Cotswold Group sponsor London 2012 Hopefuls.
COTSWOLD CHELTENHAM AND GLOUCESTER GETS BEHIND HARRIET PEARCE AND JAMIE COOKE, COTSWOLD HEREFORD GETS BEHIND SASCHA KINDRED OBE, FOR LONDON 2012.
BMW dealer Cotswold Cheltenham and Gloucetser are supporting local hockey player Harriet Pearce and local modern pentathlete Jamie Cooke as they attempt to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games and BMW dealer Cotswold Hereford is supporting local Paralympic swimmer Sascha Kindred OBE as he attempts to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
COTSWOLD CHELTENHAM AND GLOUCESTER SPONSOR LONDON 2012 HOPEFULS HARRIET PEARCE AND JAMIE COOKE.
COTSWOLD HEREFORD SPONSOR LONDON 2012 HOPEFUL SASCHA KINDRED OBE.
TO FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF OUR LONDON 2012 HOPEFULS VISIT OUR FACEBOOK OR TWITTER PAGES HERE.
The announcement follows the appointment last year of BMW Group as the Official Automotive Partner of the London 2012 Games. As well as supplying over 4,000 fuel-efficient vehicles to athletes and officials throughout the 2012 Games, BMW is also actively supporting British athletes, such as Ellie Simmonds and Louis Smith, via the BMW London 2012 Performance Team. Meanwhile, in line with the Performance Team initiative, BMW dealers such as Cotswold are working with local athletes, supporting their endeavours to qualify for Team GB or ParalympicsGB.
Cheltenham born Harriet Pearce trains at the Clifton Ladies Hockey Club within the England Hockey National Premier League, in Bristol. Harriet has been playing hockey since the age of 12, and at just 22 has already won a gold medal at the Australian Youth Olympics, a 4th place finish at the BDO Junior World Cup, where she was vice captain during the tournament, a gold medal at U18 European Championships, and a silver medal at the Four Nations Championships at the U18 level. Harriet represented the West of England at all age groups and represented the Gloucestershire Hockey Squad, who have won the West of England Championships each year. Harriet described playing for Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and scoring in a final Britain went on to win as "the most incredible hockey experience I have ever had".
Jamie Cooke currently trains at the National Training Centre for Modern Pentathlon. When at home in Cheltenham, he trains locally at the Gloucester Swimming Club, Gloucester Fencing Club, Spartans Running Club and rides at Huntley School of Equitation. Born in Andoversford, Jamie has been competing in modern pentathlon since the age of only 16, and at just 20 is now ranked number one in the British ranking list, fifth in the junior world ranking list and 46th in the senior ranking list. He was silver medalist in 2008 at the Under 18s World Championships and was crowned European Champion in 2009. After the four World Cups this year, Jamie will be going into the World Cup Final in London next month ranked 12th.
Sascha Kindred trains locally, at the Leominster Leisure Centre. He has been swimming since the age of 11 and at just 13 won his first international competition. Sascha has already achieved two gold medals for Great Britain in the last three Paralympic Games he competed in. He has received many accolades for his sporting achievements and was honoured with an OBE in the 2009 New Year's Honours List for his services to Disability Sport. In addition, Sascha has twice been named Senior Sportsman of the Year in Hereford and Worcester, has received an award for Outstanding Achievement by British Swimming, and has been appointed an ambassador for the region of Herefordshire, as well as the Youth Sports Trust.
Sascha commits time to a number of activities on top of his hectic training schedule, including after dinner speeches, media interviews and school talks, where he speaks about his own experiences as a professional athlete and educates others about disability sport, the Paralympic Games, and how to remain at the top.
“We’re really grateful to Cotswold and the BMW Group for their support,” said Harriet, Jamie and Sascha. “It’s tough trying to qualify for an Olympic team place and it’s a big help knowing that they are behind us, helping to raise awareness. It’s also fantastic having a brand new BMW 1 Series from now until the end of the Games. There’s a lot of travelling to heats, competitions and promotional events so it’s great being able to arrive there in style – and in a car that’s helping London 2012 reach its CO2 emissions target.”
Andrew Hulcoop, Cotswold Group Managing Director (pictured left handing keys to Harriet) said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get really involved with the Games. Our staff and customers are keen to support London 2012 so we’re really happy to be backing Harriet and Jamie – especially since both are local athletes that are working extremely hard to earn their place and represent their country at the Olympics. Cotswold Cheltenham Dealer Principal Paul Neale is pictured right handing keys to Jamie.
Anyone interested in following Harriet Pearce, Jamie Cooke and Sascha Kindred OBE and the BMW London 2012 Performance Team, can visit: www.bmw.co.uk/london2012
