowne looks forward to making great memories with the City of Pittsburgh at PNC Park this season and for many seasons to come.”

The Monroeville-based Rivertowne Brewing Company has four restaurant locations in and around the Pittsburgh area, including one on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

German automotive manufacturer, symptoms Volkswagen have announced a long-term cooperation with the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU).

From today Volkswagen will support the men’s and women’s teams as well as the youth work of the RBU. Volkswagen will be present as an official sponsor for the first time at the Champions Race 2013 on April 6 in Moscow.

Within the partnership, order Volkswagen will be providing the Russian Biathlon Union with a comprehensive fleet consisting of Volkswagen Touareg, Passat Alltrack, Transporter and Caravelle vehicles. In future, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will together ensure the mobility of RBU athletes and coaches, for example at the various events in the World Cup and the IBU Cup.

Vratislav Strasil, Brand Manager Volkswagen Passenger Cars in Russia, underlines: “The Volkswagen Passenger Car and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle brands are partners of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi in the “Automobile” category. Partnership with the Russian Biathlon Union is another key step on the way to the first Winter Olympics in Russia. We are convinced of the value of this partnership and will play our part in making mobility as comfortable as possible for the Russian national team.

As a sign of the partnership, Volkswagen will be involved as a sponsor for the first time at the “Champions Race”. The world’s 20 best biathletes will compete against each other in men’s’ and women’s mass start events as well as a mixed relay race. Volkswagen will be providing a vehicle fleet for the participants and organizers. The event will be modeled on the Christmas biathlon event, the “Biathlon World Team Challenge” in Gelsenkirchen.

Together with football and ice hockey, biathlon is one of the most popular sports in Russia. The Champions Race will be followed by biathlon fans in Russia and throughout the world. The event has been held in Moscow since 2011 and has traditionally been organized by the Russian Biathlon Union.