First Clydebank Outdoor Adventurer of the Year Revealed as New Outdoor Superstore Opens

A national retailer is dedicating the opening of its new GO Outdoors Clydebank superstore to a school teacher from Old Drumchapel.

Aileen Douthwaite’s ambitious trek on the Great Wall of China last October caught the eye of GO Outdoors judges. Her ten-day challenge saw her walk through some of the most spectacular terrain in the world and raise more than £3,000 for St Margaret’s Hospice in Clydebank.

The French horn expert, who is currently teaching in Dumbarton Academy and Knoxland Primary, teaches music to children across West Dunbartonshire in her role as the council’s Education support officer for Music Instruction.

Aileen will receive her Clydebank Outdoor Adventurer of the Year trophy from store manager Paul Davidson on Saturday 27th March at the new Clydebank GO Outdoors superstore on the site – formerly occupied by Megabowl – on Livingstone Street.

Aileen Douthwaite said,

"It’s a wonderful surprise to receive this award from GO Outdoors. I’ve always had an eye for adventurous challenges. And this was one of the toughest yet. We were walking for nine hours on most days. And I had to conquer my fear of creepie crawlies too! But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

"It’s spectacular scenery out there. I like to think that if I can get out there and have these experiences then anyone can. I can’t wait for my next challenge and hope to climb Kilimnajrao for my next test!"

Aileen’s adventurous accolade came after GO Outdoors appealed to local groups or individuals to nominate inspirational Clydebank people who have faced an outdoor challenge – or used outdoor pursuits to benefit the local community.

GO Outdoors superstore manager Paul Davidson,

“We wanted to celebrate the achievements of local outdoor adventurer who would inspire others to enjoy the outdoors. And Aileen’s adventures in Clydebank are a shining example of how an active lifestyle and a passion for the outdoors can make real difference to both her lives and the lives of the people she has raised money for."

Anyone who wishes to donate can go to www.justgiving.com/aileendouthwaite.

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North West Inventors of the Year 2010 Revealed

Three inventors have been revealed as this year’s North West Inventors of the year from innovation organisation Ideas North West.

The inventors received their Awards at the Ideas North West Inventors’ Expo at Turf Moor Enterprise Haven on Saturday 20th March. The awards were presented by Steve Hoyle, commercial director of Expo sponsor No Limits.

The awards celebrate the successful development of each invention and acknowledge each invention’s potential for worldwide sales success. The awards have been introduced to hopefully inspire a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs.

- Chris Williams from Chorley : www.empire-cycles.com – New Down Hill Mountain Bike

Chris Williams has designed a specialist mountain bike called the AP-1WR. Chris, set out to design his own dream mountain bike. He designed an innovative single-cast lightweight frame to achieve his dream. Through his business, Empire Cycles, he has sponsored Lewis Buchanan who rode the bike to championship success. And the bike was listed in the prestigious ‘Dirt 100′ which is a magazine acknowledgment of the industry’s top 100 products of the year.

- Bill Austin from Blackburn : www.billaustin.co.uk – The Austin Stair Aid

Bill Austin of Shadsworth, Blackburn devised the Austin StairAid to help his sick wife climb stairs. Wife Betty suffered a stroke and found it difficult to get around their home. The special ‘dolly bar’ is attached to an adapted banister helping the user to manoeuvre up and down stairs safely. It can also be used along level areas for moving around the home.

- Martin Watson from Rossendale : New Light Emitting Diode

Martin from Weir near Bacup has invented an energy-saving street light. His light emitting diode (LED) lighting unit is all set to compete with the high-energy products used by highways authorities across Britain. Blackburn with Darwen Council has installed 20 of his LED units in traffic bollards in Yew Tree Drive, off Preston New Road, Blackburn, in a sixth-month trial. If successful, it could lead to a 500bollard replacement saving anything up to £15,000 a year in energy bills.

Chris, Bill and Martin’s awards was just one of the highlights of another successful North West inventor’s Expo sponsored by No Limits. Now in its fifth year, more than 100 visitors including local inventors showcasing their ideas, support businesses including rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacturing services; free patent search advisors; and, representatives from the Patent Office.

For Ideas North West Basil Philipsz said,

“Congratulations to all our Inventors of the Year. All three epitomise the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit for which our region is so famous. Many of our most successful inventors attended the Expo, and their successes along with the support of No Limits and a whole host of informed and experienced advisors offering free consultations helped to inspire a unique networking event at our fifth annual expo."

Local innovators, businesses seeking to grow through innovation, or anyone with an idea they would like to exploit is to find out more about Ideas North West. For more information businesses and individuals can visit the website paul.white.

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World’s First One-Push Poop Scoop Challenges DFS Crufts Visitors to Sculpt Their Own Dog Poop!

PHOTO/FILMING OPPORTUNITY:

DFS Crufts

Birmingham NEC

Hall 3 Stand 30

Thursday March 11th

1.30pm

The inventor of the world’s first one-push poop scoop has issued a public challenge to all DFS Crufts visitors to sculpt their own dog poop.

Inventor of the Poopsta – as it is called – Maurice Glynn from Preston in Lancashire will invite visitors at Stand 30 in Hall 3 to sculpt modelling clay into the shape of poop.

The Poopsta will then pick and pack the moulded-clay poop with just one push. The challenge represents the ultimate public test of this revolutionary new poop scooping device.

Poopsta (www.poopsta.com) will be making its debut at DFS Crufts 2010 on March 11-14 at the NEC in Birmingham. It will be the first time that the Poopsta has appeared at a consumer dog show.

Maurice Glynn said,

"Providing the size and shape represents an actual real-life dog poop – from any dog – Poopsta can consistently pick it up, pack it, contain it and carry it more efficiently than hand-in-bag. And we’re going public with the challenge at the world’s best dog show to prove it.

"We believe that there’s no poop scoop in the world can compete with the power of the Poopsta. At a national trade show last year we publicly demonstrated the Poopsta by successfully picking up sloppy condensed soup. And people were amazed. But for Crufts we’ve decided to go one step further."

The Poopsta’s patented one-push action transforms a rubber band and a biodegradable plastic bag into a 4-in-1 poop scooping system. It picks, packs, contains and carries dog poop.

The Poopsta has been designed to work with the bags already used by millions of dog owners throughout the world. The Poopsta is placed into the bag before placing over the poop. Then, one simple push picks and packs dog poop quicker than the human eye can see. The poop is then easily contained behind an odour-minimising lid and carried thanks to an easy-clip shoulder strap.

Maurice adds,

"When people first see the Poopsta in action, they are amazed. It’s one of those jaw-dropping why-didn’t-I-think-of-that solutions that stops people in their tracks.

“We’ve spoken to a lot of dog owners during development. And they’ve told us what they hate most about picking up dog poo. They don’t like the squishy feeling beneath their fingers. They hate it swinging from leads while they wait to find a dog bin. And some dog owners find it difficult to bend down to pick it up. Poopsta will offer the ultimate 4-in-1 solution.

"We’ve tested the Poopsta rigorously on all surfaces. It’s easy and fun to use and we hope dog lovers will be proud to own it."

A limited launch pack offer featuring 50 free biodegradable bags and rubber bands plus a free easy-clip shoulder strap – perfect for hands free dog walking – will be available from the show and is available online at www.poopsta.com for £14.95 plus postage and packing.

ENDS

PO0005 Poopsta Issues DFS Cruft Visitors With Dog Poop Sculpting Challenge
March 2010

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World’s First One-Push Poop Scoop Makes Dog Show Debut at Crufts

The world’s first one-push poop scoop will be appearing at DFS Crufts 2010 on March 11-14 at the NEC in Birmingham. It will be the first time that the Poopsta (www.poopsta.com) has appeared at a consumer dog show.

The Poopsta’s patented one-push action transforms a rubber band and a biodegradable plastic bag into a 4-in-1 poop scooping system. It picks, packs, contains and carries dog poop.

The Poopsta even works with red rubber bands used by the UK postal service and often discarded on road sides.

Retired teacher Maurice Glynn from Preston in Lancashire, who invented the Poopsta’s patented one-push mechanism will also be at the show.

Maurice revealed,

“We’re delighted to be appearing at Crufts. If you’re going to celebrate the consumer launch of a product as revolutionary as the Poopsta – it might as well be the best dog show in the world! We hope we’ll be one of the trade exhibitors that really captures show visitors’ imagination.

"When people first see the Poopsta in action, they are amazed. It’s one of those jaw-dropping why-didn’t-I-think-of-that solutions that stops people in their tracks.

“We’ve spoken to a lot of dog owners during development. And they’ve told us what they hate most about picking up dog poo. They don’t like the squishy feeling beneath their fingers. They hate it swinging from leads while they wait to find a dog bin. And some dog owners find it difficult to bend down to pick it up. Poopsta will offer the ultimate 4-in-1 solution.

"We’ve tested the Poopsta rigorously on all surfaces. It’s easy and fun to use and we hope dog lovers will be proud to own it."

Millions of conscientious dog owners already pick up dog poop using a plastic bag. The Poopsta has been designed to work with the bags already used. The Poopsta is placed into the bag before placing over the poop. Then, one simple push picks and packs dog poop quicker than the human eye can see.

The poop is then easily contained behind an odour-minimising lid and carried thanks to an easy-clip shoulder strap, allowing the bagged poop to be disposed of at the dog owner’s discretion – in designated dog bins or at home.

Completely hygienic, the easy-to-use, patented device won’t need special cartridges and can even be used to pick up without bending. It can also scoop multiple poops before needing to be emptied – perfect for dog owners walking more than one dog, or dogs doing more than one poop.

The world’s first one-push poop scoop was exclusively revealed in September to UK trade buyers attending the Glee Petindex Expo at the Birmingham NEC in advance of the retail launch early next year. Poopsta was shortlisted as the show’s most innovative pet product of the year and more than 100 buyers requested options to retail the Poopsta next year.

Maurice adds,

“The Poopsta has been styled with head-turning good looks. Its iconic shape will mean it is both functional and fashionable too. It’s very exciting to be a matter of weeks away from our trade launch. And we hope as many dog owners as possible will let Poopsta help them ‘give poop the push!’”

A limited launch pack offer featuring 50 free biodegradable bags and rubber bands plus a free easy-clip shoulder strap – perfect for hands free dog walking – is now available online at www.poopsta.com for £14.95 plus postage and packing.

ENDS

PO0003 Poopsta Consumer Launch
February 2009

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