Friday, January 22, 2010

Red Bull Air Race returns to Windsor, Canada in 2010

Red Bull Air Race returns to Windsor, Canada in 2010

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship will return to Windsor, Ontario in 2010 after the Canadian city hosted one of the most exciting races in the sport’s history last year. 15 of the world’s best race pilots will be battling it out on 5-6 June at the 4th stop in the 9-race championship. A 2-year agreement means that Windsor will also be a fixture in the 2011 season.



JUNE 2008
“We’re really excited to be returning to Windsor, Ontario and continuing the partnership for the next two years,” said Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl, “It’s a great venue in an exciting city and last year’s race there was a huge success. The enthusiasm for the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor is just tremendous. It feels like all of Canada is behind the race.”

The 2009 Windsor race also gave an important boost to the economy of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province. Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Dwight Duncan emphasized the economic activity generated by the race and highlighted that it gave the entire region a “psychological lift.”

“Last year’s event was not just an economic shot in the arm for Windsor. The excitement of the race was plainly seen not only by the people of Windsor but also the hundreds of thousands of viewers from around the world who tuned in to watch the race,” said Duncan. “Our government is pleased to work with Red Bull Air Race and the City in order to bring the race back to Windsor.”




“This is a great coup for our city. Windsor will be joining a select group of major international cities to host the Red Bull Air Race again in 2010,” added Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Sandra Pupatello. “We look forward to welcoming this unique event and the economic boost it will provide to our region.”

Canadian pilot Pete McLeod said he is delighted the race will be back in his home country. “Of all the locations on the 2010 calendar, I’m most excited to be back racing in Windsor,” he said. “The support I had from my fans, sponsors and the entire city last year was outstanding and resulted in my best finish of the season. We’ve been working hard in the off-season to be more competitive and I hope I can represent Canada strongly again on home soil this summer.”

June 2009

Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain began his comeback in Windsor in 2009, scoring the first of three victories on the challenging track over the Detroit River in front of over 200,000 cheering fans in the high-speed, low-altitude race through 20-metre high Air Gates.

“Windsor 2009 will go down in my memory bank as a favourite,” said Bonhomme, adding he had never been made to feel more welcome anywhere in the world. “There were warm and hospitable people, a challenging track to test man and machine, and a charming village feel to a great city. If we have half as much fun as we had in 2009, then this year’s race will be superb.”


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Monday, January 18, 2010

CHL Announces Events and Participants for the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Skills Competition

Windsor, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the events and the participants from Team Cherry and Team Orr that will compete in the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Skills Competition on Tuesday night January 19, 2010, at 7:00 pm at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, ON.

40 of the CHL’s top prospects eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft have been divided amongst four different events and all players competing in a 3-on-3 game to showcase their abilities before fans and a record number of scouts and NHL personnel in attendance. The skills events will include the Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Shooting Accuracy, and a brand new Showdown style Breakaway Contest.

The Showdown Breakaway Contest will feature six players per team taking two attempts on goal before a panel of four celebrity judges that will score each attempt based on creativity, originality, degree of difficulty, execution, showmanship, and the ability to score. Celebrity judges include Spitfires’ Vice-President and General Manager Warren Rychel and defenceman Ryan Ellis. Joining them will be former NHL enforcer and Windsor native Bob Probert, along with Rob Faulds from Rogers Sportsnet.

Headlining this new event will be Ryan Spooner and Austin Watson of the Peterborough Petes representing Team Cherry, with Jeff Skinner of the Kitchener Rangers and Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers representing Team Orr. Spooner is tied for the OHL-lead with four shootout goals this season on six attempts with three game-winners, while Watson is a former member of the Spitfires. Skinner and Seguin are the top two goal scorers in the OHL with 35 and 30 goals respectively.

Spitfires’ forward Taylor Hall and defenceman Cam Fowler will open the event for Team Cherry with the Fastest Skater competition.

The best individual score in each event receives a goal for their team, with another goal awarded for the best team average from each event for a total of eight available goals. The 3-on-3 game consists of two 15-minute periods with running time with all goals scored counting towards the overall competition score.

The Skills Competition will be broadcast live on TVCogeco Windsor beginning at 7:00 pm, with the game to be broadcast to a national audience Wednesday night live on Rogers Sportsnet at 7:00 pm.

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