First things first, I'm not going to mention the Ashes series. I've been glued to my desk bringing you this issue of SGB, and I've hardly seen a thing on TV of late. I was lucky enough to catch that final set of the Wimbledon men's final, which was just sensational and a great advert for sport. More recently, the UK Championships in Birmingham have been great fun.

"I was in charge of our first appearance at an International Triathlon Union World Series event as official compression wear partner. It's a prestigious and important link for Skins, so the heat was definitely ‘on'.

Canterbury Europe, which had suffered well-documented delivery problems in the last few years, has gone into administration. This affects a large number of sporting clubs, including Premier League Portsmouth FC, Yorkshire Cricket Club, London Wasps and Leinster RFC.

Brintex, the organiser of the UK trade show Surf Shop, has announced that the event will not be taking place this summer, but will be returning in a new format for 2010.

For the first time, SGB - Sports and Outdoor are going to exhibit at the STAG Buying show in November. STAG members will be able to pick up the latest issue and meet SGB staff at this exciting event, the biggest buying show for independent retailers on the UK sporting calendar.

New, brave, and sometimes unconventional ideas are an essential ingredient for any industry. However, more often than not the initiating companies lack the appropriate presentation platform to showcase this creativity. BIKE EXPO now offers them a designated area for their latest developments: the "Innovations + Trends Village", where they can present their innovations to an international audience. 

The Molten G-Series basketball has been selected by CoolBoard, the ultimate balance board, as its preferred ball.

CoolBoard, originally created as a surfer's training aid, helps boarders and athletes of all kinds build core strength and stability. Unlike most balance boards, the CoolBoard floats freely on a ball which allows it to move and rotate in any direction.

Global swimwear brand, Speedo, is reinforcing its long-term commitment to the East Midlands and safeguarding high quality jobs for the region's workers with the announcement of its intention to move its international headquarters to new premises at Nottingham_s premier business location.

Paul Naptin, former Director of Marketing at the camouflage pattern licensing firm Realtree Europe, has joined just weeks after fellow new recruit George Sinclair, with notable pedigree in the photographic and optics industry.

Despite an increase in sales, Sports Direct has announced a full year profit drop of over 90 per cent. For the year up to April 26, 2009, the company made a £10.7m profit, compared to £118.9m a year earlier.

Jansport the Original Outdoor Gear Brand have joined STAG to promote their range through the 450 retailers in the group.

NISTEX made a welcome return as it took its place again as a star sports trade show firmament. The event, organized and run by INTERSPORT in association with SGB, was bound for success as it offered independent retailers the exclusive and unmatched opportunity to meet with the world's top brands, including adidas, Asics, Nike, Puma, Speedo, Umbro and Under Armour.

INTERSPORT's recent Q1 show built on the group's recent re-energised spirit under general manager Barry Mellis. Most of the major brands attended, including of course Nike and adidas, alongside Puma, MBT, Field to Podium, Jakabel, New Balance, Mizuno, Shock Absorber, Matt Roberts and many more.

Reinforcing its position as the fastest growing innovator in swimming, Aqua Sphere's debut TV campaign is broadcasting on Eurosport in July and August.

Timed to coincided with the 13th FINA World Championships Roma 2009, the campaign's 180 spots have the potential to reach 115 million homes across 59 European countries.

Linebreak have announced two key sponsorship deals with Glamorgan Cricket and Welsh Hockey.

Linebreak are one of the UK's leading suppliers of Compression and Temperature Regulation Base Layers and have been chosen by both Glamorgan Cricket and Welsh Hockey to support their athletes for the forthcoming seasons.

In an ideal world, I would be enthusing about the potential for the tennis sector thanks to Andy Murray winning Wimbledon, or at least reaching the final. It was one of the nearer near-misses, but it was not to be.  Certainly everyone in the industry is absolutely clear how important a Murray win would be to the market: massive, fantastic, wonderful, the biggest thing for sport in this country since 1966 - bigger than the Rugby World Cup, bigger than the 2005 Ashes. Brands like Head (who sponsor Murray) and Slazenger (who are suppliers to the Championships) can foresee growth of their own ranges from a Murray win (when it comes) but also across the board, especially at entry level.

When undertaking sports women's breasts move and can result in temporary pain and discomfort, but it can also lead to a more permanent stretching of the Cooper's ligaments which leads to irreversible breast sag. With this in mind SGB's Zöe Foster has been road testing the leading sports bra brands. She says: "When a customer is trying on a sports bra the most important thing to do in the privacy of the fitting room, is to have a bounce up and down, so educate the customer as to how they should be assessing and buying the bra. When they have a good bounce, nothing should move, if it does suggest they adjust the straps and try again. If there's still movement try a different size." Sizing across the brands is a little different to say the least, but most have a system to help gauge your customer's  'brand' size, which makes fitting rooms important; always suggest that the customer take in a few different sizes, styles and brands.

For the best part of a century, Unicorn has remained at the epicentre of the sport of darts. It was the company's founder, Frank Lowy (see panel), who initiated the evolution of the crudely constructed pub dart into the aerodynamic, highly technological variety of precision missiles that sell in their millions today. It was Unicorn that dragged professional darts out of the smoke-filled, beer-sodden clubs and transformed the game into a glamorous and exciting spectacle fit for national television in the 1970s, and today, Unicorn remains central to the game at all levels, as is vividly illustrated by the release of its 2010 Book of Darts on July 14.

Frank Lowy emigrated from Hungary to London in the 1920s, where he worked as a patents translator. On a family holiday to Devon, a farmer invited him to the local pub one evening, and across the smoky bar, and above the straw-covered floor, Lowy caught his first glimpse of the game of darts. Typically in the 1920s, darts were constructed from a piece of wood with a shard of lead forced into one end, and a folded piece of paper serving as the flight at the other. No two darts were identical, and they were sold individually from tea chests in markets or hardware stores.

With all the hype in July surrounding the 40th anniversary of landing on the moon I've been pondering on what I was doing that day. It's amazing how one takes things in your stride when you are young; so many things were happening in the 60s it seemed only natural to go to the moon. Sadly as I've become a Grumpy I think the film Capricorn One was probably far more likely and "the landing" was all a fabulous con staged in the Arizona desert.

I had a terrific camping trip recently, just a one-nighter at a campsite in Rhayader, Wales, and it had all the hallmarks of a quality trip: a touch of sunburn, at least one completely trashed frying pan, and five very happy people.

Legendary broadcaster and DJ David ‘Kid' Jensen has became an Ambassador for The Outward Bound Trust, the UK's leading provider of experiential learning in the outdoors. David will help the Trust to continue its work in inspiring young people to fulfill their potential through challenging outdoor experiences, raising self-esteem and preparing them to face the future with confidence.

Italian outdoor brand Ferrino is now back in the UK after several years absence. Next year the brand celebrates its 140th birthday, an important event in a long tradition of producing fine outdoor equipment,which makes it the perfect time to reintroduce this important brand to the UK market.

C.A.M.P. has written a new page into its history by integrating the CAMP and CASSIN brands into a single company.

At Friedrichshafen 2009 Merrell will be introducing a highly innovative new Business 2 Business website which will allow all accounts to log on and buy products on line.  The service is aimed at customers, sales representatives and distributors making it a modern day and extremely effective business tool.

Montane has announced the creation of Pro Store, rolling out from Spring Summer 2010. The invite-only retail accreditation scheme is designed to make a broader range of Montane products available through a geographically distinct network of retailers and a small number of online retailers, capitalising on the constantly growing demand for Montane products.

A team of volunteers from Berghaus recently spent two days at Glen Nevis helping the John Muir Trust in its vital work conserving the Highlands of Scotland at one of the country's most scenic glens. 

Following several years of sustained growth, Trekmates has made two senior level appointments; Sue Smedley-Roberts as Director of Brand Development and John Blundell as Director of Sales. The appointments come as the company embarks on an aggressive growth and expansion strategy which aims to bolster its business in core markets, while expanding into new territories. 

June saw Patagonia launch a revamped Footprint Chronicles website with a new format that expands on the company's social practices. The Footprint Chronicles is an interactive mini website that reveals to consumers the good and the bad involved in manufacturing outdoor clothing such as fleeces and rain shells.

Smurfit Kappa has developed a UK first with ‘SKuffguard', a soft non-abrasive liner for corrugated board which protects products from being scuffed, scratched or damaged in the supply chain.

This autumn, Berghaus is introducing a focused new collection of technical outdoor products designed for experienced year-round mountaineers. Mountain products are neither over-engineered nor over-styled - they simply perform on the peaks from season to season.

Suunto has announced a new member of its award-winning Suunto Core outdoor sports instrument range. The limited edition Suunto Core Extreme features a sleek new design. Just 3,000 individually numbered watches will be available.

As we experience the occasional rainy day despite the hot summer forecast, Nikwax has just the thing. Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarProof is a spray-on waterproofing and UV blocker for all weatherproof textiles including tents, awnings, marquees, rucksacks, panniers and camera bags. Application is quick and easy; items should be air dried.

With products available for footwear with or without a Gore-Tex lining, the Meindl footcare range offers the latest in footwear proofing technology and aftercare from conditioning leather Sportwax to weatherproofing Wetproof spray.

Distributor Bramwell International presents the Source Clear Hydration Bladder. Suitable for a multitude of outdoor pursuits including trekking, mountain climbing, walking and cycling, the bladder boasts an easy fill aperture with Source's patented anti-bacterial grunge guard and glass-like liner technology.

Ideal for roomier camping and great days out as you bag your next Munro, the Minibus 23 and the Spire 40 are the latest innovations from The North Face.

Lifeventure has launched a range of silk sleeping bag liners, EX3 Silk Travel Sleepers, made from 100% silk. Silk is one of the lightest natural fibres giving great warmth for weight. Down bags are much more time consuming to wash and dry than synthetics, so the use of a EX3 Silk Travel Sleeper helps avoid the need to clean your bag so frequently.

Leatherman is a company with an interesting history; one man's vision for the tool he wanted became a worldwide phenomenon, and all from the most simple beginnings. Tim Leatherman, during a trip to Europe with his wife, was thinking on what he wanted to do with his life; all the while on the trip, he found many instances where a pair of pliers was required to solve an issue, plus various other tools.

Marine, Outdoor, Fitness, Automotive, and Aviation - the five fields Garmin enjoy great success in. Fitness has taken time to build because of the strength of competition, but in most areas, Garmin have been among the first (if not the first) to establish sat-nav technology. They're a creative company, always innovating and pushing the boundaries of what they do, and runners, hikers, seafarers, pilots and drivers love them.

SGB: How does SM Group fit with Garmin; which of their five 'specialities' do you cover?

Kevin Turner: SM Group distribute a broad range of navigational electronic equipment split into four sectors. We've got marine, outdoor, fitness and automotive.

SGB: What can DMC offer the Independent retailer in these difficult times?

PD: The first thing that goes out of the window when times get tough is training and any budget for training. Unfortunately there's a dearth of really good man managers around and I think that's one of the keys to good retail, keeping the morale up; staff will perform better if they feel better. Good managers should be judged by the quality of their staff, so it's very important that those managers constantly train and develop.

Buying commercial insurance cover to protect a business can be riddled with complexities - even for the smallest company. However, many business owners could come unstuck because they believe that they are receiving advice as they buy their insurance when in reality all they are getting is information, according to research commissioned by the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA).

Anyone with even a vague interest in the media would have noticed that our very own Sir Ranulph Fiennes climbed Everest in May, finally, after three attempts in four years. This news is just the tip of the Everest Circus iceberg. I heard about Ran's achievement on May 20th on the early BBC TV news (he didn't make it on Channel 4). Background video of him huffing and puffing through the icefall with a journalist, who was puffing even harder, was interlaced with still images from the summit. The footage was accompanied by Ran's taped crackly voice that was beamed from the top a few hours earlier in the freezing dawn of the Himalaya. Moving stuff.