Shearer Kicks off Local Teams' World Cup Campaign
Bridgestone Announces First-Half Results
Recycled Tyres Garden Product Gets Gold at the RHS Show
World Stage for Launch of Hankook Motorsports at Wales Rally GB
Prince of Wales Tribute to Bandvulc for Backing Reservists
Goodyear Sets Sales Record
Exeter Garage Fined for Dumping Tyres at Beauty Spot
Triple Celebration for Fund-Raising First Stop Outlet
Bridgestone to Build Steel Cord Plant in China
Dunlop Race Academy Reaches Final Stage
Sir Tom Farmer Receives Andrew Carnegie Medal

Shearer Kicks off Local Teams' World Cup Campaign

Alan Shearer has kicked off Continental's latest football sponsorship campaign: Already an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2006™, Continental is now also supporting the grass roots level, with the creation of the ContiNetwork League.

The England and Premiership legend has invited ContiNetwork Partners across the country to nominate local youth football teams for sponsorship and to compete for one of the greatest prizes any football fan could win: tickets to the FIFA World Cup in Germany next year.

The ContiNetwork League will be a 'virtual league' made up of FA affiliated teams who will have been put forward by each of the 53 ContiNetwork Partners. The teams will not play each other; league positions will be determined by the average points per game the teams achieve over the 2005-6 season in their respective FA leagues. Each successfully nominated team will receive a sponsorship package which will include a full squad kit for the 2005-2006 season, a pack of merchandise including kitbags and balls and the chance to compete for FIFA World Cup 2006™ tickets as well as continued kit sponsorship for the 2006-7 season.

Come the end of the season, the ContiNetwork League winners will receive four tickets to the opening round of the FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany, plus kit; the runners up will win two World Cup tickets plus kit; and the third placed team will receive kit for the following season.

Shearer said of the ContiNetwork League: "A strong youth football culture will help us to find and develop the stars of the future, and keep the Home Nations at the forefront of the world game. As an affiliated FA club, we are offering an exclusive opportunity to be backed by Continental, an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2006™, and our local ContiNetwork Partner".

Bridgestone Announces First-Half Results

Bridgestone Corporation has announced its consolidated business and financial results for January 1 to June 30, 2005. Net sales in the first half, which ended June 30, 2005, increased 9% over the same period the previous year, to ¥1,256.2 billion [$11.4 billion]. Operating income remained at virtually the same level as the same period the previous year, at ¥92.0 billion [$831.7 million], while ordinary income increased 2%, to ¥88.6 billion [$800.9 million]. Net income increased 95%, to ¥101.7 billion [$919.4 million].

This increase was due primarily to an extraordinary gain of ¥80.8 billion [$730.4 million] arising mostly from the return of the substitutional portion of an employee pension plan covering Bridgestone Corporation and some consolidated Japanese subsidiaries to the Japanese government. This gain outweighed ¥2.9 billion [$26.2 million] in impairment losses, which were recorded as extraordinary losses due to the early adoption of an accounting standard on impairment of fixed assets.

Recycled Tyres Garden Product Gets Gold at the RHS Show

A recycled rubber garden product has helped Cheshire County Council to win 'Best in Show' and a 'Gold Award' at the prestigious RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Flower Show held at Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. The county council scooped the top accolades for its environmentally-friendly garden - called 'Living Today with Tomorrow in Mind.' Committed to sustainability, the 'green' garden was landscaped with Dunweedin, rubber chippings made from recycled tyres.The product provides an innovative solution to a major environmental problem as the UK generates around 60 million scrap tyres every year.

Bob Jones, from Dunweedin, donated the recycled rubber chippings for the gold-award winning garden. He said: "More than 110,000 people attended the show over the five days so it was an ideal way to provide inspiration to those with an interest in gardening and recycling. "We were able to explain to people that our rubber ground cover is a natural non-toxic raw material that is perfect for the garden because it maintains healthy plants and flowers, repels weeds and it will not decompose like wood or bark."

World Stage for Launch of Hankook Motorsports at Wales Rally GB

Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook has unveiled plans to compete at the very highest levels in rallysport, starting with Wales Rally GB. The company, which has its UK headquarters in Daventry, has joined forces with Warwick-based Silverline Motorsport to offer a dedicated motorsport service for rallying and racing in the UK.

To launch the new venture, Hankook Motorsports has entered three drivers into three different classes in the British round of the World Rally Championship. 2004 British Rally Championship Production Cup winner Dorian Rees from Llanybydder heads the Hankook Motorsports team in a Group N Mitsubishi Evo VIII with Welsh co-driver Wynn Thomas on the route notes.

In a Renault Clio will be Andy Gwynne and Holly Robinson from Cheltenham. Andy is no stranger to the event having competing in the event twice before but 20 year old Holly is eagerly anticipating her first assault on Wales Rally GB. The identity of the third Hankook-backed driver is due to be announced within the next few days.

Prince of Wales Tribute to Bandvulc for Backing Reservists

Bandvulc Tyres, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of retreaded truck tyres was recently recognised for its support of its Reservist employee at a reception hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales at his Highgrove residence. Managing Director Patrick O'Connell was one of more than 120 employers from across the UK who attended the reception.The company's reservist, Corporal Richard Arundel who was mobilised for six months in Afghanistan received a commendation for his leadership following a suicide bomb attack on British forces.

Thanking them for their ongoing support of reservist employees, particularly those who have been mobilised, The Prince of Wales said: "The role played by the Reserve Forces is so important in today's world. They make an incredible contribution in so many different parts of the world. I know how difficult it is for employers to release Reservists for service and I would like to thank you for the tremendous contribution you have made."

Goodyear Sets Sales Record

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has reported net income of $69 million for the second quarter of 2005, reflecting record sales and increased unit volume. In the second quarter of 2004, the company had net income of $30 million. Sales at $5 billion were a record for any quarter, and a 10 percent increase from the $4.5 billion achieved during the 2004 period. The increase reflects improved pricing, product mix and volume, as well as the favourable impact of currency translation. Tyre unit volume in the second quarter of 2005 was 56.4 million units, up from 55.0 million units in the 2004 period. Volume increases were driven by gains in the European, Latin American and Asia/Pacific markets.

"Five of our businesses had record second quarter sales, and margins improved in our North American and European Union tyre businesses," said Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear chairman and chief executive officer. "This success is further evidence that our strategies are working, and that our unwavering focus on key products, customers and markets is paying off. We continue to gain share in targeted markets," he said.

Exeter Garage Fined for Dumping Tyres at Beauty Spot

An Exeter garage business has been ordered to pay a total of £11,000 in fines and costs for waste offences after hundreds of tyres and flammable chemicals were dumped at a local beauty spot. The case was brought by the Environment Agency.

On January 12, 2005 the Forestry Commission called Environment Agency officers to a car park near the obelisk on Haldon Hill, where they found nearly 300 tyres and numerous tins of paint. Some of the paint cans had burst open covering trees, tyres and the ground with coloured paint. A member of the public who had seen the flytipping the previous day noted the registration number of a red van. This was traced to George Tancocks Garage (Exeter) Ltd. Investigators found that the garage had employed the driver of the van to remove the tyres and paint for disposal.

Triple Celebration for Fund-Raising First Stop Outlet

A First Stop tyre dealership has raised more than £2,500 for charity with a fund-raising golf day. Almost 50 golfers took part in the annual event - now in its tenth year - which was even more special as it marked the twentieth anniversary of the company, and the owner's 60th birthday.

John Tarbox, owner of Pan Autos in Harpenden Hertfordshire, said the event had been a lot of fun. "It was a great day and a wonderful way to celebrate three important milestones, while raising money for charity at the same time. "All the golfers were suppliers, customers, or friends of mine, so I was able to celebrate my birthday among friendly and familiar faces," said John.

The 46 golfers were joined by a further 26 people for a special dinner in the evening, where an auction took place to boost the charity pot. Diners were given the chance to bid for a variety of items including the use of a convertible Saab car for a weekend, a meal in a gourmet food pub, and exclusive Bridgestone Motorsport memorabilia.

Chris Hawkins, business development manager at Bridgestone UK, said: "John and his directors Mike Turnham and Roy Roberts have raised a huge amount of cash for very worthy causes over the ten years they have been running this event, and they deserve a lot of thanks." The money raised is to be donated to BEN, the occupational benevolent fund for employees past and present of motor trade.

Bridgestone to Build Steel Cord Plant in China

Bridgestone is set to build a plant in Huizhou, in China's Guangdong Province, to produce steel cord for truck and bus radial tyres. On July 14, Bridgestone established the wholly owned subsidiary Bridgestone (Huizhou) Steel Cord Co., Ltd. to operate the plant. That followed approval for the project after a period of negotiation with Huizhou City officials. Bridgestone has earmarked approximately $100 million for investment in the new plant.

Management at Bridgestone plans for the new plant to begin operation in January 2007 and for its daily production capacity to reach 70 tons by the end of 2008. The steel cord plant will supply its output mainly to Bridgestone's truck and bus tyre plant in China.

Dunlop Race Academy Reaches Final Stage

It was crunch time for the final three contestants of the Dunlop Race Academy 2 as they went head to head at Silverstone on Wednesday, August 24th. Chosen from over 8000 entrants, seven regional winners competed at Donington race track to make the final three and a chance of competing in the Dunlop Driver's Cup at Brands Hatch.

The seven finalists were scored by the Dunlop Race Academy judges as they completed a full day of intensive driver coaching and evaluation, fitness and media tests on the Donington Grand Prix circuit. Each driver received tuition and coaching from Le Mans driver Calum Lockie before being taken round the track in his 240BHP Porsche 968 Clubsport with Dunlop SP Super Sport race tyres. The contestants were then taken through a driving assessment in a fully race prepared, 155BHP Ginetta G20 Cup Car with Dunlop Formula R tyres before their accuracy and precision was tested in a slalom challenge.

The three finalists are Alec Berry from County Durham, Simon Shaw from Warrington and Luke Debono-Wilson from Essex, who will represent the North East, North West and South East.

Sir Tom Farmer Receives Andrew Carnegie Medal

The founder of Kwik-Fit, Sir Tom Farmer CBE, has been named a recipient of The Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy 2005 - widely regarded as the 'Nobel prize for philanthropy'.

Named after Scots-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who left the equivalent of $15 billion to philanthropy, the Medal is awarded to inspiring philanthropists. The Award Ceremony will take place at the new home of Scotland's Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland on 4 October, preceded by an international philanthropy symposium.

Presented every two years to inspirational philanthropists and their families who have dedicated their private wealth to public good, previous recipients of the awards include the Gates, Rockefeller and Sainsbury families, media tycoon Ted Turner and financier George Soros.