MCS are heading to Friedrichshafen, Germany, for the OutDoor exhibition and will be there for the opening of the show on Thursday 15th July. If you are going to OutDoor we would love to see you there, to arrange to meet up please contact jo@mcspr.co.uk

Hosted by the UK’s biggest trade event, the Outdoor Trade Show (OTS), the awards are open to all exhibitors of the event and are designed to recognise product innovation and technology.

There is a choice of 7 categories from clothing to camping accessories and sleeping bags to rucksacks, providing a platform for a diverse selection of products.

The judging panel for the Novels brings together a wealth of experience from the outdoor market with members of the press, retailers and outdoor personalities all judging the merits of each entry. Dedicated space in the “link area” that connects the two halls at OTS will be created to display the three finalists of each category and the winners will be highlighted from the second day of the show.

Commenting on the 2010 Novel awards, show organiser Marta Williams says; “Following the success of last years Novels we have decided to accept entries sooner this year giving exhibitors more time to enter a multitude of products. We are hoping once again that everyone will get involved, keen to gain recognition for their most innovative products.”

To find out more about the Novel awards and see the latest floor plan for OTS please log on to www.outdoottradeshow.com

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Owner and senior boot-maker Mike Sheehan has pioneered the company since its launch in 1989 and commenting on the latest initiative he said, “Our core belief is that if the boots are good enough, customers will discover them and much of our growth to date has been achieved by word of mouth!  However we cannot rely on this forever and we are very pleased to announce the appointment of MCS and know that this investment will help to strengthen relationships with the trade and attract new consumers to the brand.”    

The only boot brand to offer five different width fittings, Alt-Berg began making boots from its factory in Richmond over twenty years ago and today manufactures over 45,000 pairs between Yorkshire and its Italian factory in Treviso.  Alt-Berg’s reputation is widely recognised by loyal customers willing to travel hundreds of miles for a personalised “custom fit”.

A testament to the comfort, durability and fit of Alt-Berg footwear is the specification by the MOD for soldiers in active service in harsh desert and jungle conditions in Iraq, and Afghanistan.  Boots from the hiking range have been used to walk trails from the high Tien Shan Mountains in China to the frozen wastes of Siberia and the classic styles from the motorcycle range are supplied to police forces across the UK.

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Snugpak exports to 28 countries worldwide, with overseas sales increasing by 77% since 2006 and over 50% of Snugpak’s total production exported.

Snugpak has designed a new range of lightweight backpacking tents which will be launched at OutDoor, Friedrichshafen this year, and last year the company successfully launched a range of travel accessories which has been a great success, with retail accounts stocking up on these handy accessories.  Sales Director Darren Burrell said:  “We are thrilled with our performance in the last year. Being a difficult season for retailers, our results show the commitment our customers have to our products and how they value the high quality materials and attention to detail we put in our manufacturing process. Our range extension has also proved very successful and we are committed to continue to offer products and services second to none.”

Snugpak is proud to be the last company producing low pack size performance synthetic fill sleeping bags in the United Kingdom and is one of the few left producing insulated cold weather clothing in Europe. Based in a listed mill built in the 1800’s on the edge of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, Snugpak uses a combination of state of the art computer controlled quilting machinery and hand sewing techniques to bring ideas to life.

For further information please contact Snugpak on 01535 654479 or visit www.snugpak.com

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Distributed by Bramwell International in the UK, Simon was provided with a Gregory Z55 pack for use during his recent Burma trek. The Z55 (R.R.P. £139.99) is known as the workhorse of the backpacking ventilated line and features JetStream™ LTS Suspension and an Auto-Fit harness system. This durable yet lightweight pack comes with a host of technical features which provide support, stability and comfort during hikes in varying conditions.

BBC presenter, Simon Reeve comments: “I used a Gregory Z55 rucksack a number of times on my Tropic of Cancer journey, and wore it during an exhausting covert hike from a remote region of India into a remote area of western Burma. It’s one of the riskiest things the team and I have done, so our kit couldn’t let us down. We didn’t know what conditions we’d encounter, so we had to carry ropes, machetes, food, water, the lot. And our packs needed to be light, strong, fit for purpose and utterly reliable.

“After crossing the border from India into Burma using a local smugglers zip-line, we trekked to a remote hill village home to the native Chin people, where we heard appalling stories of life under the Burmese military regime. When we discovered Burmese troops had arrived in the neighbouring village we had to flee late at night, loading our packs and trekking through the darkness down a mountain and arriving back at the Burma-India border at 5am. Hundreds of things could have gone wrong on the trip, but the Gregory pack never let me down. It has a fantastic ventilation system which meant air was reaching my back, and even though my legs ached for days, the Gregory was super-comfortable and I never experienced even a twinge from my back bones or muscles. It’s a fantastic lightweight pack for short trips and long hikes.”

Featuring the Z55 on the front cover, the ‘Tropic of Cancer’ DVD is now available in stores nationwide at £24.99 R.R.P: http://www.bbcshop.com/Science+Nature/Tropic-Of-Cancer-DVD/invt/bbcdvd3240

For further details regarding the Z55 or to see the full Gregory range please visit www.bramwell-int.co.uk

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From 9:30 – 5:00pm, Saturday 29th May – Monday 31^st May, the Hawkshead store plays host to local celebrity, Sue Todd (as seen on the popular ITV show ‘The Lakes’). Sue will be opening and closing the Bank Holiday weekend events as well as signing autographs for die hard fans. Bringing out the ‘British eccentric’ in all of us, the quirky themed competitions will include: a spiffing ‘Gurning contest’, a country inspired colouring competition, Welly Wanging, balloon modelling and even a World Record attempt.

The fun filled itinerary can be seen below:

Saturday 29^th May

• Sue Todd (Local Celebrity) as seen on ITV’s ‘The Lakes’ programme
• Gurning Contest
• Welly Wanging
• Music by Hawkshead School
• Face Painting
• Colouring Competition
• Balloon Modelling and Craft Making for the kids

Sunday 30th May

• World Record Attempt
• Gardening Demo
• Dwile Flonking
• Cumbrian Bell Ringing
• Traditional Cumberland Pie (served at the Naturally Hawkshead Cafe)
• Face Painting
• Colouring Competition
• Balloon Modelling Craft Making for the kids

Monday 31st May

• Sue Todd (Local Celebrity) as seen on ITV’s The Lakes programme
• ‘Learn the Lingo’ – a lesson and demo in the traditional Cumbrian language
• Organised Walk
• Meet the Famous Hawkshead Hound in store
• Colouring Competition
• Face Painting
• Balloon Modelling and Craft Making for the kids
• Guest Saxophonist

If you would like further information regarding the weekend’s events, please contact the store directly on 015394 36633. For further details regarding Hawkshead Outdoor and Country Clothing please visit: http://www.hawkshead.com

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Notes for Editors

Hawkshead Outdoor and Country Clothing has over 16 stores nationwide offering a wide range of fashionable, country style clothing, accessories and footwear to appeal to the British eccentric in all of us.

Since retiring from the British Alpine Ski Team, Alain has gained a BASI Level III teaching qualification and also recently been selected to the represent BASI in the demonstration team for Interski in St Anton, Austria in 2011.  Already active within the association, Alain acts as one of the “Openers” in the Eurotest Giant Slalom event – one of the qualifying events for candidates wishing to take their International Ski Teaching Diploma.

BASI is lending its support to Alain in his latest quest to continue with top level international competition and is tapping into his knowledge of performance sports by working for BASI, using his expertise to deliver the Strength and Conditioning element of the Common Theory course which forms part of the ISIA Level III qualification.

A former winner of the BBC TV series “Superstars” Alain hopes to participate in the 3 man sprint cycling team at the Games where Scotland are the reigning champions, and is currently training hard using the sports facilities at both Stirling University and the Velodrome in Manchester.

The appointment is effective from the end of May 2010 when Fergus re-locates from his home in the Scottish Borders to officially join the rest of the staff at BASI HQ in Grantown-on-Spey to head up the association.  Reporting to the board, key responsibilities include ensuring BASI’s financial stability, managing the association’s future development and continuing to promote the international status of BASI for the benefit of members.

Fergus joins BASI directly from his role as Director of the Scottish Mining Museum, a major tourist attraction that employs a staff of 28 and attracts 40,000 visitors per year, where he has been involved for the last 14 years initiating and developing operational and management strategies for finance, budgeting, fundraising and staffing.

His skiing roots can be traced back to the Spey Valley pre 1988 with spells as a BASI Grade II instructor with Carrbridge Ski School, Struan House and Cairdsport and time in Switzerland as Resort Manager for travel operator Mark Warner in Verbier.  An all round outdoor sports enthusiast, Fergus lists road cycling and sailing as some of his other favourite interests.

Eager to take up his new role, Fergus commented, “It is an exciting time to be joining BASI and I’m looking forward to being directly involved with the skiing world again!  I’m hoping to share the skills and experience I’ve gathered in my other roles, working with the Board and with members to take BASI forward into a successful future.  It was great to meet the Board members recently and to see the dedication and enthusiasm at the heart of the organisation.  I expect to become more familiar with the details of the BASI operation during the run up to taking up the post at the end of May.”

BASI Chairman Andrew Lockerbie said, “I am very delighted to welcome Fergus as the new Chief Executive Officer of BASI.  He joins us with great credentials and I look forward to handing over the reins and seeing Fergus take the association onwards and upwards in the future.”

In keeping with the store’s air of British eccentricity, the new café sports polka dot wallpaper which has been rolled out across all menus and signage throughout the café. The interior has been overhauled to include a state-of-the-art kitchen, new flooring and new walls. As well as new tables and chairs and even new chinawear and cutlery for customers to enjoy!

Made fresh to order, the new menu includes a selection of meals which includes quintessentially English breakfast options such as bacon butties (£3.50), smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (£5.50), toasted tea cakes (£1.95) and Cumberland Sausage Roll (£3.50). Lunch time comprises of filling soups served with rustic bread (£3.95), jacket potatoes with various fillings (£4.95) or hand-made sandwiches such as the Hawkshead ham, cheese and tomato or traditional egg mayonnaise and cress (£4.75). Satisfy any sweet tooth with mouth watering options from the dessert menu, whether its a Tiffin Slice (£2.25), fruit scones (£1.70), hand-made cakes (£2.95) or the Original Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding with ice cream (£4.95), there is something to satisfy any pallet.

Joanne Black, Hawkshead Outdoor and Country Clothing’s Managing Director, comments: “The newly refurbished café brightens up our Hawkshead store and really adds that quirky British edge our customers have come to know and love.

“Along with the refurbishment, we are very proud to unveil our scrumptious new menu, which has been designed to include as many local ingredients as possible – ensuring the dishes included are wholesome and nutritious, while in harmony with the beautiful countryside which surrounds the Hawkshead store.”

 If you would like further information regarding Hawkshead Outdoor and Country Clothing please visit: http://www.hawkshead.com or you can telephone the Hawkshead store directly on 015394 36633.

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Notes for Editors

Hawkshead Outdoor and Country Clothing has over 16 stores nationwide offering a wide range of fashionable, country style clothing, accessories and footwear to appeal to the British eccentric in all of us.

Kampa has acknowledged that it has infringed Oase Outdoors (Outwell) design rights and that it was wrong to have brought to market a copy of the Outwell Montana 6 tent and has agreed not to copy the design in the future. Satisfactory compensation has been paid to Outwell.

Oase Outdoors success in the family camping market is due to the innovation and technologies used in its tents and camping accessories, therefore the company takes the design rights of its products very seriously and will take appropriate measures to protect these rights at all times.

Henrik Arens, Managing Director from Oase Outdoors comments: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this litigation. We pride ourselves in offering high quality products to the outdoor and camping markets. With this conclusion we see the matter as closed and we will continue to supply our customers with the best quality and innovative camping products in the market”.

For further information on this matter please contact Management Assistant Henrik Kjærgaard Clausen, +45 7022 8500, hkc@oase-outdoors.dk