British Bobsleigh Association
Bobsleigh Kenny seeks sponsors
27 October 2008
by Gavin Morgan
The British bobsleigh team braved high winds to reach Shetland over the weekend to put the finishing touches on preparations for a hectic winter racing season.
Kenny Simm, from Brae, and teammate Chris Wooley are making a whistle stop tour of the isles ahead of the first event of the season starting on 10 November, the British Championships in Cesana, Italy.
Across three days they will visit their local sponsors, Simm's old school Brae High, and hold a public display at Clickimin Leisure Centre in Lerwick. On top of that they will fit in a training session.
Simm pilots their two man sled while Wooley is the brake man. The pair aim to compete in all major competitions in Europe throughout the winter including the six round Europa Cup and the World Junior Championships.
Kenny Simm, from Brae, and teammate Chris Wooley
Their long journey will take them through Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Austria. Local sponsors are providing essential backing for the team as the British Bobsleigh Association has told all GB teams that they must fund themselves this season.
Sponsors include Stronachs body repairs who have refurbished the sleigh including fibre glass and spray paint work, Star Rent a Car supplied a specially fitted transporter van and ThuleCraft are providing top of the range race helmets.
While support on his home turf has been strong, the 25 year old still needs a lot more funding to complete a season that could end up costing £18,000 with a lot already coming out of his own pocket.
"This is only very limited sponsorship we are talking about from these companies. It is far from where I need to be, but it's a stepping stone. I have got funding up until Christmas
"I have got a long way to go. We are in the stages of seeing who we can get. We have tried big companies, but it is more the small companies that we are getting more positive feedback from.
"In Edinburgh I have sent away about 20 presentation packs to various companies, but none of them even bother getting back to you with a yes or no. That's what its like."
Kenny Simm and Chris Wooley's bobsleigh gleams after being done up by Lerwick bodywork firm Stronach's Body Repairers. Pic courtesy Alex Simm
Mr Simm is a Royal Marine commando originally from Brae and will visit Brae High School on Wednesday to show some films and talk about the sport.
"We will take the sledge, all my equipment and a couple of videos showing the ups and downs of bobsleighing. One will show a crash that my brake man was in last year in the World Cup, then another with the good bits of the sport.
"It is a thing they have never seen before, so it should go down quite well," he said.
Kenny started his bobsleigh career two years ago after being "headhunted" by legendary British bobsleigh champion Lee Johnston and has been a full time athlete for a year.
"I am looking forward to getting back on ice, it seems like it has been a long summer of training. I'm in the best shape I have ever been for the start of the season, so I just need to keep injury free. Once all the logistics are in place all the hard work will have been done."
The GB Bobsleigh team will be at Clickimin Leisure Centre in Lerwick between 11am and 3pm on Tuesday so anyone interested in looking at the sleigh, speaking to the team or taking photos can do so.
Further supporters of the team on the isles are Ocean Kinetics, Art Machine, Lerwick Port Authority, JB Autostore, Shetland Janitorial Supplies and VisitShetland.
Kenny Simm, from Brae, and teammate Chris Wooley are making a whistle stop tour of the isles ahead of the first event of the season starting on 10 November, the British Championships in Cesana, Italy.
Across three days they will visit their local sponsors, Simm's old school Brae High, and hold a public display at Clickimin Leisure Centre in Lerwick. On top of that they will fit in a training session.
Simm pilots their two man sled while Wooley is the brake man. The pair aim to compete in all major competitions in Europe throughout the winter including the six round Europa Cup and the World Junior Championships.
Kenny Simm, from Brae, and teammate Chris Wooley
Their long journey will take them through Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Austria. Local sponsors are providing essential backing for the team as the British Bobsleigh Association has told all GB teams that they must fund themselves this season.
Sponsors include Stronachs body repairs who have refurbished the sleigh including fibre glass and spray paint work, Star Rent a Car supplied a specially fitted transporter van and ThuleCraft are providing top of the range race helmets.
While support on his home turf has been strong, the 25 year old still needs a lot more funding to complete a season that could end up costing £18,000 with a lot already coming out of his own pocket.
"This is only very limited sponsorship we are talking about from these companies. It is far from where I need to be, but it's a stepping stone. I have got funding up until Christmas
"I have got a long way to go. We are in the stages of seeing who we can get. We have tried big companies, but it is more the small companies that we are getting more positive feedback from.
"In Edinburgh I have sent away about 20 presentation packs to various companies, but none of them even bother getting back to you with a yes or no. That's what its like."
Kenny Simm and Chris Wooley's bobsleigh gleams after being done up by Lerwick bodywork firm Stronach's Body Repairers. Pic courtesy Alex Simm
Mr Simm is a Royal Marine commando originally from Brae and will visit Brae High School on Wednesday to show some films and talk about the sport.
"We will take the sledge, all my equipment and a couple of videos showing the ups and downs of bobsleighing. One will show a crash that my brake man was in last year in the World Cup, then another with the good bits of the sport.
"It is a thing they have never seen before, so it should go down quite well," he said.
Kenny started his bobsleigh career two years ago after being "headhunted" by legendary British bobsleigh champion Lee Johnston and has been a full time athlete for a year.
"I am looking forward to getting back on ice, it seems like it has been a long summer of training. I'm in the best shape I have ever been for the start of the season, so I just need to keep injury free. Once all the logistics are in place all the hard work will have been done."
The GB Bobsleigh team will be at Clickimin Leisure Centre in Lerwick between 11am and 3pm on Tuesday so anyone interested in looking at the sleigh, speaking to the team or taking photos can do so.
Further supporters of the team on the isles are Ocean Kinetics, Art Machine, Lerwick Port Authority, JB Autostore, Shetland Janitorial Supplies and VisitShetland.