Archive for March, 2010

Rugby Sevens programme sells out – again

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

The official programme and pocket guide for the Hong Kong Sevens once again became a collector’s item for rugby fans.

For the sixth year running, the dual publication – produced as usual by Two Up Front – sold out before the showpiece tournament had finished.

The sales booth inside the main entrance to the Hong Kong Stadium ran out of copies by mid-afternoon on Saturday (27 March) – the second day of the three-day tournament.

Hong Kong Rugby Football Union officials were delighted with the publication. “The Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2010 souvenir programme and pocket guide once again proved to be extremely popular with fans, spectators, sponsors and officials alike,” said HKRFU Sevens manager Warrick Dent.

“As usual, the design and content were of the highest standard and we received plenty of positive feedback about what was another top quality publication from Two Up Front.”

Among those admiring the programme was International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who was guest of honour at the tournament following the historic decision last year to re-admit rugby to the Olympic Games.

Two Up Front introduced the concept of a pocket guide to be sold with the programme when the company was first contracted to produce the souvenir publication in 2005.

Two Up Front also publishes the souvenir programme for the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens and Annual Reports for the HKRFU and Hong Kong Football Club.

In addition, the company handles worldwide PR for the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens and two high-profile golf tournaments, the Hong Kong Open and the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

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My Round – with Miguel Ángel Jiménez

Monday, March 29th, 2010

In the second of a series of quick-fire interviews with some of the leading players who will be appearing at the forthcoming Ballantine’s Championship in Korea, MIGUEL ÁNGEL JIMÉNEZ unwinds with a glass of Ballantine’s in the clubhouse bar.

What’s your favourite golf course?
Difficult question as I have many courses I like. However, here are some I love to play: the Open Championship courses of Carnoustie, Royal Birkdale and Turnberry; Shinnecock Hills in America and El Saler in Spain.

Which player do you most admire?
Tiger Woods – his record in golf is superb.

What’s the best shot you’ve ever hit?
A three iron at the par-five 17th hole at Valderrama during the 1994 Volvo Masters. It went straight into the hole for an albatross! That was a very special moment.

Do you get nervous?
Not nervous, but of course sometimes a little tense. However that can make me concentrate more and because of that I often play better under pressure.

If you could only take rioja wine OR cigars to a desert island, which would it be?
If I can’t take both I won’t go!

Will Spain win the soccer World Cup this year?
What a question! Of course!

What is your most treasured possession?
I love many of my possessions but perhaps most of all would be my Ferrari. It’s a truly wonderful car to drive and it’s one of the first things I do when I get home from a tournament.

What’s your favourite song?
It’s a Spanish song Cantares, written by Antonio Machado and sung by Serrat.

Who or what makes you laugh?
Oh, so many things make me laugh. I laugh often. The world can be a serious place but it’s also a beautiful place and we must enjoy it and laughter is a part of that enjoyment.

When was the last time you went to the gym?
I try to go at least every two weeks at home. It’s actually easier to go regularly when I’m out on tour as there’s usually a gym somewhere nearby and there’s often a long time between rounds at a tournament.

Where can you walk down the street unrecognised?
Difficult to say as I usually only visit countries where golf is played and I think many golf professionals are well known in those countries. Perhaps in the Far East, say Hong Kong, I’m recognised less than in European countries.

What’s your favourite movie?
A Spanish film called Mar Adentro [The Sea Inside]. It’s a very moving film and stars Javier Bardem.

How do you relax after a round?
With a favourite cigar, a nice glass of wine and with good friends. What could be better?

Ballantine’s likes to “Leave an impression” – do you hope to do this in Korea?
Well, I always like to leave a good impression, win or lose. Of course, it would be wonderful to play well in the Ballantine’s Championship but I’m sure I’ll enjoy the week very much anyway.

What would you like written on your gravestone?
I shall see you there!

Miguel Angel Jiménez, lover of fine wines and cigars and winner of 16 European Tour titles, will be competing in the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship at Pinx Golf Club, Jeju Island, Korea, from 22-25 April 2010.

About Ballantine’s

Korea’s favourite Scotch, Ballantine’s, is also the No.1 Scotch whisky range across the Asia Pacific region (17 years old and above – IWSR) and the No.2 Scotch whisky brand in the world. Ballantine’s has won over 60 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of master blenders that dates back to 1827.

Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship and an official sponsor of both the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China and the Barclay’s Scottish Open held in Loch Lomond, Scotland.

-- ENDS --

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

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Silverbacks impress Skinstad and Bentley

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Rugby greats Bob Skinstad and John Bentley sang the praises of Rwanda’s pioneering team after their impressive debut in Hong Kong today (Wednesday, 24 March).

The Silverbacks – playing outside East Africa for the first time – reached the Plate final at the inProjects Kowloon RugbyFest, impressing spectators with their pace and silky ball skills.

Skinstad, a member of South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad and co-founder of the Cape Town Tens, said he was a huge fan.

“It’s a fantastic story how the Rwandans came to be playing here, I love it,” he said. “I was astounded by their pace and skill levels, they have obviously taken to rugby in a big way. We’ve all seen what the Kenyans have achieved at sevens and there is a similar potential with these guys.

“If the games here had been longer they would have won every one because they certainly had the pace and fitness. The technical side of the game is obviously something they can learn. We’d love to see them at the Cape Town Tens, they’ve got an open invitation and we’d waive the entrance fee if they could get themselves down there.”

Former England and Lions winger Bentley was similarly appreciative. “The Rwandans have been fantastic. Their core skills were excellent, they were very comfortable with the ball in hand and they were quick,” he said.

“They still need to work on the technical side, at the rucks and mauls, but that is to be expected. The way they have performed over the course of the day has been very impressive.”

The Silverbacks – named after Rwanda’s signature mountain gorillas – certainly made their mark at RugbyFest, a 10-a-side tournament at King’s Park featuring 14 teams from around the world. They won four of their six games in Pool One, only losing narrowly in the other two, to finish second in the standings.

That put them through to the Plate final where, despite dominating possession, they went down 7-0 to the ARC All-Stars, a mixture of players from Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Africa.

Silverbacks player-coach Gerald Nsenga was happy despite the defeat. “It’s been a great day for us,” he said. “Of course, anytime you lose a final you are disappointed but overall I’m very happy for the boys. We’ve come to Hong Kong for the first time and got all the way to the Plate final and not many teams can say that.

“We had a lot of possession in the final but unfortunately we couldn’t score and we threw it away in the last couple of minutes.

“But it’s been an invaluable experience for us. When we first got here we saw that a lot of the other teams were bigger than us and the boys were a little bit nervous. But we’re fit and we’re determined and we’ve discovered that we can compete and win against these guys.

“We’ve also met a lot of great people here in Hong Kong, we’ve received some top-level coaching and so many people have helped us. It’s been a wonderful rugby experience and a fantastic travel experience and will be hugely beneficial to Rwandan rugby moving forward. Now we’re looking forward to watching the Hong Kong Sevens – we’re going to have some fun!”

The Cup final at RugbyFest was won by Cape Town team the Hamilton Dynamiters, who beat Hong Kong outfit Discovery Bay Pirates 14-7.

RugbyFest is part of the territory’s week-long Festival of Rugby that culminates in the famous Hong Kong Sevens this weekend.

Hong Kong-born rugby enthusiast and Rwanda volunteer worker Dave Hughes, who has organised the Silverbacks’ tour, thanked tournament officials.

“We’re very grateful to Kowloon RFC, the hosts of RugbyFest, and their chairman Anson Bailey for inviting us and making us so welcome,” he said. “They were also extremely helpful in sourcing sponsorship for us.”

Companies backing the Rwandan team’s trip include Silver Heritage, KPMG, Blank Rome and G4S. The squad have been given a free minibus for their entire visit courtesy of Woodland Pre-Schools and at RugbyFest they played in a pristine new strip designed and produced at minimal cost by Tsunami Sport.

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union helped with logistics and has waived the cost of the team’s Sevens tickets. In addition, HKRFU director of development Ruth Mitchell has organised a huge collection of new and second-hand kit and boots for the players to take back to Rwanda.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the Rwandan Silverbacks by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.

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My Round – with Ernie Els

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

In the first of a series of quick-fire interviews with some of the leading players who will be appearing at the forthcoming Ballantine’s Championship in Korea, ERNIE ELS unwinds with a glass of Ballantine’s in the clubhouse bar.

What’s your favourite golf course?
Muirfield, Scotland.

Which player do you most admire?
Gary Player, an inspiration to all South African golfers and others throughout the world.

What’s the best shot you’ve ever hit?
Difficult one, but the one that gave me greatest pleasure was the short putt to win The Open at Muirfield in 2002.

Do you take your golf clubs on holiday?
Yes, I like to play socially as well as professionally.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional golfer?
I would have liked to have been a professional tennis player.

What are you good at that people may not know?
I wasn’t a bad tennis player!

What’s your favourite song?
Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones.

Who or what makes you laugh?
Watching the television programme Family Guy.

When was the last time you went to the gym?
I go there at least three times a week

Where can you walk down the street unrecognised?
Anywhere they don’t play golf!

What’s the best invention ever?
Penicillin.

What’s your favourite movie?
The Shawshank Redemption.

How do you relax after a round?
Watch television.

Ballantine’s likes to “Leave an impression” – do you hope to do this in Korea?
Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to leave Korea having left a good impression on all who have met me or watched me play.

What would you like written on your gravestone?
The measure of the man was not what he took, but what he gave back.

Ernie Els, winner of more than 60 tournaments worldwide, including three Majors and seven World Match Play Championships, will be competing in the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship at Pinx Golf Club, Jeju Island, Korea, from 22-25 April 2010.

About Ballantine’s

Korea’s favourite Scotch, Ballantine’s, is also the No.1 Scotch whisky range across the Asia Pacific region (17 years old and above – IWSR) and the No.2 Scotch whisky brand in the world. Ballantine’s has won over 60 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of master blenders that dates back to 1827.

Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship and an official sponsor of both the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China and the Barclay’s Scottish Open held in Loch Lomond, Scotland.

-- ENDS --

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

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Silverbacks take tips from awesome Aliens

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Rwanda’s national rugby team hit the ground running on the first day of their historic visit to Hong Kong with a training session alongside one of New Zealand’s top touring teams, the Aliens.

The Silverbacks, making their first trip outside East Africa, were put through scrummaging and lineout drills and enjoyed a game of touch rugby in the morning sunshine at Hong Kong Football Club.

Their efforts were enough to impress Aliens coach Willie Los’e. “The Rwandan boys have got some excellent athletes and lovely skills, so we’ve just been trying to educate them in some of the finer points of the game,” he said.

“We didn’t go full out, obviously, but they’ve got some quick players, no doubt about it. We had a game of touch with them and they showed that if they get some space, not many players are going to catch them.

“It’s just a question of them staying onside and getting to grips with the laws but there is no doubt in my mind that if they do get some quality ball then they will score some tries during this tour.”

The Silverbacks – named after Rwanda’s signature mountain gorillas – are in Hong Kong to play in the Kowloon RugbyFest, a 10-a-side tournament at King’s Park on Wednesday (24 March) featuring teams from around the world.

Aliens are the defending champions in the elite-level GFI HKFC Tens, to be played at Hong Kong Football Club on Wednesday and Thursday (24-25 March).

Both tournaments are part of the territory’s week-long Festival of Rugby that culminates in the famous Hong Kong Sevens this weekend.

“We always love coming back to Hong Kong and to be spreading the rugby gospel by training with the Rwandan boys makes it even more special,” added Los’e. “We know it’s their first trip here and very exciting for them, but our guys got just as much of a buzz out of it as they did.”

The 13-man Silverbacks squad will continue their rugby education on Tuesday with a training session alongside another top HKFC Tens team, the UK-based Penguins. In addition, Penguins staff will put each player through a grassroots coaching course so they can teach the basics of the game back home.

At the end of the week, the Silverbacks will complete the rugby trip of a lifetime by attending the Sevens.

“Rugby is still a young game in Rwanda so this visit is about opening up our minds to the rugby world,” said Silverbacks coach Gerald Nsenga. “There is a lot planned for us on this trip, we have much to learn and it is going to be very interesting and rewarding for us.

“It’s fascinating to be here in Hong Kong. It’s our first time to be in such a country and our first time to train on such a top quality pitch. Everyone is very excited and it’s a bit of a culture shock for the guys, obviously.

“Ever since we learned we would be attending the Hong Kong Sevens our spirits have been very high. We’ve seen the Sevens on TV but to see the matches live will be a fantastic experience. We are very proud to be here and we know it is not just about the rugby, it is about being good ambassadors for our country.”

Hong Kong-born rugby enthusiast and Rwanda volunteer worker Dave Hughes, who has organised the tour, thanked the HKFC for their hospitality. “It’s been an incredible experience for the guys to train at HKFC and we are very grateful to the Club for their help,” he said.

“Our thanks also go to Aliens for today’s training session. To have access to that level of coaching is unbelievable and will inspire the guys to work even harder at their game. The session with Penguins is also going to be invaluable.

“There are so many people and organisations who have helped make this trip happen that it is impossible to thank them all, but we would like to mention Kowloon RFC, the hosts of RugbyFest, and their chairman Anson Bailey for inviting us to the tournament and sourcing sponsorship.”

Companies backing the Rwandan team’s trip include Silver Heritage, KPMG, Blank Rome and G4S. The squad have been given a free minibus for their entire visit courtesy of Woodland Pre-Schools and they will play in a pristine new strip designed and produced at minimal cost by Tsunami Sport.

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union has helped with logistics and has waived the cost of the team’s Sevens tickets. In addition, HKRFU director of development Ruth Mitchell has organised a huge collection of new and second-hand kit and boots for the players to take back to Rwanda.

-- ENDS --

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

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Champion Thongchai relishing title defence

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Thongchai Jaidee will be spurred on by the memory of one of his best ever rounds when he defends his Ballantine’s Championship crown in Korea next month.

The Thai ace battled through unusually cold and windy conditions last year to triumph in a dramatic three-way playoff for the biggest win of his career.

It means he cannot wait to return to Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju for the 2010 edition of the €2.2 million showpiece from 22-25 April.

“I’m really looking forward to going back to defend my Ballantine’s Championship title because I have very special memories of my win there last year,” said Thongchai.

“I felt good going into the week because I’d been playing well and was building up some momentum. Then on the final day I played one of my best rounds because even though the conditions were tough I hit 17 greens and only made one bogey with a three putt.”

Thongchai compiled a masterly two-under-par 70 on the final day to enter a playoff against Spain’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño and local hero Kang Sung Hoon. He then sank a six-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to claim his fourth European Tour title.

“It was a great feeling to win and it was nice to get a big cheque at the end, but I didn’t buy myself anything with it – I just put it in the bank, to keep my wife happy!” laughed Thongchai.

“More importantly, the win moved me up the Race to Dubai and the world rankings, and helped me get into tournaments like the World Golf Championships and hopefully the Masters. It gives you great confidence when you win and I’ve carried that into this season. If I qualify for the Masters and play well there, it should give me the confidence to go and win again.”

Thongchai is currently 43rd in the world rankings and on target to play in the Masters, to be held two weeks before the Ballantine’s Championship. He has enjoyed an excellent start to 2010 with three top 10 finishes in six European Tour events, including third place in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and joint fifth in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

He will face another world class field in Korea. Three-time Major winner Ernie Els will arrive at the tournament on a high after his brilliant victory in last week’s WGC-CA Championship in Miami.

Also in the line-up will be Korean hero Yang Yong Eun, who became Asia’s first ever Major winner when he captured the PGA Championship last year.

In addition, PGA Tour star Anthony Kim, world No.14 Henrik Stenson, European Tour legend Miguel Angel Jiménez and the tournament’s 2008 champion, Graeme McDowell, have all been confirmed.

Thongchai admitted he would have his work cut out. “I won the Malaysian Open two years in a row, so it would be great to do the same with the Ballantine’s Championship, but it won’t be easy because there are a lot of good players appearing, including Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson.

“So it’s a really strong field, which is great for the fans and also great for me, because I enjoy playing with the best players in the world.

“It’s a lot of fun – I don’t really feel pressure because playing golf is easy compared to what some people have to do for a job. It’s the best job in the world, so I never complain – I always try to play with a smile on my face.”

Thongchai’s previous European Tour titles came with victories in the Malaysian Open in 2004 and 2005 and the Indonesia Open at the start of 2009. His Ballantine’s Championship win was also his 12th Asian Tour victory – a record – and he finished 2009 by securing an unprecedented third Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.

The Ballantine’s Championship, the first European Tour event to be played in Korea, will once again be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

About Ballantine’s

Korea’s favourite Scotch, Ballantine’s, is also the No.1 Scotch whisky range across the Asia Pacific region (17 years old and above – IWSR) and the No.2 Scotch whisky brand in the world. Ballantine’s has won over 60 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of master blenders that dates back to 1827.

Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship and an official sponsor of both the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China and the Barclay’s Scottish Open held in Loch Lomond, Scotland.

-- ENDS --

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

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Andy Cole All Stars to grace Soccer Sevens

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Manchester United legend Andy Cole will lead his own all-star team at this year’s HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens.

The Old Trafford great will captain a star-studded line-up of former teammates and friends in the three-day spectacle at Hong Kong Football Club in May.

Cole, a key striker in United’s famous Treble-winning team of 1999, said he was looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m delighted to be coming to Hong Kong to take part in the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens,” he said.

“I’ll be bringing some old friends and teammates with me and we’re looking forward to enjoying ourselves and hopefully giving the fans plenty of entertainment.

“It is recognised as the premier sevens tournament worldwide and, while it’s played in a friendly spirit, we’ll certainly be coming with the aim of winning. As former professionals, we never lose that desire to do well and I can assure everyone in Hong Kong that we’ll be very competitive.”

The Andy Cole All Stars will feature former United players David May, Lee Martin, Clayton Blackmore and Andy Ritchie.

They will be joined by a trio of former England internationals – midfielder Michael Thomas, defender Ugo Ehiogu and goalkeeper Ian Walker, plus ex-Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair.

Thomas will be forever remembered as the scorer of one of the most famous goals in English football history, the last-gasp winner that won the league title for Arsenal against Liverpool at Anfield in 1989.

Cole won the Champions League, five Premier League titles and two FA Cups with United in a glittering career.

Capped 15 times for England, he also played for Newcastle, Blackburn, Fulham and Manchester City, among others, and he ranks second behind Alan Shearer in the all-time list of top Premiership scorers with 187 goals.

Cole is looking forward to returning to Hong Kong, having previously played in the territory on pre-season tours with United.

“I know from my years at Old Trafford that football fans in Hong Kong are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the game so it will be a pleasure to play in front of them again,” he said.

And he promised he and his teammates would be out and about in the community during their Soccer Sevens trip.

“It’s also great to know that a key focus of the Soccer Sevens is youth football and community involvement,” he said.

“We’re relishing the chance to meet people, conduct some coaching clinics and do our part to reach out to the fans. It promises to be a memorable week.”

The 2010 HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens will be held from 14-16 May with a total of 32 teams taking part, 16 in the Main competition and 16 in the Masters.

Since it was first held in 1999, the tournament – sanctioned by the Hong Kong Football Association – has developed into the world’s premier seven-a-side soccer event.

The Main competition has become famous for unearthing the “stars of tomorrow” while the Masters section features former elite players from Europe’s top leagues.

The Andy Cole All Stars will be one of the top attractions in the Masters together with two other teams containing former Premiership players, the IP Global All Stars and the Hood All Stars.

The full line-up of teams in each competition will be announced next month, when the tournament draw will also be held.

Tickets for the tournament will go on sale shortly. As in previous years, all children under the age of 16 will be allowed in free.

About IP Global

IP Global (formerly Intellectual Property) sources property investments in emerging and recovering markets. The company has a unique approach; assisting clients in constructing a property investment portfolio tailored to their specific investment strategy and budget. IP Global focuses not only on where to invest but also removes the difficulties that independent investors face when buying property.

IP Global educates investors with the market knowledge required for potential and future investments. The extensive due diligence service provided gives clients the assurance to invest in remote markets which otherwise would not be accessible.

IP Global was launched in Hong Kong in September 2005 and now has offices in Singapore and Dubai to support a rapidly expanding client base and global ambitions. Since inception, IP Global has transacted a total of over US$700 million in property on behalf of its clients.

 -- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.

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Els hits form ahead of Korean trip

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Korean golf fans will see one of the sport’s true superstars back at the very top of his game when the Ballantine’s Championship is staged next month.

Ernie Els will tee off in the €2.2 million showpiece on a high following his brilliant display in the United States at the weekend.

The three-time Major winner ended a two-year victory drought with a stunning four-shot success at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship in Miami.

“I just want to enjoy this one,” said the South African ace. “This took so much work. A lot of people have said that the older you get, the tougher it becomes to win, and that’s very true.

“I’m 40 years old and it feels like in my 20s I had so many chances and I didn’t quite take them. Now that you’re older, you don’t get as many chances. So this is nice. I’ll have a bit more confidence now, I’m sure. But I just want to keep working hard.

“Just to be back in that group of players who are really performing well: I feel honoured to be back in there.”

Els tamed the infamous TPC Blue Monster at Doral to finish four shots ahead of compatriot Charl Schwartzel and claim his 63rd professional title.

It also vaulted him back into the world’s top 10, a place where he has spent more weeks – 759 now – than any other player since the Official World Golf Ranking was introduced in 1986. Els is now No.8, a jump of 12 positions.

The third edition of the Ballantine’s Championship will be held from 22-25 April, once again at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.

Els will be joined in the tournament by Korean hero Yang Yong Eun, who became Asia’s first ever Major winner when he captured the PGA Championship last year.

Also confirmed for the event are PGA Tour star Anthony Kim, world No.14 Henrik Stenson, European Tour legend Miguel Angel Jiménez and the tournament’s 2008 champion, Graeme McDowell.

Els made his debut in the Ballantine’s Championship last year and contended strongly throughout, eventually finishing equal fourth, two shots behind playoff winner Thongchai Jaidee.

He will return to Jeju with a spring in his step after his momentous victory at Doral – his first title since winning the Honda Classic in March 2008.

“There’s no better day to really test yourself than the fourth round of a golf tournament, everything on the line,” he said.

“Nobody had to put any more pressure on myself because I knew how big it was. But I didn’t want to get ahead of myself either. I really wanted to play every hole for what it was, every shot for what it gave me. And basically that’s what I did when I won a lot of golf tournaments.”

Northern Ireland’s McDowell also impressed at Doral, finishing joint sixth. “I never thought for one second I could get into the hunt, but this is a great boost for me,” he said.

The Ballantine’s Championship, the first European Tour event to be played in Korea, will once again be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

About Ballantine’s

Korea’s favourite Scotch, Ballantine’s, is also the No.1 Scotch whisky range across the Asia Pacific region (17 years old and above – IWSR) and the No.2 Scotch whisky brand in the world. Ballantine’s has won over 60 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of master blenders that dates back to 1827.

Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship and an official sponsor of both the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China and the Barclay’s Scottish Open held in Loch Lomond, Scotland.

-- ENDS --

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

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Rwandans ready for historic Hong Kong tour

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Hong Kong is about to witness rugby history as Rwanda’s national team, the Silverbacks, prepare to make their debut in the territory.

A 13-man squad, plus coach and manager, will make the long journey from East Africa later this month to play in the Kowloon RugbyFest, a 10-a-side tournament featuring teams from around the world.

The Silverbacks – named after Rwanda’s signature mountain gorillas – will also benefit from training sessions with elite coaches and go to watch the world famous Hong Kong Sevens in what promises to be the rugby trip of a lifetime.

“Many of the guys have never been outside Rwanda, never seen the sea and never flown,” says Hong Kong-born rugby enthusiast and Rwanda volunteer worker Dave Hughes, who is organising the project.

“The visit will be a real eye-opener for them and hopefully something that will encourage and inspire them for the rest of their lives.

“On a more general level, we hope it will be a massive boost for rugby in Rwanda. The country has some naturally talented players and with the right coaching and support the sport could really take off in the same way that it has in Kenya and, to a lesser extent, Uganda.”

When the Silverbacks land in Hong Kong on 21 March it will be the latest chapter in a remarkable story that began in 2008 when Hughes was working as a chartered surveyor in the UK.

After reading a book about the 1994 Rwandan genocide, he resigned from his job and flew to the country to work as a volunteer, helping set up a vocational training school for women.

While travelling to work in the capital, Kigali, he was astonished to see some youngsters playing with a rugby ball on a patch of waste ground. “I had no idea rugby even existed in that part of Africa,” he reveals.

He made further enquires and soon became involved in Rwanda’s fledging rugby scene, playing, coaching and organising tournaments.

After returning to Hong Kong last year, he hit on the idea of bringing the Rwandans over to play in the territory’s Festival of Rugby – a week-long series of tournaments that culminates in the Sevens.

Hong Kong’s rugby community embraced the project and offers of help poured in. “People have been very generous and without their help there is no way we could have made this happen,” says Hughes.

Flights and accommodation were the two biggest headaches, but Hughes talked Kenyan Airways into a cut-price deal and arranged for the squad to stay at the Scout Association of Hong Kong’s residential camp at Tai Tam.

The squad have been given a free minibus for their entire 11-day trip courtesy of Woodland Pre-Schools and they will play in a pristine new strip designed and produced at minimal cost by Tsunami Sport.

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union has helped with logistics and has waived the cost of the team’s Sevens tickets. In addition, HKRFU director of development Ruth Mitchell has organised a huge collection of second-hand kit and boots for the players to take back to Rwanda.

As for the rugby, the Silverbacks will benefit from training sessions with some of the sport’s top coaches, with two of the best teams taking part in another Festival of Rugby event – the elite-level Hong Kong Football Club Tens – agreeing to help.

Defending Tens champions Aliens from New Zealand will conduct a joint training session with the Rwandans soon after they arrive. And Penguin International RFC, the famous UK-based touring team, will supervise a training session and also put each player through a grassroots coaching course so they can teach the basics of the game back home.

Meanwhile, in Kigali, the Silverbacks have been practising hard for their Hong Kong adventure. “They’ve been training six days a week,” reveals Hughes. “They’re very proud to be representing Rwanda.”

It has been a long time coming, but the Silverbacks are ready to roar in Hong Kong.

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

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Kim finding his groove ahead of Korea return

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Anthony Kim served notice he is running into top form ahead of next month’s Ballantine’s Championship in Korea with an excellent finish in the Honda Classic on Sunday.

The American superstar compiled an impressive three-under-par 67 in the final round at PGA National in Palm Beach, Florida to claim second place behind winner Camilo Villegas.

It was Kim’s best finish on the PGA Tour since tying for second at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship in 2009.

“It was a good week,” said Kim. “I’m excited with the progress and obviously I want to play well every week. I’m playing well, I’m thinking well, I have a good attitude and hopefully I can keep practising hard and keep improving.

“I know I’m putting in the time, and good golf will come, because I know it that I have the ability to do it. It’s just a matter of going out and doing it now.”

Kim, born in California to Korean parents who immigrated to the US, will return to his ancestral homeland when he appears in the Ballantine’s Championship.

He will be joined in the €2.2 million showpiece by Korean hero Yang Yong Eun, who became Asia’s first ever Major winner when he captured the PGA Championship last year.

Also confirmed for the event are three-time Major winner Ernie Els, world No.10 Henrik Stenson, European Tour legend Miguel Angel Jiménez and the tournament’s 2008 champion, Graeme McDowell.

The third edition of the Ballantine’s Championship will be held from 22-25 April, once again at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.

Kim, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, was delighted with his week’s work at the Honda Classic.

He fought back from a difficult third round with an improved outing on Sunday, leaving English pair Justin Rose and Paul Casey and three-time Major winner Vijay Singh of Fiji trailing in his wake – although there was no catching Colombia’s Villegas, who finished five shots clear.

“My attitude’s a lot better [than last year],” said Kim. “On Saturday I wanted to break every club in the bag, but then I wouldn’t have had a set to play with today, so I’m glad that I didn’t!

“I just try to keep a positive attitude, and once that happens, I’m going to play good golf. I hung in there today. I still haven’t put four good rounds together but I’m trying as hard as I can to get there. I’m working on the right things and I’m sure it will come.

“You’ve got to put things in perspective. Unfortunately last year I was injured and had to deal with some bad golf, a bad attitude and lack of practice.”

Kim appeared at the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship two years ago – his first playing appearance in Korea – and proved a big hit with fans on his way to finishing joint fifth.

He feels he is running into form ahead of his return to Jeju. “If I keep hitting it this good, it’s going to be great for my game. I’m reading the greens real well,” he said.

“My caddie and I are doing a good job of reading the grain, and that’s the first thing that you have to look at. If we can just keep a level head out there and stay happy, we’ll be just fine.”

About Ballantine’s

Korea’s favourite Scotch, Ballantine’s, is also the No.1 Scotch whisky range across the Asia Pacific region (17 years old and above – IWSR) and the No.2 Scotch whisky brand in the world. Ballantine’s has won over 60 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of master blenders that dates back to 1827.

Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship and an official sponsor of both the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China and the Barclay’s Scottish Open held in Loch Lomond, Scotland.

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

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