The NAS executive team: (L-R) Dan Schmitz, CEO of Northern Engraving; Geoff Hancock MBA, Vice President, General Manager, Northern Automotive Systems Ltd; Mr Zhicong Ma, Managing Director, Lawrence; Deirdre Kruser; Mr Cimei Zhou, President and CEO, NAS Ltd.; Mark Beecroft, Director of Sales and Marketing, Lawrence and NAS Ltd.; Bruce Dinger, President Northern Engraving/V.P. Lawrence
Premium Automotive Decorative Specialist, Northern Automotive Systems has been announced as the title sponsor of this month’s National Road Race Championships.
The Chinese-owned firm, based in Gilwern, near Abergavenny, said the opportunity to be involved in one of the UK’s most prestigious sporting events was “simply unthinkable”.
It was a “unique and very rare” chance for the 106-year-old company to give something back to the local community and to its 462 permanent staff, Vice President Geoff Hancock added.
He said the deal with Monmouthshire County Council will also help to forge “robust and respectful” trading ties between the authority and the Welsh and Chinese governments.
The agreement will see the company’s logo on support vehicles, event literature, gantry banners, billboard advertising, and on the event’s official website.
Northern Automotive Systems will also benefit from national exposure through live TV coverage.
Speaking yesterday, for the first time since the deal was brokered last month, Hancock said: “The National Road Race Championships is among the highlights of the British sporting calendar, and it is fair to say that Northern Automotive Systems jumped at the chance to become its title sponsor.
“Our company has been at the forefront of local employment for over 20 years, and lending our support to this incredible event was our way of giving something of further value back to our employees and to the county’s business community.”
The four-day event, between June 26 and June 29, is regarded as the jewel in the crown of British cycling. Up to 50,000 spectators are expected to line Monmouthshire’s roads to see some of the sport’s biggest names.
Sir Bradley Wiggins, the 2012 winner of cycling’s greatest prize – the Tour de France – is expected to battle it out for the elite men’s road race title alongside reigning national champion Mark Cavendish and Welsh double Olympic gold medallist Geraint Thomas.
Olympic medallists Lizzie Armitstead and Joanna Rowsell, the current time-trial champion, are also expected to race.
Chinese dignitaries, including Northern Automotive System’s President and CEO, Cimei Zhou and Zhicong Ma, Managing Director, have already made arrangements to visit Monmouthshire for the duration of the Championships.
They will attend the National Time Trial, in the grounds of the Celtic Manor Resort on June 26, followed by the Road Race – a gruelling round-trip between Abergavenny, Chepstow and Monmouth – on June 29.
At least one member of the Chinese party will be on the podium to present the winning riders with their medals.
Their whirlwind visit will also include a tour of The Senedd from Economy Minister Edwina Hart and Nick Ramsay AM, a National Road Race VIP Gala Dinner at The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny, and an exclusive closing party at the Celtic Manor Resort.
Zhicong Ma, Northern Automotive Systems, said: “We are extremely excited about the Championships, and about the prospect of exploring this stunning county with our friends at Monmouthshire County Council.”
Paul Matthews, Chief Executive of Monmouthshire County Council, said hosting the Championships for the second time in just five years was a major coup for the county.
“We are incredibly proud to have won the opportunity to host the Championships for a second time since 2009,” he said.
“Monmouthshire is known as the cycling capital of Wales and I’m confident that this will be an unforgettable experience for the riders, the spectators, the organisers, and the sponsors.”
