How about that Usain Bolt, eh? Actually, despite his utterly astonishing performances in the World Championships in Berlin (the best in recent memory by far), Bolt wasn't the most talked-about athlete there; that surely has to be Caster Semenya, the South African athlete who has been unfortunately singled out and humiliated with questions about whether she can run as a woman. Surely the governing body of athletics has the maturity and common sense to do an investigation without the whole world finding out?

Sof Sole, America's No.1 below the ankle shoe care brand, is to be manufactured and marketed in the UK by Grangers at its Alfreton base in Derbyshire.

Continuing its commitment to supporting running events throughout the world, Saucony has announced that it will be the Exclusive Shoe and Sportswear Partner for the Brighton Marathon. The inaugural Brighton event will take place on 18th April 2010 and the race is already filling fast.

British sports brand Mitre has signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Fulham FC and Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

JD Sports Fashion's Peter Cowgill has moved to reassure the sports trade over the company's intent regarding brands KooGa and Canterbury, he told TheBusinessDesk. Mr Cowgill was quoted as saying of the £6.5m Canterbury acquisition, "It's the major worldwide brand in rugby, and a company that has had considerable money injected into it - something like £50m to support the strength of the brand, and when it became available we thought it should be worth extending our activities there."

Greaves Sports, the famous Glasgow-based independent sports retailer, has announced that a fifth generation of the Greaves family has been appointed to the board of directors.

Goalposts, while vital to the game, are often the last thing to be considered when thinking about a football match. Due to their size and weight an unsafe pair of goalposts can potentially be dangerous, and it is this issue that a new UEFA video has been filmed to highlight.

Precision Training has launched its new website ahead of the 2009/10 football season.

The user-friendly website includes impressive imagery of Precision Training's full range of textiles, training aids and medical supplies.

The revolutionary Mongoose cricket bat has returned to Lord's Cricket Ground this week, with the Lord's Shop the first London retailer to offer the bat for sale.

Gatorade will be putting the fitness industry through its paces this autumn when it launches the Gatorade ‘Fit Idol' Championships at Leisure Industry Week. Fitness instructors and personal trainers from health clubs and leisure centres across the UK will compete to win prizes worth over £3,000 in a gruelling challenge which tests both sports science knowledge and overall physical fitness.

Managing Director Ward Robertson commented on his latest trip to the Republic of Ireland, "I'm delighted at adding eight new members to the ever-growing list of retailers that are joining STAG. The quality of the retailers that I have met has been first class and their willingness to take advantage of what STAG has to offer is very apparent."

After over a decade of providing expert sports bra support, Shock Absorber, the UK's leading sports bra brand, is once again driving the category by developing a groundbreaking range of sports bras specifically designed for individual sports. Focusing on three sport sectors: run, ball and racket.

Those clever people at TheMagicTouch have introduced yet another innovative application for their image transfer process.

High quality personalised Flip-Flops have arrived with massive appeal covering many opportunities in a multitude of different markets.

Magner's League rugby union side The Scarlets and Carmarthenshire County Council recently partnered to build the impressive Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

SGB: Skins is very well recognised with consumers and retailers for doing one thing really well; is there any worry that the new ranges - ie cycling gear - might weaken your core brand and the principles you're recognised for?

Ian Reid: It's important to point out that at the core of our brand and product proposition is gradient compression. We operate across many sporting categories and we provide a product that above all, delivers more oxygen to your working muscles. Whether you're a cyclist, play cricket or football, it's the same principle - if you have more efficient oxygen delivery, then you can perform better and also recover quicker.

Darts increasing profile has raised demand for darts products. With a high replacement ratio, as darts wear and tear from impact, new darts products are always in demand, and this gives retailers a chance to develop repeat business. 

For over 70 years, Unicorn has been at the forefront of darts technology and development - they recently unveiled innovative new products in all categories and price points, along with the introduction of two new World Champions and a new website. Spearheading the new darts range is World Champion Titanium Black, with an ultra hard grip and superb feel throughout the throw.

With five high-profile World Champions and their dartboards exclusively used at the Lakeside World Professional Championship and the Winmau World Masters - Winmau's has exposure to millions of darts players live on BBC TV and worldwide. Also Winmau's drive to better their tungsten range has helped retailers improve dart sales of their latest World Champions darts ranges: Andy Fordham, Dennis Priestley, Trina Gulliver and Mark Webster, which are amongst the best seller's month in month out. The top product in terms of sales though is the Winmau Blade III which continues to steam-roll ahead with the best sales ever on any single product - which Winmau say, "has even surprised our own manufacturing team!"

Founded in 1974 Datadart is one of the most recognised dart brands anywhere in the world. Datadart prides itself on British manufacturing and it's product range appeals to all players, from players looking for their first set of darts through to the seasoned professionals. Over the years Datadart has supported many top professionals reach the highest levels of darts, most recognisably Jocky Wilson crowned world champion in 1982 and 1989. Currently, Datadart are working closely with top players such as Martin Adams and Gary Anderson. Datadart stocks a large selection of players' darts, including Jocky Wilson, Gary Anderson, Martin Adams, Gary Robson, Darryl Fitton and John Walton to name but a few.

Wayne "Hawaii 501" Mardle is one of the worlds most colourful, charismatic and likeable players. On the PDC Pro Circuit, he has risen to the very top of the sport, winning tournaments worldwide and entertaining his vast fan base along the way. Harrow say, "come 'on board' with Wayne's superb Silver Surfer Darts and ride the crest of a wave - like Hawaii 501 himself!"

The Target Play Slot Lock rings are designed to lock the flight onto a NYLON shaft using its immense gripping power. The ring squeezes the shaft petals preventing flights from falling off - saving the pain of picking up flights off the floor after a throw at the Oche! The aerodynamic contours of the Slot Lock Ring help to deflect dart points so this helps with tight grouping and accuracy. they have also been designed to fit the Target L-Flight, which means they are an ideal replacement for the Target L-Flight and L-Ring - so easy and simple. There are six colours available which are all included in one pack.

The revolutionary weatherproof table tennis tables from Kettler are technologically way ahead of the competition - weatherproof tables offer versatility as they can be used both indoors and out all year round. Developed and manufactured entirely in Germany to the highest standards they are built based on years of innovation and expertise. The playing surface is made from an aluminium compound, "ALU-TEC", synonymous with toughness and endurance with its maintenance free and corrosion resistant properties. Its special coating is both anti-dazzle and ultra-violet resistant for long-life and excellent ball control for this increasingly popular game.

With the combination of the Butterfly and Schildkrot distributorships, Ransome Sporting Goods are able to provide the widest and most comprehensive range of table tennis equipment available in the United Kingdom. One of the latest products to be added to the Butterfly selection is a range of concrete tables (see opposite) designed for use in parks, schools and seaside resorts. Manufactured from a mix of concrete and polymer, which means that the playability of the table will not deteriorate from exposure to weather, the range includes tables with concrete bases, steel bases and special fun models with a round and figure-of-eight shape.

Cornilleau pride themselves on being the most innovative company and have won design awards for table tennis tables and the Tacteo range of bats. Whilst its range of competition tables is long-established the company has now moved into the competition market in earnest and with the expertise of former World Champion Jean-Philippe Gatien this new range is sure to be a success.

TV and snooker have been good for each other. The sport is one of the easier to televise and with the colour contrasts and the disparate personalities involved it has attracted an audience which spreads across all demographic groups. A match keeps an audience for a long time and indeed snooker fills the schedule very nicely. That heavy exposure has brought the sport to many and nothing beats TV coverage for prompting the "I fancy a go at that" mentality. Off the back of TV coverage comes sponsorship and the heavy hitters have major players associated with them. Certainly the younger end of the market are heavily driven by the brands the stars use.

Founded in 1885 Peradon are the world's longest established cue manufacturing company, and were first to introduce the hand spliced cue. Peradon cues have been used by the game's greatest players including the legendary, Joe Davis.

Master Billiard Supplies Ltd a Pool and Snooker wholesaler to the trade has enjoyed growth in a static market by delivering two promises - quality and price. The company markets itself via its competitively priced "Monthly Offer" flyer, which can be received via post or via email.

Riley is the world's best known brand in Snooker and retailers throughout the UK are comfortable with the status, brand heritage and high profile they have. Riley are owned by BCE and together  they are the biggest suppliers of cue sports products in the UK to professionals and the home.

It is tempting to ascribe the origins of hummel to Hans Christian Andersen and begin with "once upon a time..." A German shoemaker watching a local football game on a rainy day in 1923 realised that if he put cleats on the bottom of his shoes, the players would be better able to stand up and so play better. The name he chose for his cleated shoes, hummel, is German for bumble bee, inspired by the fact that the bumble bee's weight ought to make it unable to fly with its flimsy wings, but somehow it does; likewise players ought to be unable to stand in some conditions but, with hummel boots, somehow they could. The company's fashion products still carry a bumble bee logo and the teamsports range carries the chevron from the back of the bee.

It's genuinely not often that you see a completely new product, so Cleatskins are quite a refreshing sight. The idea came from Marianne and Rick Kay, an American couple with a sporting son, who wasn't allowed in the house in his cleated shoes; in the UK, we call them studs. So the idea was born to create a product which meant their son could enter the house without taking his boots off; the end result is Cleatskins, almost like a rubber cover which slips over the boot to create a flat, non-slip sole for the wearer. Marianne Kay takes up the story...

Supermarkets may think they rule the world, is it now possible that they believe by instructing their staff to make inane small talk with customers at the check out it will give that ‘corner shop' feel to a megastore? I live in an old market town that still has a butcher, baker and candlestick maker so thankfully I rarely have to venture to the dominating T, A, M and S words but last week's misguided trip to one such place reminded me again why I should stay away.

After an impressive bout of swine flu, I've actually been doing more quality walking than probably ever before, and the benefits of a decent pair of boots comes home to me with each walk. After the loss of my symptoms, my thoughtful wife took me on the coastal walk from Borth to Aberystwyth; a week or so later, and more locally, we walked up Caradoc in the Stretton Hills, steep side first; then we did Nordy Bank, taking an off-path route back to the car park and feeling the benefit of a good Gore Tex-lined pair of boots as my terrain-reading ability led us through waterlog after waterlog.

OutDoor 2009 in Friedrichshafen proved to be a record-breaker for raising funds to put towards conservation projects. Over €11,000 was raised from the fundraising sale alone, which was held on the EOG Association for Conservation stand each day of the show.   

This year, the UK 's biggest dedicated outdoor trade event, the Outdoor Trade Show will be hosting the inaugural OTS Novel Awards, recognising product innovation and technology.

Big Bear Sports has announced a UK distribution agreement with Mountainsmith, the outdoor backpack, camera pack and developer of innovative carrying solutions manufacturer based in Colorado, US.  The agreement will see Big Bear launching and distributing the Mountainsmith brand in the UK with immediate effect.  

SUGOI has appointed a new Vice President of Design and Development - Andrew Coutant. He joins SUGOI with a strong 20 year background in the outdoor and athletic industry.

Thorlo launched its lightweight Experia sock last season and says that the colourful range was an instant hit, gaining a Best Buy from Runner's World in June.

Granger's and Oxfam are celebrating success in their Fabric4Life initiative, with hundreds of outdoor garments donated and thousands of pounds generated for charity.

Snugpak has appointed Mark Pillinger as its sales account manager. Mark will be responsible for Snugpak's account management, customer service and opening of new accounts.

It's the biggest show of the year for the international outdoor industry, and this year's OutDoor produced many prize winners for innovation.

With many categories in its popular Industry Awards, we don't have the space to cover every winner here, but here's a round-up of a few winners and their innovative products.

P2i Ltd, the world leader in liquid-repellent nano-coating technology, has raised £4.1 million ($6.7 million), from new and existing shareholders, to support its accelerating commercialisation and international growth.

GoLite's brand new collection for 2010 will be constructed using over 50% Environmentally Preferred Materials (EPM's). Each product within the range will also be subject to the new GoLite Index, which allows consumers to easily see the sustainability of the item.

Hybrid.Care, KEEN's international  corporate giving program, has announced that their recent fundraising initiative held at the KEEN booth during Friedrichshafen's Outdoor show (16-19th July) has generated €3300 to be shared between two of their European charitable causes. Funds will be shared amongst the Surfrider Foundation Europe and CNGEI Sezione di Vicenza - an Italian youth organisation who have built a school run exclusively on wind and solar power that brings together schools and different organisations to educate them on transforming their operations to run sustainably.  

Wenger has re-committed itself to its roots as an active outdoor brand by announcing a return to their original and natural brand position.

The Mountain Boot Company is adding another prestigious line to its portfolio of leading outdoor brands. This new brand of footbeds has been co-developed by the MBC specifically for the outdoor market.

Victorinox, makers of the original Swiss Army Knife, recently launched their new Soldier's Knife - with a little help from Parachute Regiment Freefall Team 'The Red Devils'.

Karrimor, one of the world's most respected rucsac brands launched ‘Airspace', a new, highly innovative range of technical day packs designed for maximum performance and unparalleled comfort at OutDoor, Friedrichshafen.

It's function first with The North Face daypack collection, including the most popular The North Face lifestyle packs in fresh, updated color schemes, as well as several brand new styles.

C.A.M.P. has already laid claim to the lightest carabiner in the world with the Nano 23. With the expansion of its hardware range, C.A.M.P. is now proud to make the claim that it has the largest and most innovative collection of carabiners in the world as well. 

Nikwax has just the thing for when you only want to travel with hand luggage - travel gels in 100ml tubes. BaseWash, Tech Wash and Wool Wash Travel Gels are convenient hand wash gels formulated for ease of use while travelling.

Using the newest Nikwax fabric technologies combined with new designs, the Autumn/ Winter 2009-10 collection from Páramo Directional Clothing systems represents a significant line-up of innovative products

In 2006 the outdoor industry set up an organisation to proactively look after its livelihood and most vital resource - the natural environment.  Since then, and from a standing start, the EOG Association for Conservation has funded fourteen projects contributing €300,000 to grass roots conservation projects worldwide. With almost 50 members, the Association this year has reached the impressive half a million Euro funding milestone.

Most outdoor enthusiasts wouldn't think of themselves as athletes yet a quick look at the physical demands of the things we do in the hills may suggest otherwise, with an average hill walk, mountain bike ride or day spent on the crag likely to require a high level of aerobic and anaerobic fitness as well as stamina, strength and sometimes even mental prowess.