Archive for January, 2009

It’s a Soccer Sevens double

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

After successfully handling PR and media management at last year’s HKFC International Soccer Sevens, Two Up Front will repeat the feat in 2009.

The Hong Kong-based sports publishing and PR firm will once again be in the thick of the action when this year’s tournament is staged at Hong Kong Football Club from May 29-31.

"While we have extensive experience in golf, rugby, cricket and motor racing, the 2008 Soccer Sevens was our first foray into football and it proved to be highly successful and enjoyable,” said Two Up Front editorial director Niall Donnelly.

"The event was first staged in 1999 and is gaining a reputation as the world’s premier seven-a-side football tournament so we are very pleased to be working with the organisers again this year.”

Two Up Front’s innovative PR campaign for the 2008 tournament - which featured top English teams Aston Villa and West Ham United and Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers - boosted awareness among fans and journalists with a resulting huge increase in media coverage.

A total of 32 teams - 16 in the Main competition and 16 in the Masters - will take part in the 2009 Soccer Sevens.

Two Up Front also handles PR for two other high-profile sporting events in Hong Kong - golf’s UBS Hong Kong Open and the GFI HKFC Tens rugby tournament.

In addition, Two Up Front handles PR for the Ballantine’s Championship golf tournament in Korea.

The company’s publishing arm produces the acclaimed official souvenir programme for the Hong Kong Sevens rugby showpiece plus various other rugby and golf publications.

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Els to lead stellar field in Korea

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Three-time Major winner Ernie Els will spearhead a world class field at the forthcoming Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The South African ace will be joined in the line-up for the €2.1 million showpiece by Henrik Stenson of Sweden and England’s Lee Westwood.

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland will be back to defend his title while former Masters champion Fred Couples is also in the impressive field.

The Ballantine’s Championship will return to Pinx Golf Club – venue for last year’s inaugural tournament – on the picturesque holiday island of Jeju, from April 23-26, 2009.

“I’ve enjoyed my previous visits to Korea and I’m delighted to be returning to take part in the Ballantine’s Championship for the first time,” said Els, winner of the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002.

“Korea is at the forefront of the Asian golf boom and the fans there are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the game, so I’m really looking forward to playing at Pinx Golf Club.

“I know the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship was an outstanding success and I’m excited to be involved in what promises to be another fantastic tournament.”

Els, currently 10th in the world rankings, has more than 50 victories worldwide to his name, including an astonishing seven World Match Play Championship titles.

He has twice finished top of the European Tour Order of Merit and has triumphed 16 times on the PGA Tour.

Westwood, the world No.11, has an impressive 18 European Tour victories to his name and another solid campaign last year included finishing third at the US Open.

World No.12 Stenson is a six-time winner on the European Tour and ended the 2008 season in style when he partnered Robert Karlsson to victory for Sweden at the World Cup in China.

McDowell triumphed in dramatic fashion at Pinx last year, edging India’s Jeev Milkha Singh on the third extra hole.

The victory sparked a stellar season that yielded a second success at the Barclays Scottish Open and his Ryder Cup debut.

“Winning the 2008 Ballantine’s Championship was an unforgettable moment in my career and also the start of a brilliant year for me,” said McDowell.

“I have some wonderful memories of my week at Pinx Golf Club and I’m thrilled to be returning as defending champion.

“I know Ballantine’s and the organisers are putting together a world class field and the Korean fans can be assured I’ll be doing my very best to mount a successful title defence.”

Superstar Couples – hugely popular in Korea – won the Masters in 1992, one of 15 career victories on the PGA Tour, while he also has two European Tour successes.

The evergreen American had three top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour last year.

“I’ve always had so much fun playing in Korea and I cannot wait to return there to play in the Ballantine’s Championship,” said Couples.

“I’ve heard great things about the tournament and Pinx Golf Club, so it promises to be an awesome week.”

Ballantine’s is title sponsoring the tournament – which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA – for a minimum of three years.

“We are very proud to be launching the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship knowing we will play host to such a high calibre field of international golfers,” said Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, which owns Ballantine’s.

“With the star players announced today, we have high hopes of a stylish and world class showcase in April, and are confident that this prestigious event will continue to build on the outstanding success of the inaugural tournament last year.”
The 2009 Ballantine’s Championship will have a full field of 156 players headed by the top 60 available players from the official world rankings.

In addition, the top 25 players from the Korea PGA, as determined by the Ballantine’s Points System, will be awarded places, giving homegrown golfers the opportunity to compete en masse alongside the game’s elite.

The remainder of the field will be split between the European and Asian Tours, plus eight sponsor invitations.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the Ballantine’s Championship by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.

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Tens tie-up maintained for fifth year

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Organisers of the popular GFI HKFC Tens rugby tournament have turned to Two Up Front for the fifth year running to handle PR and publish the souvenir programme.

"We’re very happy to remain involved in the best ten-a-side rugby tournament in the world,” said Two Up Front editorial director Niall Donnelly.

"Each year, the Tens continues to improve, with more and more fans attending and the standard of rugby rising, so we’re delighted to be playing a key role in this success story.”

The 2009 GFI HKFC Tens will be staged at Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley from March 25-26. Sixteen club and invitational teams from around the world will compete for the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield.

The Tens was first held in 1986 to celebrate the HKFC’s centenary and has developed into a highlight of the Asian rugby calendar.

Two Up Front also handles PR for two of Asia’s biggest golf tournaments, the UBS Hong Kong Open and the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The company’s publishing arm produces the acclaimed official souvenir programme for the Hong Kong Sevens plus various other rugby and golf publications.

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Sevens success story continues

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

For the fifth year in a row, Two Up Front has been entrusted with publishing the official Hong Kong Sevens souvenir programme and pocket guide.

The dual publication has become a must-have item for the thousands of fans who attend the showpiece and has sold out every year since Two Up Front first became involved in 2005.

"Each year, the challenge is to produce a programme and pocket guide that matches the importance of the occasion and this year is no different,” said Two Up Front project director Simon Wait.

"The feedback we receive from the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and Sevens fans is always excellent but there is no danger of us becoming complacent.

"We will once again be using the best rugby writers and photographers to provide quality content and our design team understand the need to come up with a product that looks as good as it reads.”

After moribund programme sales up to 2004, the HKRFU hired Hong Kong-based sports publishing and PR firm Two Up Front to produce the programme for the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Two Up Front introduced the concept of a pocket guide to be sold with the programme - and the dual publication format has proved extremely popular with fans, players and officials.

Two Up Front also publishes the souvenir programmes for the GFI HKFC Tens rugby tournament and UBS Hong Kong Open golf showpiece.

In addition, the company handles worldwide PR for the GFI Hong Kong Tens, the UBS Hong Kong Open, the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens and the Ballantine¡¦s Championship golf tournament in Korea.

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