SCAT announces main sponsor National Grid

Sports Carnivals Association of Tasmania (SCAT) President, Grant Atkins announced that National Grid will be the naming rights sponsor of the 2005-2006 Carnival Series. The announcement comes as a further boost for SCAT on the back of the recent decision to accept membership of three other carnivals, Rosebery, Hobart, and St Helens as an official part of the series.

"SCAT is confident that sponsors together with each individual carnival will benefit greatly from increased exposure and marketing activity, with the additions of Rosebery, Hobart and St Helens," Atkins said.

In addition to securing the support of long-term partner National Grid (formally Basslink) as the principle naming rights sponsor of the carnival series, several new sponsorship agreements were also announced, providing financial stability and strengthening the Tasmanian Carnival Series over the next three years, from 2005/06 to 2007/08. Separate three-year sponsorship agreements with B&E Limited, Healthcare Insurance, WHK Pinnacle and Fairbrother Pty Ltd. were inked, with all four major sponsors being Tasmanian owned companies.

Furthermore, Atkins announced the State Government’s continuing support for series. "It is important to have the Tasmanian State Government behind the carnivals as their contribution combined with the corporate support we receive will ensure that we can continue to attract world class athletes and deliver another spectacular carnival series in partnership with our seven member carnivals," said Atkins at the launch, also attended by Hon Jim Cox, Minister for Sport and Recreation.

"With over 400 years of combined history, the Tasmanian Sports Carnivals are a way of life in Tasmania. Many athletes regularly come from around the world to compete against our local champions," he continued. This year, Australian super stars Shane Kelly and Ben Kersten have been signed to compete against cyclists from America, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Scotland, Isle of Man and New Zealand, who have already been contracted for the B&E Cycling Program.

As the series approaches, additional contracted riders have been announced: In 2005, the WHK Pinnacle Athletics Program will include the appearance of 17 year-old Hobart champion Ryan Foster, the current U17 Australian 1500m and 2km steeple chase champion. Tipped as a future Australian senior representative for Commonwealth and Olympic Games, Foster will target the 1500 metre events at this year's carnivals.

World Champion Axeman David Foster and his son Stephen will compete in this years Healthcare Insurance Wood Chopping Program along with the current Australian Champion of Champions Dale Beams of Exeter. They will be joined by champion New South Wales Axeman Dale Ryan and Tasmania’s Matthew Gurr who is returning from injury. The program this year will include a 375m Championship Event to be chopped in front of the main grand stand at Latrobe on Boxing Day.