Isle of Wight Eco-clothing company, Rapanui, have sponsored the England team heading to the World Tiddlywinks championship.
Rather than sponsoring the over-glossy world of some sports, the boys behind Rapanui, Rob and Martin Drake-Knight, decided to get more real about it.
They say they wanted to, “find honest, real people who are passionate about their sport in a way that reflects an honest approach business, the environment and life.”
Boffins galore
The brothers found Dr Patrick Barrie, a Chemical Engineer from Cambridge University and multiple Tiddlywinks world champion, then recruited the rest of the English Tiddlywinks national squad, who happen to be some of our country’s brightest scientific minds.
Along with Dr Stew Sage, Patrick worked with Rapanui to develop some cutting-edge performance eco-wear for the tournament, design a new logo and tactical formation.
The England team flew out to America for the world championships in the USA this week.
Last match a “comfortable win”
The last tournament, in 2005, ended with a comfortable win over the Americans by the England team, and it’s likely that the World-tiddly-trophy will be returning to England in the hands of some eco-textiles wearing Englishmen soon.
Rob Drake-Knight said, “They’ve won more times than they’ve lost – this makes them the most successful England team in all international sport.”
US vs UK – “Classic grudge match”
Multiple world champion and Rapanui ambassador, Dr Patrick Barrie, explains the feeling in the English camp, “England vs US is a classic grudge match. It’s the oldest rivalry in tiddlywinks history and we’re all excited to fly the flag for England – I would cross my fingers but we can’t risk an injury.”
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