Elite UK team scoops Salomon Saab sponsorship

Rob / 24.04.2002

For years British racers have been competing at the highest level, but they’ve never got it together to form that world beating squad. The will has been there, so have the blood, sweat and tears, but the financial muscle has been missing – until now.

SleepMonsters.com can exclusively announce the formation of Team Saab Salomon, an elite squad picked from the best British racers to compete in the International X-adventure Raid Series, and then onto the Raid Gauloises in 2003. We’re told they will be the only adventure racing team carrying the Salomon name this year, so it’s a major sponsorship coup, and a big boost to British AR.

The team has been put together by Tim Lloyd, who took over the management of Team Wales last year, and led them to a best ever UK result in the X-adventure series when they were 2nd in Japan. That team competed in most of the series last year and Tim had the chance to explain just what he thought could be done with a fully sponsored UK team. His approach impressed Salomon, and along with Saab, they’ve have given him the chance to prove his point.

Together with his wife Jayne (a Team Wales squad member) and team assistant Steve Barnard, Tim has had the tough but enjoyable task of picking a squad over the last few months. Plenty of names were put forward, but it’s not surprising that the final squad comes mainly from last year’s ‘big three’, Team Wales, 9feet.com and Parrot Lythgoe.

In no particular order the squad he’s come up with is:

• Jim Davies
• Steve Birkinshaw
• Adam Haynes
• Pete James
• Ben Bardsley
• Marc Laithwaite
• Nicky Davies
• Helen Jackson

Commenting on the squad Tim said, “They are an awesome collection of sportspeople, totally committed to the concept of this British team and determined to make it work. They are already training together and will have undergone several training camps before their first race. Every team member has particular strengths but all are strong across the board and know just how important it is for a team to function as a unit. On paper they look great, just wait until they start for real.”

The first race in the X-adventure Raid Series is going to be their toughest as it’s in Scandinavia between June 7-9th and will include some winter disciplines. Pete James competed there last year and got a good view from the back of the field as the locals skied into the distance …..

After that it’s France/Italy, USA, Germany/Austria, and finally Spain. With the series now the only way to qualify for the 2003 Raid Gauloises the standard of competition is going to be awesome, there won’t be room for any mistakes and the team will have to be at their very best to get on the podium.

Don’t worry, we will! SleepMonsters.com will be working closely with the team and carrying reports of all their races. They will also soon have their own comprehensive web site, one of the first custom built team sites provided by SleepMonsters.com, and you’ll also be able to find out more on the Salomon web site. Full details of the X-adventure Raid Series are here.