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First ever Gatsby Innovation Awards boost UKs innovative sports concepts

Posted on 27/12/2008

Loughborough University Website

First ever Gatsby Awards boost UK’s innovative sports concepts

Four British companies have won a national competition to find the UK’s most innovative sports concepts. The prestigious Gatsby Innovation Awards will enable the inventors of a heated football goalkeeping glove, golf putter grip, mountain bike front forks and a portable hydration monitor to work with experts from Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute. The inventors will have access to the UK’s leading specialist sports research facilities and guidance from the University’s business development experts.

The winners were announced during celebrations for East Midlands innovation (i.Festival), where they met Simon Woodroffe, the charismatic founder of the global restaurant brand, Yo! Sushi.

Back row, left to right : Mike Carr, Executive Director of Business Services at emda; Professor Mike Caine, Director of the Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute; and Geoff Parsons, Director of By Design Group and former Olympic athlete

Front row, left to right: Anna Seddon of Loughborough University’s Enterprise Office; Gatsby Innovation Award winner Leon Marsh; Simon Woodroffe, founder of Yo! Sushi restaurants; and Gatsby Innovation Award winner Dave Cleaver