When we’re not sorting out event transport, Stagefreight makes some time for charitable work in our local community. We’re happy to announce our sport sponsorship of Keegan Hirst, a new player for Halifax Rugby League Club!
About Halifax Rugby League Club
Halifax RLFC was formed back in 1873. They were the first team to win the Yorkshire Cup in 1878, and were founding members of the Rugby League in 1895. From there they continued to be very successful, producing one of the best teams the early 20th century had to offer. The team also finished 4th in the 2018 Betfred Championship.
The Shay Stadium is Halifax RLFC’s home ground, and one of the leading grounds in British rugby league. It can hold over 14,000 rugby fans for each match.
About Keegan Hirst
Stagefreight are proud and excited to be sponsoring Keegan Hirst, the Halifax team’s newest player. Player sponsorships are a key way that local businesses can support Halifax RLFC.
When Ian met Keegan
Keegan officially joined the team in September 2019, coming from the Super League team Wakefield Trinity. He has 300 career appearances under his belt, with 66 of these in the Super League! Keegan also has extensive championship experience with Batley and Featherstone; he’ll be with Halifax until 2021.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time so far here, I’ve come into a side that hasn’t had the best of seasons, but they are a great set of lads, and I am impressed with the club and I really want to play for Halifax. What they’ve got going on here is infectious and I want to be a part of that going forward.
The fans have been great so far, they’re quite vocal and I hope we can get back to winning ways and get plenty more Fax fans coming down to games to cheer the lads on.“
“He’s a real ‘one-hundred percenter’, always looking for that bit extra. He prepares properly and does whatever he needs to do in the best interests of the team.
In that regard, he walks the walk and he’s also prepared to talk the talk; if he sees someone who’s not doing everything they can, he’s not afraid to call them out.“
Stagefreight’s Sports Sponsorship
Stagefreight’s Ian Uttley said:
“We’re excited to be supporting Halifax RLFC. The new sponsorship plan is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to get involved and to support a cracking club.
Keegan Hirst is an awesome rugby player and great bloke. Like Stagefreight he has a desire to succeed, which is great for the club. And we can’t wait to see him in action in 2020.
As an event transport company we’re keen to support sporting heroes, both on a local and national level. That’s why as well as sponsoring Keegan, we’re sponsoring the team’s training wrestling kits too.
Perfect match – Stagefreight and Halifax RLFCWe even had a proper good laugh Nice bit of kit thatAll lined up
The Event Transport Experts
We’re proud to #BackTheFax as part of our sport sponsorship, and we’d like to wish Halifax a great 2020 rugby season.
We have plenty of experience with live event logistics, and we’re here to help if you’d like to put on an event.
Before we arrive at the event, we’ll plan the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient route to you. Not only does this save you money, but it ensures all of your equipment arrives on time, every time.
We know how important timing is to live events, and our experienced lead driver carefully plans trailer arrival for each job. This ensures each trailer arrives exactly when you need it.
If you need any help with lighting choices, our drivers can offer advice based on their expertise. If you have a stage that needs building, they can even help your own team put it together!
Get in touch with us now by visiting our Contact Us page. Alternatively, you can ring us directly by calling 0113 797 898.
At Stagefreight, our team of drivers love being on the road. Their work has taken them across the UK, Europe and beyond thanks to our work as an event transport provider. Many of our team are fans of driving-related activities, too, and we’re proud to support a rising star in the motorcycling world.
Our Director, Chris Adgie, has been in touch with motorcycling legend Steven Procter for details on his latest activities. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at his remarkable career so far.
Steven Procter
Stagefreight became a sponsor of Steven Procter in 2018, but his career began some time before that. He debuted at the Manx Grand Prix in 2015, where he immediately started turning heads; Road Racing News saidhe “had an excellent record in pure road racing” and was “more than capable of standing on the podium.”
Steven Procter in action.
2018 Races
In 2018, he competed at several short circuit and road race events across Europe. The highlight of 2018 was in the Manx Grand Prix senior race; Procter came 3rd and got a personal best lap, with an average speed of 120.5mph.
TheManx Grand Prixwas first held in 1930, and started life in 1923 as an amateur-focussed event. Today’s motorcyclists race to complete four laps on the 37-mile Mountain Circuit, a challenging course where speeds approach 200mph. Its route—which is fraught with bends and curves—makes any victory a truly prestigious achievement.
2019 Races
We’re about halfway through the year, but Steven’s already seen some major racing achievements. He’s competed in theTandragee 100—one of Northern Ireland’s most important road races—where he came 6th in the super sport class! He also came 9th in the open classes, with almost 300 entrants competing in this year’s event.
Steven later raced at Donington Park with theNG Road Racingclub. He finished in 6th, 7th and 6th place again in the 600 class, while he came in 10th, 11th and 14th in the open class. More recently, in May, he raced at Cadwell Park at their King of the Mountain event.
Another shot of Steven in his element.
Of course, the fun isn’t over yet; Steven will be returning to the Manx Grand Prix this year! Practice races for the event start on Saturday the 17th of August, with the Grand Prix wrapping up on Friday the 30th of August. We wish Steven every success in this event. Update from the 2019 Manx Grand Prix – Congratulations to Steven for placing 6th and a time of 01:16:59.693. Brilliant job!
Steven Procter is going from strength to strength as a motorcyclist, and we’re very proud to be sponsoring him. If you’re looking for an event transport provider who really cares about sporting events, Stagefreight are happy to help.
When it comes to transport for live events, all of our drivers have plenty of experience and practical knowledge. We’re keenly aware of how important it is to time events properly, and we’ll make sure everything you need arrives when it’s meant to. We can also offer advice on lighting and acoustics, help construct any stages with your team, and handle documentation and paperwork if you’re travelling abroad.
If you’d like to learn more about our talented team of drivers, you can read our Meet the Drivers articleshereandhere. You can also learn more about our Director, Chris, inthis article. If you’d like to make use of our services, you canlearn more about them here, or give us a call on 0113 797 898.
Did you know that Stagefreight also provides transport for sporting events? We’re proud to offer transport for such popular activities, and we’re big fans of sport in all its forms. That’s why we’ve decided to take a closer look at the diverse sporting scene in the world today.
UEFA Europa League Final
Wednesday 29th May
Football fans can enjoy a thrilling match between Chelsea and Arsenal later this month. This year, the UEFA final takes place in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.
Fans will be able to enjoy all the football action in the Baku Olympic Stadium. Completed in 2015, the stadium has seating for almost 70,000 sports fans. It was first used for 2015’s European Games, and will see further use during UEFA’s 2020 matches.
Outside of the stadium, Baku has many interesting features. The city has expanded rapidly over the last few decades with many modern hotels and buildings, including the famous Flame Towers. It also offers the walled old town Icheri Sheher; designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it contains the Shirvanshahs Palace, which dates back to the 15th century. As official event transport partners for the match, we can’t wait to see this city up close!
The Tour de France
Saturday 6th July
This three-week bicycle race is one of the world’s most important (and famous) sporting events. The first Tour de France was organised in 1903, as a way to increase sales for a French newspaper called L’Auto. It has run almost every year since then, with the route and selection of riders expanding over the years.
2019’s race will begin in the Belgian capital of Brussels, in tribute to Belgian cyclist (and five-time winner) Eddy Merckx. From there, the 3,460km race passes through Colmar, Pont du Gard and Toulouse before ending in Paris.
This year’s route is particularly mountainous. Highlights include the Val Thorens ski resort, as well as the Col de Galibier and Cold’Iseran mountain passes. The latter is especially famous as Europe’s highest paved road, ensuring an exciting race for all the participants.
176 riders across 22 teams will be competing; Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas—who won last year’s race—is among their numbers. Runners up Tom Dumoulin and Chris Froome will also have a shot at the prestigious yellow jersey. Other competitors include Thibualt Pinot, Vincenzo Nabal and 30-time stage winner Mark Cavendish.
The Tour de Yorkshire
The Tour de Yorkshire has become one of the UK’s biggest professional cycling stage races. It was inspired by the 2014 Tour de France, which departed from the West Yorkshire city of Leeds back in 2014. A dedicated Yorkshire bicycle race launched the following year, and has been a huge success for the region.
This year’s route started and finished in Leeds, winding its way across Yorkshire in the process. Cyclists visited 150 villages, towns and cities along the route, including Doncaster, Barnsley, Ilkley and Scarborough. The men’s and women’s courses also covered more than 800km between them.
Yorkshire’s hilly landscape makes it a particularly challenging route for cyclists. That didn’t stop about 250 cyclists from competing in the event; athletes came from all over the world to take part, with the likes of Germany, the Netherlands and South Africa all represented. Team Ineos cyclist Chris Lawless won 2019’s race, marking the first time a British cyclist has done so.
The Tour de Yorkshire has dramatically increased Yorkshire’s popularity. Last year’s race—which was broadcast in 190 countries—boosted Yorkshire’s economy by £98 million, while a record 2.6 million spectators attended 2018’s race. We expect to be watching the Tour de Yorkshire for many more years to come.
The MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix
Friday 9th–Saturday 11th August
Motorbike races take place around the world, but one of the most exciting is the Austrian Grand Prix. Taking place in Spielberg, Austria, the event brings together motorcyclists on one of Europe’s biggest tracks.
The Red Bull Ring is over 2.5 miles long, with nine hair-raising turns to challenge racers. It’s actually in its third incarnation; the original was built in 1969, and remodelled in 1977. The track later fell into disrepair, until it was reopened in 2011; today, it hosts both MotoGP and Formula One races. Italian motorcyclist Andrea Dovizioso holds the current circuit record.
The Austrian Grand Prix itself has also had a rocky history. The first one launched in 1971, and ran until 1997; however, it was cancelled the following year thanks to low spectator numbers. Fortunately the event was resurrected in 2016, and continues to be popular today.
The main race runs on Sunday the 11th of August, with free practices and qualifying races before then. We at Stagefreight are especially interested in motorbike racing at the moment; we’ve been sponsoring the talented Steven Procter, who is racing in the Manx Grand Prix later this year! We’ll be discussing him in more detail very soon.
NFL at Wembley and Tottenham
6th October, 13th October, 27th October & 3rd November
For our friends across the pond, football is a very different kind of ball game. If you’d like a taste of something a bit different, the NFL are bringing American football to the UK later this year.
American football fans can enjoy four different matches with eight teams, including the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Tottenham Hotspur games are the first NFL games to be played at the new stadium, which opened earlier this year. There have been just 28 American football games in London since 2007, making this a great opportunity for American football fans!
The Palio di Siena
2nd July & 16th of August
This event is Italy’s most famous horse race, taking place twice a year in the Tuscan city of Siena. Dating back to the sixth century, the race sees ten jockeys competing in a fast-paced, thrilling contest in the piazza del Campo.
Participants in the race are chosen from Siena’s 17 districts, or contrade; seven are given a place if they didn’t compete in the previous race, though three are chosen randomly. Interestingly, the jockeys don’t bring their own horses to the race. Instead, the organisers assign each contrada a horse before the race begins.
To win the race, jockeys must complete three laps around the piazza del Campo. There are half a dozen trial runs before the main event, as well as a parade featuring historical costumes. The race itself lasts about a minute and a half; jockeys ride without saddles, and it’s not unusual for horses to lose their riders in the process!
The Mud Olympics
Not all of Europe’s sporting events stretch back centuries. A new kid on the block is Germany’s Mud Olympics, which runs every two years in the town of Brunsbuettel.
The Mud Olympics take place on the mud flats at the mouth of the river Elbe. Athletes come to participate in events like football and volleyball, with varying degrees of success. Other highlights include the Rubber Boot Toss and sledge racing, using sledges suitable for the mud flats of the area.
The Mud Olympics launched in 2004 to raise money for cancer patients and their relatives. Since then, the event has raised over €330,000 via tickets and entry fees! Over 40 teams compete in the games, with contestants coming from Germany and its neighbouring countries. Look out for the next Mud Olympics in 2020!
Dreamhack Rotterdam
Friday 18th October–Sunday 20th October
Over the last few years, esports have exploded in both prestige and popularity. Later this year, the South Holland city of Rotterdam is hosting an exciting festival dedicated to the medium!
Billing itself as the world’s greatest digital entertainment festival, Dreamhack Rotterdam will host a range of esports competitions, cosplay competitions and a dedicated area for video streamers. The highlight of the event is an open tournament for Counterstrike:Global Offensive, a popular online shooter with 11 million players per month. With a grand prize of $100,000, expect fierce competition amongst the contestants!
With other attractions like giveaways, contests and meet-and-greet opportunities, Dreamhack reflects the changing face of the modern sports scene. You can learn more about the festival at the official website.
WWE Live in Europe
Tuesday 12th November—Wednesday 13th November
World Wrestling Entertainment runs some of the world’s most popular pro wrestling matches. Though it rose to prominence in the USA, the wrestling stars visit Europe on a regular basis. You’ll be able to see their latest European matches very soon.
So far, two European dates have been announced. On Tuesday the 12th of November, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Alexa Bliss and many more wrestlers will appear at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. On Wednesday the 13th of November, Roman Reigns, Xavier Woods, Charlotte Flair and many others will appear at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. More dates will be announced nearer the time.
There’s no end of exciting sporting events to look forward to this year; whether you’re interested in the main events or the more unusual ones, there really is something for everyone to enjoy! If you’re thinking of putting on your own live event—indoors or outdoors—Stagefreight are the event transport provider you need.
Our talented team of drivers are experts at transporting materials for live events. We know how essential timing is for events like these, and we’ll ensure everything arrives right on time. If you have any lighting or acoustic specifications, we’ll offer advice and even help build the stage with your team. We can also support you during exhibitions, and we’ll handle documentation and paperwork if you’re travelling abroad.
