- Australia claim gold in the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge, part of the Invictus Games.
- Prince Harry presents winning medals at the Jaguar Land Rover Design and Engineering Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
- Opening Ceremony takes place tomorrow for the Invictus Games, the new international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Service personnel.
- Jaguar Land Rover is Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games and is committed to exploring ways to enhance the valuable role of veterans as skilled employees, to create a lasting legacy for the Games.
Gaydon, UK, Tuesday 9th September ‑ Two Australians made history today as they were awarded the first gold medals of the Invictus Games by Prince Harry.
The Australia team, made up of Matthew Taxis and Sarah Archibald, took gold in the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge, which saw 11 nations compete in two stages designed to test the competitors' driving and navigation skills.
Teams, made up of a driver and navigator, completed an all‑terrain stage in a Land Rover Discovery and a tarmac track stage in a Jaguar F‑TYPE, with a series of gates required to be correctly negotiated in order.
With the four quickest teams qualifying for this afternoon's final, it was Australia who came out on top, finishing ahead of silver medallists Germany and the Netherlands, who took bronze.
Matthew Taxis, a former Combat Engineer who injuredhis back while lifting equipment in the Army, drove Australia to victory.
He said: "It's fantastic to receive the first gold medals of the Invictus Games. I hope I'm also in with a shout in the Archery, but it's just great to be here and be part of an incredible event with people from all over the world."
Sarah Archibald, who suffers from Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder, navigated for the team.
She said: "Orientating the course was very difficult, and we needed to communicate really well. Hopefully this victory will spur us on and give the team a boost ahead of the next few days of competition.
"Being presented with my gold medal from Prince Harry was something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
The British team, represented by former sergeant Martyn Gibbons MBE and Private Kimberley Sterling, finished in fourth position.
The Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge forms part of the Invictus Games, which officially begin with an Opening Ceremony at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park tomorrow.
Visiting the Design and Engineering Centre in Gaydon, Prince Harry met former Servicemen and women now working for Jaguar Land Rover and a group of employees who will serve as volunteers at the Games. He navigated a wounded serviceman driver from the USA around the Land Rover all‑terrain course before driving a Jaguar F‑TYPE.
Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director of Jaguar Land Rover said: "Everyone at Jaguar Land Rover would like to congratulate Australia on being awarded the first gold medals of the Invictus Games, and to all the medallists and competitors who took part.
"We were honoured to host this event as part of the Invictus Games and welcome His Royal Highness to Gaydon. We are now looking forward to the Opening Ceremony tomorrow and an inspiring four days of competition in London."
The Invictus Games is being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. It will see more than 400 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, from 13 nations, competing at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, thanks to the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
Tickets for the Invictus Games cost £12.85 per person, per session and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org
ENDS.
Free to access photos and broadcast footage are available,
courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover.
To download pictures, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/InvictusChallenge (password: Invictus).
To download broadcast footage, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/DrivingFootage
For further information log onto www.media.jaguarlandrover.com
or contact:
Paul Garbett, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games
Communications:
paul.garbett@fasttrackagency.com,+44
(0)7718 340555
Kim Palmer, Land Rover UK PR:
kpalmer@jaguarlandrover.com,
+44 (0)7795 66169
Anna Jackson, Jaguar UK PR:
ajackso1@jaguarlandrover.com,
+44 (0)7880 401103
Editor's Note:
About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest premium automotive
manufacturing business, built around two iconic British car brands.
All its vehicles are engineered and designed in Britain.
While it has ambitious plans for global growth, the heart of the
business remains in the UK, with billions of pounds invested in
state‑of‑the‑art production, research and development
facilities. In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sold 425,006
vehicles ‑ up 19% from the previous year ‑ in more than 170
countries. The company employs 30,000 people
globally.
About the Jaguar Land Rover Design and Engineering
Centre in Gaydon
The Design and Engineering Centre is the nerve centre for the
engineering of all new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. With
around 6,000 employees, the site features many cutting‑edge
research and development facilities, alongside an extensive test
track and proving ground. Gaydon is also home to the Land
Rover and Range Rover design studios.
About the Invictus Games
The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and
backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. Launched by
Prince Harry earlier this year, the Invictus Games will use the
power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and
generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their
country. The nine adaptive sports to feature at the Invictus Games
are: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling,
Powerlifting, Indoor Rowing, Wheelchair Rugby, Swimming and Sitting
Volleyball. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will host events in
the iconic London Aquatics Centre, Copper Box Arena, Lee Valley
VeloPark and Here East, with athletics running at Lee Valley
Athletics Centre. Teams have been invited from Afghanistan,
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia,
Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and USA.
Jaguar Land Rover is the Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games. BT, Fisher House, Ottobock, PwC and YESSS Electrical are Official Supporters.
