All members of the Britannia Rescue British Bobsleigh Team were at University of Bath to launch the new 2010-11 season. The women’s GBR1 team includes driver Paula Walker and her brakewomen Kelly Thomas Kelly Denyer, Heather Fisher and Rebekah Wilson. Speaking on the day, No.1 driver Paula Walker who only took up the sport 4 years ago said: “I have worked hard for the last three years, making sure I was the strongest, the fastest and the best mentally prepared and now it's paid off. I feel I have come so far in such a short time. I now need to prove that the right choice has been made. I am in great shape and have been pushing personal bests so I am confident that I will be getting some great results this season.” Female athletes in the GBR2 teams include Gillian Cooke, Fiona Harrison, Faye Pittman and Nikki McSweeney. The men’s GBR1 team is made up of driver John Jackson with brakemen Dan Money and Chris Woolley. The men’s GBR2 team includes Lamin Deen, Will Golder, Rich Sharman, Kevan Crowell, Keith McLaughlin and Martin Cooper. British No.1 driver John Jackson is looking forward to a season of great results ahead. “I am more than up for the challenge of being the No.1 pilot in Great Britain, but that is not my main focus. My main focus is to become one of the top pilots on the World stage. Some say pressure is self induced and I am a big believer in this, I know from passed experiences the more I relax the better I drive. We are looking ahead to 2014 and devising a performance plan to get the result we need there. There are plenty of obstacles we need to overcome on the way and getting results for funding is the main one for me.”

Speaking about his personal relationship with Paula Walker, the female British No.1 Driver, he said: “We are both very competitive at everything, so it’s not just bobsleighing. If Paula beats me at anything, she makes sure that I know about it!” British Performance Director Gary Anderson who spoke at the press day said: “We have some exciting young prospects and we are going to give these athletes experience this year as part of our long term goal of topping the podium in Sochi 2014. This is part of our performance plan. We have targeted the World Junior Championships this year as the launch pad of a sustainable programme where we have a number of crews all competing for selection as we move towards Sochi.” The new performance partnership ‘Team Bath’ between British Bobsleigh and University of Bath was also launched at the press conference organised by LJV Sports Management (www.ljvsm.com) Michael Hoch, Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Sport at University of Bath said: “We are delighted to add bobsleigh to the TeamBath family, especially as the sport is coming back to its roots. We look forward to a strong, long and successful partnership and particularly to working with British Bobsleigh in the lead-up to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.” The University of Bath is also the home of British Skeleton and skeleton athlete Amy Williams, who was Britain’s sole medallist at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, bringing home the gold medal. The women’s GBR1 team will kick start their season on 10th and 11th November in the Americas Cup. Their first World Cup race will be on 22nd – 28th November at the Olympic Whistler track in Canada. The men’s team will start competing in the Europa Cup on 15th – 21st November in Igls, Austria.

Arlesey Town’s Ability Counts Team won the annual Gerald Warren Cup that took place at the aRMadillo Stadium on 8th October. The cup that featured adults with learning disabilities from across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire was started in memory of local football fan Gerald Warren. He attended the Adult Training Centre in Biggleswade. It was started in 2005 to promote sport for individuals with special needs and learning disabilities. The cup that celebrated its 5th year is supported and affiliated by The Bedfordshire F.A. The tournament was split into 2 levels of disabilities with Arlesey Town winning the championship level whilst MK Dons won the other. Manny Cohen, Chairman of Arlesey Town Football Club said after the event: “ The fact that the cup has grown from having 4 teams to 16 in 4 years which shows the need for this type of event in the community. We rely completely on volunteers to make this event happen and I am really grateful to all those have given up their time to make this event a success including RM Group, LJV Sports Management, Clothing Limited. Arlesey Town is a community club and we believe that anyone can enjoy football.” Teams that took part this year included Bramingham, Leyden All Stars, Borehamwood, MK Dons, Luton Onetouchables, Townsend,, Chaul End, Upside, ATFC (2 teams), Hitchin (3 teams) Money raised from the event was donated to The Arlesey Town F.C. Amenities Fund which will be used to help local adults with learning disabilities and get them involved in football.