The success of the Angela Nettlefold Memorial Race at Chepstow last year which raised several thousand pounds for SSAFA resulted in the 2016 SSAFA Race day at Chepstow with companies sponsoring each race coupled with a lunch and raffle in aid of SSAFA.
Jim Morrison Jim Morrison Head of Regional Fundraising South of SSAFA said “We would like to thank all those companies and people who have given so generously to our Raffle and to all our advertisers and sponsors, they include: Thales, Clarion Events, Qioptiq, Chepstow Racecourse, Systematic, Spectra, TVS, Raytheon, Hall & Watts, Oxley, Spectra, Clarion, WFEL, Faun, Supacat, Michael Scudamore Racing, David Elsworth, Fujitsu, Adrian Graves Organisation, SAPC, Marshall Aerospace and Defence, Oldbury Ltd, Blighter Ltd, Luxury Spa Day for 2, Marriott chain, Bottle of Penderyn Whisky from Penderyn.”
Ryan Dutton of Chepstow Racecourse said, “Chepstow racecourse are very proud to host the annual SSAFA Raceday. We have seen the raceday grow from a fundraising lunch for 20 people to a full fundraising raceday for 80+. SSAFA are a fantastic charity and we look forward to working with their team and Julian Nettlefold to continue to grow this fantastic fundraising raceday. The date for SSAFA’s 2017 raceday is Wednesday 8 November 2017. It promises to be another fantastic day.”
SSAFA Race Day 2016 Sponsors
BATTLESPACE Publications
1:10 – Battlespace Angela Nettlefold Memorial “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle
2m, Class 4, £3,898.80
1 Charlemar 7/2
2 Orchard Park 6/1
3 Criq Rock 1/2F
“I am delighted with the support that Chepstow has given BATTLESPACE and SSAFA to grow this event to a full SSAFA raceday. We will build on the success of the 2016 event to make this an annual event. My main aim in this sponsorship was to draw attention to the huge contribution that carers of disabled soldiers make with little or no recognition from the government and the MoD. We need to recognise these people like my late mother and recognise their contribution to the lives of disabled ex-soldiers and to reward them with the minimum of an Old Age Pension when they retire.” Julian Nettlefold, BATTLESPACE.
BATTLESPACE has been fundraising for SSAFA since the inception of our publication, we see supporting the nation’s soldiers as key to the success of the armed forces. BATTLESPACE Publications cover the whole spectrum of the battlespace, from sensor to shooter. Our news coverage and readership is truly international, contacting the main decision makers in the worldwide defence industry. We aim to provide our readers with the latest developments in the complex and ever changing world of C4ISTAR and the Global Battlespace. Our coverage is unique in its breadth of topics in the International C4ISTAR arena from airborne sensors and UAVs, fast jets and military transports, rotorcraft, airborne communications, radar and avionics, thru specialist naval systems and communications to land-based communications, EW, infantry equipment and armoured vehicles, trucks and unmanned robots.
Qioptiq – a charitable work
2:15 – Qioptiq Chase (A Novices’ Limited Handicap)
2m, Class 3, £7,797.60
1 Valseur Du Granval 5/4F
2 Yes Daddy 8/1
3 Back By Midnight 10/1
“Qioptiq had a great day out made more so by being able to support a worthy charity. This was everything you would expect from a VIP day at the races and more besides, we even backed a few winners! We will be back.” Craig Taylor, Marketing Communications Manager, Qioptiq.
Qioptiq, an Excelitas Technologies Company, do a lot of good work for charity mate – as Smashie and Nicey might say – the two DJs from the 90s TV sketch show Harry Enfield’s Television Programme. Mother Teresa said “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Qioptiq put a lot of love into their giving. That said since 2008, at our North Wales facility, we have donated over £250,000 to various charities. This has been raised by dedicated employees and through our corporate social responsibility. If it can be sponsored we’ve probably done it.
We, along with many other defence contractors, support many national charities including Children in Need, Macmillan, Mencap, Comic Relief and RNIB but also local ones and individuals in need. Dale Morris undertook the Chester Half Marathon in aid of a local family, others have cycled, swam, climbed, parachuted and worked in the community, all for good causes.
Team Army is endorsed by the UK Ministry of Defence’s Army Board (ECAB). They work in partnership with the Army Sport Control Board, which regulates all sport played in the Army, removing the significant administrative burden from Army sports associations. The Foundation provides the most effective route to ensure that financial support will directly contribute to the well-being of British soldiers. Qioptiq have been working with ‘Team Army’ since its inception, the sponsorship is used to support our chosen portfolio of sports within the Army including, very importantly, the sports for disabled soldiers.
Spectra Group (UK) Ltd
“Chepstow Racecourse provided a fantastic venue for what turned out to be a great day of racing and Spectra were honoured to be able to support the SSAFA Charity on what was an extremely enjoyable and successful fundraising event. SSAFA carries out tremendous work providing support to our serving and ex-serving military personnel.” Simon Davies CEO of Spectra said.
1:45 – spectra-group.co.uk Maiden Hurdle
2m3½f, Class 4, £3,898.80
1 Burton Boru 12/1
2 Waterloo Warrior 5/4F
3 Libby T Valance 11/4
Simon Davies, CEO of the Spectra Group, had the following to say: “Spectra is honoured to be able to support the SSAFA charity and the unprecedented support it provides to thousands of serving service personnel and Veterans. SSAFA makes an enormous difference to the lives of the people they support; people to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they made in the line of duty.”
Spectra Group (UK) Ltd is a leading provider of reliable, resilient and deployable secure communications and military grade IT networks – and is proud to be sponsoring the SSAFA race day in support of the armed forces.
Serving Defence and Security, Aid and Emergency and commercial organisations, the Spectra Group delivers solutions specific to their customers’ needs – offering industry leading technology from world-class manufacturers, alongside their own proprietary technology, resulting in truly bespoke and fit-for-purpose end-products that are reliable, resilient, and combat ready.
Spectra’s flagship product, SlingShot®, is a lightweight unit that converts existing UHF and VHF tactical radios to SATCOM, offering a straightforward and cost-effective way to achieve tactical, secure beyond line of sight (BLOS) comms on the move (COTM) or in areas where terrestrial infrastructure is lacking, destroyed or under threat. Ideal for tactical command and control communications.
Used worldwide by NATO countries, SlingShot works with the majority of deployed handheld VHF and UHF radios and is ideal for Border Security and as part of a Crisis Communications capability. Battle tested, SlingShot has also been used by special forces teams globally in areas of conflict, providing secure, reliable communications when operators need it most.
This dedication to providing assurance to soldiers continues off the battlefield and after service, as Spectra are heavily committed to ensuring ex-service men and women receive the highest calibre of support in civilian life. A stalwart supporter of military charity, Spectra Group (who number a good proportion of ex-personnel) sponsor and participate in a wide range of charitable events, including the SSAFA race day at Chepstow.
In August 2016, Spectra signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which served as an official declaration of the group’s intent to provide stability and security to those who provide it in kind through their service to the country.
Supacat
2:50 – Supacat Clayton Jones Handicap Hurdle
2m, Class 4, £5,198.40
1 Rocklander 2/1F
2 Third Act 11/1
3 Lilac Tree 7/1
Jamie Clarke, Head of Marketing and Communications, SC Group said, “What a fantastic day! We were delighted to support a race at the event, have lunch and network with others whilst hosting our own corporate guests. Contributing to a charity such as SSAFA is something we’re always proud to do and to top off the day, our CEO, Nick Ames, was awarded the Battlespace businessman of the year award. Many thanks to Julian for organising such a good day for all concerned.”
Supacat supports a number of military charities. Building on our firm foundation and three decades of engineering design success, we have grown to be one of the world’s leading companies specialising in the design and development of equipment operating in harsh environments. We have a passionate and committed team with the skills, expertise, dedication and focus to provide the highest value to our customers with bespoke quality products and services.
In September 2015, having successfully outgrown our original brand, the company was split between Supacat and SC Innovation under the SC Group umbrella. This exciting formation allows us to grow and develop our joint capabilities while bringing innovative solutions to our customers.
Supacat’s range of off-road wheeled and tracked vehicles continues to expand as new requirements for high-mobility cross-country defence vehicles arise. Supacat is certified to ISO 9001:2008 and delivers all the disciplines of vehicle design, including engineering, testing, prototype manufacture, certification, low- rate production and fleet support. We have offices in the UK and Australia.
Table Sponsors
Clarion Defence & Security
Clarion Defence & Security organises sector leading events that enable government officials, industry leaders and technical experts to share ideas, develop partnerships, conduct business, network and access export and growth markets.
Within the UK, DSEI is one of the top three events and Clarion’s flagship product. The last edition of the Event in 2015 brought together 34,038 visitors and 1,683 exhibitors. It is the World Leading Defence and Security event and is fully supported by the UK MOD, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, British Army, Joint Forces Command & Joint Helicopter Command, as well as attended by many overseas MODs.
Throughout its history DSEI has raised over £100,000 for SSAFA through charitable donations and event guide donations. DSEI looks forward to further engagement with SSAFA through the following activities:
- Chosen Charity for DSEI. We are delighted that SSAFA will again be the chosen charity partner for DSEI. This will be formally announced at the SSAFA Corporate Friends Reception on Wednesday 2nd November 2016 by the SSAFA Chairman, General Sir Kevin O’Donoghue – just under one year out from DSEI 2017. General Sir Gordon Messenger, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, will deliver the Keynote address. We look forward to working with the SSAFA team at DSEI 2017.
Thales
Thales supports a number of key military charities including SSAFA where it is a major sponsor of the Annual Dinner.
David Beatty of Thales said, “A thoroughly enjoyable event and all for a great cause. Same recipe for next year would be good.”
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity
- SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force including reservists, and their families.
- Each year, its professional staff and network of more than 6,500 volunteers help some 60,000 people, ranging from World War Two veterans to the families of young servicemen and women wounded or killed in Afghanistan.
- For more information visit ssafa.org.uk and follow the charity on Twitter: @SSAFA