By the time you read this, we'll be in the middle of the European Championships, and of course there's no England team competing. Well, none of the Home Nations made it, in fact, despite superb efforts from Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and a really poor effort by England.

With the debut show this summer already creating significant interest amongst exhibitors and visitors alike, SSE (Sports Source Europe) is set to be a key part of the sports business calendar going forward. From 2009 on, SSE will be an independent part of the worldwide leading winter sports trade fair, ispo winter. Rather than a sourcing hall within this established global show, SSE will take place as a stand alone forum, alongside ispo within the Munich exhibition centre.

Running parallel to SSE, this is the first global running trade show of its kind, with a focus on core running products as well as associated segments such as triathlon.

Munich's superb M,O,C, is already a permanent showcase for more than 500 names from the sports, footwear and fashion sectors as well as an exhibition centre. The venue is conveniently reached in around 15 minutes by public transport from Munich city centre. Shuttle Buses will run from the airport to the venue for a cost of only €7 one way or €12 return. There is also parking available at the M,O,C,

Ispocard holders will continue to enjoy many tradeshow benefits at the new exhibitions this summer, including complimentary admission to both SSE and Running Order - and use of the airport shuttle bus and Munich's easy to use MVV public transport system for free.

The STAG Buying Group moved to strengthen its position as leader in the buying sector by signing up a clutch of major brands in both the sports and outdoor markets. The leading brands that have joined the Buying Group include MBT, Masai Barefoot Technology, RFE, who control Reebok Fitness and Gold's Gym, Dalesman, one of the UK 's leading outdoor distributors, Glenway Trophies, itself a market leader, and Molten Sports.

In a remarkable endorsement of Prince O3 racquet technology, the brand's players claimed three of the four places in the finals of the 2008 British Open Squash Championships, the longest established and most prestigious event in world squash.

The Saucony ProGrid Triumph 5 was named Best Shoe at the recent Runner's World UK annual awards ceremony. Seeing off competition from the Mizuno Wave Rider and the Nike Pegasus, the Triumph 5 took the award at the ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum in London. The event forms part of the Annual Personal Best Awards, which recognises outstanding products, races and companies throughout the industry.

With its presence predominantly in Europe and Canada, the INTERSPORT Group has increased its retail sales for the 39th year in a row, reaching with 8.54 billion Euro, an increase of 2 per cent over the previous year. Due to the forthcoming European Football Championship, the Olympic Summer Games as well as the steady sales increases in the INTERSPORT key areas of running, outdoor and fitness, 2008 looks as though it will be a positive year for INTERSPORT. It is anticipated to achieve an increase of 20 per cent on football retail sales to a very healthy 850 million Euro.

Dr. Ron Hill, HILLY Clothing's Technical Consultant has won a ‘Heroes of Sport' award, at the recent Runner's World magazine awards ceremony, held in London, for the best veteran athlete.

Following the successful launch of the new v1.08 Collection in January at the Africa Cup of Nations, PUMA introduces its latest v1.08 design, highlighted by a X-ray version of PUMA's leaping cat logo on footwear, apparel and accessories. Launching in time for this summer's 2008 European Championships, the new v1.08 design will be worn by PUMA stars at Euro 2008, including Nicolas Anelka (France), Mario Gomez (Germany), Freddie Ljungberg (Sweden), Alex Frei (Switzerland), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) and Mauro Camoranesi (Italy).

HEAD has re-signed an agreement with tennis star Andy Murray. The partnership will continue through end of 2011. Murray, who plays with the MicroGel Radical MP, holds a current ranking of No. 11 in the South African Airways ATP rankings.

My Triathlon, the tri event specialist, has chosen Aqua Sphere as its official swim equipment sponsor for the inaugural Tatton Park Triathlon on June 8th.   The event races comprise an Olympic distance (swim 1500m; bike 40k; run 10k), a Sprint distance (swim 500m; bike 20k; run 5k) and a corporate team sprint event. Aqua Sphere is supplying prizes for the fastest male and females out of the water, donating a significant quantity of its award-winning goggles and masks, and the team will be available at the event for product advice and fitting expertise.

Canterbury of New Zealand and Newport Gwent Dragons have agreed a four-year deal, which will see the world's leading rugby sportswear manufacturer supply the Magners League side with first team kit and training apparel from the beginning of the 2008/09 season.

Mind 4 Publications, a new mail order supplier of sport enhancement training manuals in the North West, is launching ‘A Mind 4 Cricket', written by clinical hypnotist and sport therapist, Paul Maher. This is probably the only published work totally dedicated to cricketers so they can improve their potential by overcoming any mental limitations.

If anyone thinks cricket is in the doldrums, it is certainly time to think again. adidas don't do flops, and their partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced mid-April in the historic Long Room at Lords, to the accompaniment of a fast moving professional presentation on screen, and in the very visible presence of the likes of James Anderson, Ian Bell, Alastair Cook, Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom, plus players of England's women's squad, including Isa Guha and Charlotte Edwards, surely points to their belief that the game is going places.

As brand recognition goes, Timex are up there with the 'superbrands'; everyone knows what they do, everyone knows the name, from the average consumer right through to triathletes and runners, and outdoors enthusiasts. So where does a brand go when it has such a well-known name? Herbie Calves explains, with a little help from UK Marketing Manager Claire Cosgrove.

Racquet speed is a critical part of playing squash. It determines how fast the ball travels and allows the player to hit a wider selection of shots with more precision.

• Moisture management and anti-bacterial finish
• Wear next to the skin when it's hot, and stay cool
• CCC logo below the neck on the front and right arm
• BaseLayer Hot logo centre back
• RRP £23.99

Born into a sporty family in 1963, Neil's schooldays were possibly more sport than study. He scored well as captain of the football team at Bentley St. Paul's (not ‘the' St. Paul's, this was Bentley, Brentwood).

I couldn't decide whether the weather forecasters were trying to work for us or sabotage our efforts on the spring bank holiday. The media and politicians' doom and gloom had been doing a grand job at killing any spark of positive thinking so when the weather ladies and gentlemen joined in with predictions of rain, wind and the end of the world it looked like the icing on the cake for a bad weekend.

Berghaus is giving its support to stand up comedian Mark Olver, who has decided to walk to the Edinburgh Festival this year, from his home in Bristol. Mark will set off on his 410-mile journey in early June and intends to rely on the kindness of strangers to put him up as he heads north, having booked no accommodation.  Each night of the hike, Mark is also planning a stand-up gig, to raise money for hospices across the UK.

The BackTrack by Bushnell is the solution to one of the nation's greatest annoyances; trying to find your tent at a music festival, your car at a shopping mall or your hotel in a strange city. This unique new unit uses GPS technology in an easy-to-use, hand-held format.

Craghoppers has announced a partnership agreement with GORE-TEX for their AW 08 range. This new partnership has allowed the use of breathable membrane fabric technology in the World First and the Outdoor Wear ranges.

AMG Group continues to grow its sales and marketing departments with the appointment of five new recruits, adding to its ever-expanding workforce. To meet increasing sales demands, Phill Cook, Andy Parish and Mickey Rossall have been brought on board to join the AMG Sales Division, taking up the posts of Territory Manager.

At 3am, Monday 12th May 2008, a multi-national, inter-agency rescue operation was sparked by a Danish man in a Scottish glen using SPOT, the World’s first emergency satellite messenger system.

Coleman UK has appointed Mike Kerry as Key Accounts Manger, where his responsibilities will include managing the North / Scotland areas in addition to developing and managing key accounts across the UK.

The legendary Land Rover brand has stepped into footwear for the SS08 season offering a wide selection of boots and moccasin styles, which reflect the Land Rover brand values of comfort and durability.

The importance that Haglöfs places on product development is second to none, and a clear example of this is their pan European team of 'friends', an informal yet highly qualified test team of extreme climbers, certified mountain guides, multi-sporters, elite athletes etc who all get to test out the product in the toughest conditions possible.
When the 'friends' are satisfied with a product, it's likely that the consumer will be too.
For 2008, joining the likes of Ola Skinnarmo, Alain Hubert and Claes Grundsten will be the following team of Haglöfs UK Friends:

Timberland has collaborated with three UK-based creative artists to create a collection of six limited edition t-shirts.

Having clinched the Innovation award at Slide for their Custom Shell Boots,
Salomon has received another accolade. Fall-Line Skiing has named the Custom Shell Boot programme as the winner of their ‘Innovation of the Year' award. The patented custom shell technology allows perfect customisation of Salomon's CS boots, so allowing snowsports stores the ability to offer the best fitting, most comfortable boots on the market.

Customers are more aware of the environment than ever, so stocking goods where you can vouch for their enviro-credentials is a good move. teko's socks are packaged in the friendliest way possible, down to new packaging that uses 50 per cent less recycled card than before, and uses soya-based inks. But there's a lot more to the brand, as Gordon Fraser told us...

The only thing worse than getting a bad night's sleep because you are cold is getting a bad night's sleep because your sleeping bag is shaped and insulated to accommodate a man. For too long, women have been suffering as their man snores away happily in the Land of Nod. Not any more! The redesign of the women's versions of both the Cat's Meow and the Blue Kazoo have ensured that the bags are cut to better fit the female form and designed for a woman's temperature distinctions.

Festival season is upon us and before you prepare for muddy fields, portaloos and questionable burger vans, don't forget to prepare for the campsite with quality kit from Vango.

This micro-fleece hoody boasts:

• 300gsm Semi-Micro Active Fleece by RESULT^TM
• 100% Polyester
• Anti pilling
• Lightweight
• Shaped front panels with fitted styling

For camping this summer Vango have created a light wand with 60 (£30.00) or 160 (£40.00) LED's which offers some serious white light output.