Latest News
‘Snow’ Holiday!
With the ski season in full swing, thousands of tourists are digging out their salopettes and getting ready to hit the slopes.
However for Felicity Aston, this year’s ski trip was certainly no holiday. In January, Aston became the first person to manually ski solo across Antarctica. Felicity’s challenge came to a victorious end after 59 gruelling days covering a distance of 1,084 miles.
MARS Refuel sponsored athlete and Paralympic skier, Tim Farr, has also faced some big challenges this month. To read more about his trials on the slopes and where his training has taken him, make sure you check out his February blog.
Don’t forget, all our athletes post monthly blogs so you can keep an eye on what they’ve been up to. And, if you have any questions for our athletes or want some training tips, just fill out the ‘Consult Our Athletes’ box.
Taekwondo Scoring System Changes
Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport when it premiered at the Sydney Games in 2000. Since then there has been some discussion surrounding the scoring system used by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).
Scoring had always been down to four judges who would use a button to award and deduct points. With points not registered unless at least two of the judges had pressed their buttons, some felt that this left too much room for unfair eliminations.
Now the WTF has introduced a new electronic scoring system which uses sensors fitted to the players’ body armour and socks. When the sensors connect at speed and with power, the point is automatically given.
With the addition of video replays, allowing missed points to be reviewed, and more points awarded for head kicks and spinning kicks, the scoring system is set to be completely revolutionised.
British taekwondo athlete and MARS Refuel ambassador Aaron Cook, says: “I feel that the new system is a big improvement and a move in the right direction for the sport.
“Most players are in agreement that this is an improvement. No system will be 100% right all the time, but as long as everyone is working towards improving the sport, this can only be a good thing. It will also help keep it on the Olympic programme, which is what I need to be able to achieve my 3 or 4 Olympic Golds!”
January Challenges
2012 is going to be a big year for the whole of the UK. The Olympics is coming to London, and the nation is set to be gripped by sporting fever.
Away from the Olympics, there are some amazing personal challenges taking place. One such feat is being undertaken by the adventurer Mark Beaumont. As part of a six man strong team, Beaumont is taking part in a 3000 mile challenge to row the Atlantic in less than 30 days. With the team rowing in repeated shifts of two hours on and then two hours off, they will have to rely on little more than an hour’s sleep at a time.
Arguably, another even more gruelling journey across the Atlantic is taking place. On December 4, the Row 2 Recovery team left the coast of Africa with the aim of reaching Barbados in 8 weeks’ time. Their biggest challenge? Four out of six members of the team have been left severely injured after serving as part of the British Army.
With such amazing displays of strength and determination, it’s hard not to feel inspired. So, what are your ambitions for 2012? Perhaps rowing the Atlantic might be asking too much, but why not make 2012 the year to pick up a new sport? Or dust off your trainers and start running? Remember, whatever you decide to do, make sure you have fun doing it.
So here’s to a healthy 2012 – Happy New Year everyone!
MARS Refuel December News
Another year is drawing to an end, and what a year it’s been!
Our MARS Refuel athletes have been on amazing journeys throughout the year, and there have been some big changes for them all. Why not take a look through their blogs from 2011 to find out what they’ve been up to?
This year also saw the return of the MARS Refuel Drink Fund. We’ve given away thousands of pounds to athletes and clubs from around the country. Thank you to everyone who entered, and congratulations to all of our winners!
Make sure you come back next year to take part in our Win Cool Stuff monthly competitions and to find out all about the 2012 MARS Refuel Drink Fund.
Happy Christmas to everyone and have a happy and sporty New Year!
Congratulations from Mars Refuel!
Congratulations to the team from Mars Food UK, who completed their 600 mile cycle last week. The cyclists raised £1,842 for Anna’s Hope charity, which is dedicated to helping children and young people diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Anna’s Hope was set up by Rob and Carole Hughes and their parents in October 2006. The charity was inspired by Rob and Carole’s daughter, Anna Olivia Hughes, who tragically died from a brain tumour aged only 3 years and 8 months.
Mars Refuel is delighted to have made a small contribution to this amazing achievement, by donating Mars Refuel to help the team of ten to cycle for longer. The group cycled around Rutland Water, averaging around 60 miles each for this fantastic cause. They beat their £1,000 target, helping the charity to have an impact on this life threatening illness.
If you would like to know more about the challenge or you would like to donate some money, please visit www.justgiving.com/Annafairytalejourney.
November
Make sure you check out our athletes’ blogs each month to keep up to date with what they’ve been up to. After a busy October, November isn’t looking any quieter for the trio. Helen’s back in to the swing of training, Tim’s returned to the slopes and Aaron’s putting in some practice over in Mexico!
Remember, you can also win yourself some cool MARS Refuel goodies by entering our Win Cool Stuff competition each month. This month we’re giving away a MARS Refuel hoody to keep you warm while you’re out and about training!
Mars Refuel helps the Army Air Corps go skydiving!
26 October 2011
Edward Petrie, from Hoghton in Lancashire, is celebrating after receiving a £500 donation from the MARS Refuel Drink Fund.
Edward, who is an officer in the Army Air Corps, decided to organise a skydiving expedition to help his colleagues returning from Afghanistan to relax.
Seventeen of the unit’s soldiers will take part in the skydiving trip to California in September.
Edward says: “The trip is being funded by the soldiers themselves and they use their own holiday to take part. It is a chance for the soldiers to relax and have a break from the demands of the Armed Forces.
“The donation from the MARS Refuel Drink Fund will help us to cover the costs of the jumps, as well as the skydiving training during the trip. A massive thank you goes out to MARS Refuel!”
Sarah Outen Update
19 October 2011
Sarah Outen is continuing her mission to travel the world using just two boats and one bike. Her latest blogs describe her amazing, gruelling and emotional journey travelling from Russia to Japan.
Visit her blog to check out photos from along the journey and videos from her mission. You can also read all the stories from Russia and Japan, and find out why it was the toughest part of her journey so far http://www.sarahouten.com/
Follow her on Twitter to get live updates of her progress @SarahOuten
Mars Refuel Helps Dungannon Rugby Club
5 October 2011
MARS Refuel is proud to be sponsoring Dungannon Rugby Club, a rugby union club from Northern Ireland, for the 11/12 season. The club first team plays in the AIB League Division One, Ulster Senior League and Ulster Senior Cup.
The team is hoping to build on the success of the last season which saw them win the Ulster Senior Cup and finish top of the leagues.
The club has a delicious supply of MARS Refuel drink to keep them going all season. We wish them the very best of luck!
MARS Refuel Powers Charity Cycle Ride
21 September 2011
MARS Refuel has helped to fuel a group of MARS workers from across Europe as they completed a gruelling charity cycle ride.
Starting at Mount Ventoux and finishing in Alpe D’Huez, the MARS team cycled for five days completing more than 400 miles and several of the peaks in the Tour De France route. The team had a supply of MARS Refuel drink to keep them going on the challenge.
The group has raised more than £20,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind charities across Europe – a truly impressive achievement!
MARS Refuel Drink Fund
31 August 2011
Make sure you get your entries to the fund in quickly! With only four weeks until it closes, there’s not much time left.
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning £500 for your sport is tell us about yourself or your team or club, and let us know how the money would help you to train for longer.
Good luck!
Mars is delighted to be sponsoring adventurer Sarah Outen.
16 August 2011
Sarah set out on April 01 2011 with a mission to travel the world using just one bike and two boats. Travelling across two oceans and three continents, Sarah’s adventure has already been going for an amazing 137 days.
Visit www.sarahouten.co.uk to keep up to date with Sarah’s adventure, following her highs and lows as she takes on this epic mission. The website hosts her blogs, shows her photos along the journey and also tells you more about her challenge. In addition to this you can check out Sarah on Twitter by following her @SarahOuten.
Mars Refuel Helps England Hockey Players Play Longer
29 July 2011
MARS Refuel continued its support of the England mixed hockey team in their big match against Wales.
The ball patrol was supplied with Mars Refuel t-shirts and the team refuelled themselves after the match with MARS Refuel drinks.
21 July 2011
England Hockey players are being helped to train for longer thanks to MARS Refuel.
The 24 strong squad are training every weekend for the next few months prior to starting their summer campaign.
For the last two years the team has been champions of the International Mixed tournament and will be hoping to replicate that success this year.
Mars Refuel Helps England Touch Rugby Players Play Longer
11 July 2011
MARS Refuel is helping England Touch Rugby to train for longer for its World Cup tour.
The tournament, running throughout June and July, is made up of 12 games.
The team, made up of 16 players, has been in training for the past four years and they have been training together twice a week, to prepare for the World Cup
"Our tournament requires a lot of energy and the MARS Refuel will help us to hopefully walk away with a win!" says Ryan Miemczyk, Team Captain.
MARS REFUEL GETS A NEW LOOK
17 June 2011
Your favourite sports recovery drink has now got an eye catching new look!
The striking new designs which feature across the MARS Refuel range on the 1
litre carton, 330ml bottle and 400ml sports cap bottle now contain a milk splash
across the front, clearly communicating the drink’s milk content.
Additionally it now displays a ‘cash for clubs’ sign to help more people know
about the benefits of the MARS Refuel Drink Fund.
While the packaging is different, the drink is still the same delicious MARS
Refuel drink we all love.
The new designs are in shops now so look out for them!
NEW, MAKE YOUR OWN MARS MILKSHAKE
17 May 2011
lIf you love MARS Refuel, why not try this new way to get the great taste of MARS in a drink.
We’ve launched a new, tasty milkshake mix so you can now make your own delicious caramel, chocolate and malt flavoured drink.
Simply pour milk into a glass, then add MARS Milkshake Mix to your individual taste, stir and you have a delicious MARS milkshake.
Each jar contains enough to make 20 glasses so you can experiment by adding ice or a drinking straw and have plenty left to share with family and friends.
GREAT SPORTING MOMENTS
1 April 2011
Torvill and Dean have beaten the 1966 England football side in a new poll conducted by MARS Refuel drink to find out the nation’s most inspirational sporting moments.**
The ice skating duo’s perfect score at the 1984 Olympics topped the list of the nation’s most inspirational sporting moments, 27 years after their incredible performance saw them win gold in Sarajevo.
The 1966 World Cup winning England team came in second, whilst Dame Kelly Holmes winning two gold medals in Athens in 2004 came third.
A quarter of those polled by MARS Refuel drink say they have been inspired to take up a sport following a major sporting event, by watching sport on TV, or from the success of an elite sportsperson.
In the case of taekwondo World Number 1, Aaron Cooke, sporting inspiration came from an unlikely source!
Aaron explains; “I started Taekwondo when I was five years old because I watched Power Rangers and wanted to be one! It just goes to show sporting inspiration can come from anywhere!”
Aaron is keen that others are inspired to get involved in sport. He continues; “If anyone needs financial support getting active, they should check out the MARS Refuel Drink Fund.”
* The research for Mars Refuel was carried out by Opinion Matters between :10 / 02 / 2011 and 22 / 02 / 2011. Sample: 1281 UK Adults