England Netball Umpires Confirmed for Riffa Views Inter-Gulf Netball Championships
February 20, 2008
Two professional umpires representing England Netball will attend the Riffa Views Inter-Gulf Netball Championships to be held on March 7 & 8th at the Bahrain Rugby Club.
Elaine Wright and Barbara Wilkins, both of them being England Netball ‘A’ Award umpires, will umpire all top-level matches and act as tournament referees. As part of the Bahrain Netball League’s development plan, they will also train Bahrain umpires in the lead-up to the tournament and coach some of them to qualification level.
Mrs Wilkins, who has previously attended the tournament in Abu Dhabi and Dubai said: “I am delighted to represent Engand Netball at this year’s tournament in Bahrain. I have watched the growth of the Inter-Gulf Championships with admiration and I am amazed by the huge improvement in the standard of play across the Gulf over the last few years.”
Mrs Wright commented: “I am passionate about the development of netball in the region and I am looking forward to training some of the young Bahrain players. Umpiring is a core skill and an essential part of the game; I feel confident that we will be in a position to test the girls in Bahrain and award the best of them with accreditations by the end of our stay.”
This year’s Riffa Views Inter-Gulf Championships will be the biggest tournament in the 22-year history of the event. 20 teams representing 7 Gulf countries will compete for the Championship Cup, Plate and Bowl. In addition, a ‘talent and performance team’ from England will compete in a special division called the Invitational Cup.
Michaela Milne, Bahrain Netball League Event Manager said: “We are expecting the highest standard of teams this year and it is vital for us as organisers to achieve this by providing professional umpires. We are delighted that England Netball will be represented at our event by Barbara and Elaine and we look forward to our players receiving valuable umpire training in the lead-up to the event.”
Richard Browning, Riffa Views CEO, said: “As Title Sponsors of this event, it was always our intention to facilitate the development of Bahraini youth. It is ratifying to learn that these professional umpires are committed to training some of the young Bahraini players.”
The England Netball umpires will fly to Bahrain courtesy of Gulf Air, the official airline of the Riffa Views Inter-Gulf Championships.
Exhibition Gardens in creation
February 19, 2008
This year’s Riffa Views International Garden Show (RVBIGS) has attracted a record number of global exhibitors, with over 50 per cent of the total exhibition space being booked by international participants. This achievement has been realised as part of a long-term strategy adopted by the organisers and title sponsors Riffa Views.
In keeping with its commitment to continually raise the profile of the Garden Show, Riffa Views has introduced a whole new dimension for this year’s RVBIGS 08. Visitors can look forward to an impressive line-up of displays from the winning projects of the Eden Challenge competition together with an exciting Showcase of local arts & crafts.
In the run up to RVBIGS 2008, Riffa Views has been extremely active in promoting various RVBIGS-associated activities including the Riffa Views Eden Challenge, an environmentally-inspired competition for local schools whose winning entries will be on display at the Riffa Views Eden Challenge Exhibits’ stand. Chris Beardshaw, the award winning celebrity gardener and Riffa Views’ Ambassador, Landscape & Gardens, will be at the show along the three days. Chris’ participation at the exhibition involves a lecture on the topic: A Most Unique English Garden – The story of the discovery, restoration and rejuvenation of one of England’s most hidden gardens. During the Show he will conduct signing sessions of his book: “How does your garden Grow” and on Saturday, February 23 Chris will join BIGS Director, Shaikha Maram bint Isa bin Ahmad Al-Khalifa, to select the overall Eden Challenge winning stand whose school will be awarded a prize of BD 3,000.
Another highlight of the three-day event will be the Riffa Views Showcase of Local Arts & Crafts, where over 20 local artists and craftspeople will demonstrate their skills together with selections of their work. The participants will present their arts and crafts in an event that will give them incredibly broad exposure.
Richard Browning, Chief Executive Officer of Riffa Views, said: “As title sponsors, our aim is to make sure that Riffa Views’ participation at the Show has positive impact on the Kingdom’s wider community. We invited local artists and craftspeople to join us in a celebration of traditional talent that must be widely promoted for the future generations.”
“I hope that the Eden Challenge Exhibits Stand, the Riffa Views Showcase of Local Arts & Crafts and our Ambassador, Chris Beardshaw, will demonstrate the many ways in which a developer can make a valuable contribution to, and integrate into the local community. We have developed a deep affection for Bahrain and its people and this is a tremendous way of translating those feelings into actions.”
The show will run from 10am to 9 pm from the 22nd to the 24th of February.
‘Better Ball’ Charity Golf Tournament Tees Off
February 14, 2008
The Riffa Views Shaikh Faisal Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Memorial Trophy Charity Golf Tournament was launched today at an opening ceremony held at His Majesty King Hamad’s golf course in Safriya.
The event which is taking place from the 14th to 16th February is being held to raise funds on behalf of Bahrain Mobility International (BMI). Present at the opening ceremony were Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views, title sponsor of the tournament, golfers, sponsors and other invited guests.
The ‘Better Ball’ golf tournament which attracted 250 participants is being held to commemorate the death of Shaikh Faisal, former President of the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation, who tragically died in a car accident in January 2006. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Bahrain Mobility International (BMI), a charity strongly supported by Shaikh Faisal during his lifetime.
Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views commented: “We are delighted to extend our support to the Bahrain Mobility International (BMI) once again as title sponsors of this charitable event.”
He continued: “The majority of children and adults who attend BMI are in need of specialized equipment and therapists to keep their condition as stable as possible. This is worth remembering because that is what the next three days are all about, to give back to those members from our society which need our support.”
The ‘Better Ball’ tournament is open to the invited guests of corporate sponsors on day one and two. The winners of the tournament will be announced during the closing ceremony which will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday, 16th February 2008.
Event Sponsor Summary
Title Sponsor: Riffa Views (BD15, 000)
Partner Sponsors: Projects System Group, Batelco, ICAP (BD5000 each)
Hole Sponsors: Freshfields (BD2000), IADC (BD2000), Well Flow International (BD2000), Atkins, Bahrain Royal Flight, DeLeeuw, Aer Rianta, BGD Nass, Hempel Paints, Gulf Air, DHL Express, DHL Aviation, Bahrain Petroleum Company, Standard Chartered, , Ministry of the Interior, Winton Capital, AON, Hilti, Serco, Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait, Pan Gulf, Caltex, HSBC, Cebarco, Merrill Lynch, Eskan Bank, NCB Capital (BD1000 each)
Support Sponsors: Bahrain Airport Services (Catering), Euro Motors (Hole In One Prize), AXA Insurance (Hole in One Prize), Bahrain International Circuit (Reception Venue), Coca-Cola (Refreshments), Bahrain Confidential, Bahrain This Month, Gulf Daily News, Vision Communications (Media Support)
