With England Management being very much the in topic of conversation, we caught up with an “old boss”,Graham Taylor, newly appointed Ambassador to Reydon Sports new brand, Precision Training.

From supermodels, to funky styles, there’s no denying that footwear is providing some sexy stuff

Each season certain looks created on the catwalk are successfully mirrored into designs for high-street sportswear. Sharon Williams looks at this summer’s hit item from the catwalk and the hottest predicted looks for autumn/winter 2006.

The dates for ispo summer were put back this year as Munich is hosting “that other” international sporting event and then, just when you “think it’s all over” it all kicks off again on July 16th at the show. And there will be plenty happening at this highly creative exhibition to keep sporting interest running high as the industry looks for its next new and strong themes..

Polar Electro (UK) Limited has unveiled a distinctive new website www.polarelectro.co.uk designed to provide a user friendly gateway to their heart rate monitoring, registering and evaluation equipment. The new UK specific site showcases the company’s latest models, support services and heritage as well as a new retailer database enabling visitors to immediately search for and locate their nearest Polar stockist.

Over 300 employees from across Europe joined New Balance to celebrate their 100th year anniversary in Cumbria. With a theme of Enduring Performance the Centennial celebrations objective was twofold, to recognize and thank those who have contributed to their success and to build awareness of their rich heritage of athletic performance, innovation and ongoing guiding principles towards social awareness and responsible corporate leadership. Typical for the Brand that does not endorse athletes or celebrities, this “party” was a celebrity free zone.

In a deal that will see the two brands being sold side by side in major retailers across the UK, Vulkan has further strengthened its brand portfolio by becoming the sole Sorbothane distributor throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the former Russian States. The distributorship will increase Vulcan’s product offering to existing customers and open up new channels to market and increase opportunities and sales for the brand.

Despite restricted growth as a result of the recession in the Italian market, Lotto Sport Italia S.p.A. has closed 2005 with total sales of 257 million euro, due to export markets. The end result for the past financial year is therefore in line with the 2004 results, confirms the Company is speeding up its internationalization. The launch of Zhero and the start of the high-end leisure footwear and apparel collection Lotto Leggenda reflected Lotto’s investment in research and development. The company has also been busy expanding its brand presence abroad, with the joint-venture in China and new distribution agreements in Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and. The set up of the joint-venture in the USA is part of a project aimed at relaunching the brand in the world of American sportswear.

Utilising Dow XLA fibre Nike Swim is the first sports brand to introduce a fabric which is chlorine resistant, has a soft feel and yet still provides ultimate shape retention. "With the swimwear line we are introducing to the consumer this Fall & Winter, we are one step ahead of the competition," says Gill Brown, Business Director for Nike Europe Middle East & Africa and responsible for Nike's swimwear business. "This is the product that dedicated swimmers have been looking for."

Following its High Court victory in getting a temporary injunction against the International Tennis Federation, Adidas will seek another court injunction, this time against the IOC over a ban on its three-stripe design.

Cardiff City have signed a retail licensing agreement for Spanish sportswear manufacturer Joma to design, develop, source and retail all of the club’s merchandise.

M and M Direct beat expectations with an overall revenue increase of 19%.

Described as “offensive’, ‘exploitative’, “over aggressive” and “tacky”, Nike’s latest advertisement, featuring Wayne Rooney doused in red paint, immediately came under fire, with the Advertising Standards Authority receiving complaints shortly after it appeared to celebrate with the player’s return to the team. Some considered the visual too similar to a blood soaked crucifixion scene, although this was not the intended interpretation.

Syn-Pulse, technical heart, sports impulse. Lotto’s new cushioning project encompassed in the top model Raptor Syn-Pulse. Cushioning and stability, fo truly unique sports performance. The Syn-Pulse technology was created from a revolutionary study and research project conducted in the Lotto laboratories.

There is no doubting that the impact for our industry is unbelievable and anyone who didn’t have the creativity to make the most of the opportunities involved really has scored an own goal – and not in a good, Paraguay beating, sort of a way.

With only a few weeks to outdoorpreview, SGB Outdoor takes a closer look at the event, and why it makes sense for retailers to attend...

As the nation becomes ever more health conscious and parents are enjoying the outdoors more, so too do our children.

Berghaus is pleased to announce that 29 year old, Norwegian base-jumper Anniken Binz has joined the Sponsored Team.

Columbia Sportswear has announced the signing of a sponsorship deal with the Scottish Adventure Ladies Team (SALT).

ispo summer 06, which will take place with approximately 1,000 exhibitors on 85,000 sq. m. of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from July 16 to 18, 2006, will again provide retailers from more than 100 countries with a wide-ranged trade fair.

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is calling for dynamic, adventurous types with plenty of pedal power to take on the BLF Cycle Vietnam Challenge from 11-23 November 2006.

Bite, the unique technical sandals that have the ability to accept an orthotic footbed such as Superfeet have been voted “Best In Test” by the UK’s biggest selling outdoor magazine, Country Walking.

Gaynor Sports, Ambleside, is gearing up for the October Outdoor Fest. This year’s event will run from 21st to 28th October during the busy half term week.

Nordic Walking, (featured in the May issue of SGB Outdoor) looks set to take the UK by storm following the recent agreement for Exel’s Nordic Walking poles to be sold through Sweatshop.

Vango's Air Ridge 30+5 has been awarded best buy in OE magazine's Day Pack Gear Test.

Last month, ECCO UK joined the biggest outdoor consumer show in Europe to promote and sell its Performance Range Footwear.

Craghoppers has announced record results for the month of April.

Leading performance footwear brand, brasher, has announced it is to team up with national charity Marie Curie Cancer Care on their fundraising campaign to get people walking across the UK.

It’s funny how when the sun shines we all take a different approach to life.

The return of the Softie, the fall and rise of British Manufacturing, Snugpak’s MBO team report a strong future for domestic manufacturing.