Ainslie Joins Harlequins Sevens Squad to Stay fit for Purpose
By J.p. Morgan Asset Management, PRNEWednesday, June 29, 2011
LONDON, June 30, 2011 -
Triple Olympic gold and silver medallist, Ben Ainslie CBE,
joined Premiership Rugby Club Harlequins for a pre-season training
session today. The sailor was at the club’s training base at Surrey
Sports Park to compare fitness programs and to see how the club’s
sevens squad are preparing themselves for the J.P. Morgan Asset
Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series 2011 which kicks off on
Friday 15 July at The Recreation Ground in Bath.
(Photo:
(Photo:
Ainslie, who is focusing on his fitness training in his bid to
compete at the London Olympic Games in 2012, joined England sevens
player Ollie Lindsay-Hague and the rest of the club’s sevens squad
for an intensive, four hour training session. The training included
a conditioning session, aimed at the athlete’s aerobic fitness,
followed by a session in the Sports Park’s science unit to test
Ainslie’s vision and decision making ability. After a short break
the training continued with some strength work in the gym and a
series of ball handling drills on the club’s practices
pitches.
Ainslie, a keen rugby fan, who recently won gold in the
Finn class at this year’s Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth,
qualifying him for the Olympic Test in August,
commented:
“Today was physically very challenging but hugely enjoyable.
Since Team Origin closed down in November last year I’ve been
working every day for the last seven months to get my fitness
levels as high as possible. I’m pretty happy with where I am but
there’s always room for improvement, one of the key areas for me is
body weight as I have to bulk up an extra 10 kilos of muscle to
compete in the Finn, so being with the Quins sevens squad today and
seeing how they train during pre-season has been an invaluable
experience. I’ve definitely learnt a few new things which I’m going
to include in my current fitness regime going forward. It’s always
good to meet new people too and I’m looking forward to seeing Ollie
and the rest of the boys compete in the J.P. Morgan Sevens later in
the summer.”
Harlequins Assistant Academy Manager and sevens coach, Howard
Graham, said:
“Having Britain’s most decorated Olympic sailor attend one of
our training sessions is a huge boost for the squad and has given
our sevens players a real lift as they prepare for the J.P. Morgan
Sevens. As expected, Ben worked really hard and took to the
conditioning and fitness sessions like a duck to water. He’s
clearly very focussed on getting himself in the best possible shape
to defend his Olympic title.”
Harlequins winger and England sevens player, Ollie
Lindsay-Hague, commented:
“It’s not every day you get to train with a world class athlete
so today has been a very special experience for me and the lads. As
an Olympic athlete Ben keeps himself very fit, so we weren’t the
least bit surprised with how well he coped with the conditioning
training and some of the gym work. He’s a very impressive man and a
fine athlete. It was great to get a few stories out of him about
his Olympic experiences and how he prepares both physically and
mentally ahead of competition. The lads in the sevens squad will
certainly take a lot out of today as we prepare for the J.P. Morgan
sevens in July.”
To see Ben Ainslie in action at Surrey Sports Park today please
click on the following link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqgAP8pOQLU
The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series
2011 kicks off on Friday 15 July at The Recreation Ground in Bath
where Harlequins face Exeter Chiefs, London Irish and the home side
Bath. Quins will be hoping to qualify for the finals at The Stoop
on Friday 5 August. For more information please visit
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at
or by calling +44(0)844-847-2492.
NOTES TO EDITOR:
J.P. MORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT PREMIERSHIP RUGBY
7S SERIES 2011
The J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Series is set to sweep
across the country again this summer. The 12 Premiership Rugby
clubs will be split into three groups for the tournament, with the
winner and runner up of each regional event going through to the
final.
There will be six games on each evening, with each match
consisting of two seven minute halves with a two minute break,
ensuring a high-energy and high-scoring game. Events kick off on
Fridays at 7.30pm, finishing at 10.30pm and feature, live music and
family entertainment, ensuring a storming night out for all.
Friday 15th July, The Recreation
Ground, Bath
Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins, London Irish
Friday 22nd July,
Franklin‘s Gardens, Northampton
Gloucester Rugby, London Wasps, Northampton Saints, Saracens
Friday 29th July,
EdgeleyPark, Stockport
Leicester Tigers, Newcastle Falcons, Sale Sharks, Worcester
Warriors
Friday 5th August, The Twickenham
Stoop
The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series
Final
ABOUT J.P. MORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT
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Chase & Co. as at December 31 2010) and offices in 41 locations
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5AJ.
ABOUT BEN AINSLIE
Ben Ainslie is Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor; in
total he has won three gold medals and one silver.
Ben won his first Olympic medal at just 19 years old - silver in
the Laser class at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Four years later, he
achieved every athlete’s dream of Olympic gold on Sydney Harbour.
For the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Ben switched to the larger Finn
dinghy he again won Olympic gold. In August 2008 Ben proved his was
still the best by winning his third straight Olympic gold
medal.
Ben’s sailing achievements are unprecedented not only is he a
triple Olympic gold medallist, he is also a nine times World
champion, eight times European Champion and three times ISAF world
sailor of the year. Ben’s next aspiration is to qualify for and
bring back a historic fourth gold in the London 2012 Olympics.
Ben is also the current 2010 ISAF World Match Racing
Champion
For further information please contact: Tim Percival, brandRapport, E: tpercival at brand-rapport.com, T: +44(0)20-7932-5833 ; Sarah Butler, Harlequins Rugby Union, E: sarahb at quins.co.uk, T: +44(0)20-8410-6045; For Ben Ainslie, Dan Wilkinson, Into the blue, E: dan.wilkinson at intotheblue.biz, T: +44(0)7786223444
Tags: J.p. Morgan Asset Management, June 30, London, United Kingdom
