After the euphoria of the Olympics last year, our cyclists, golfers, tennis players and cricketers have kept the momentum of achievement rolling in fine style.
Just recently, I was absorbed by our latest conquering heroes, the Lions, taking on the Australians and winning a historic series victory in emphatic fashion. Their team spirit and sheer will to win serves as an inspiration to any of us engaging in sporting endeavour and certainly gave me a shot of energy during my latest training outing for the PruProtect Chance to Ride.
The thing I found most incredible about the players on both sides of the contest was their ability to take physical punishment. Both teams had players who appeared to be seriously injured, having been pole axed by a tackle or crushed beneath a melee of bodies, rise unsteadily to their feet and rejoin the fray.
It certainly contrasted with my favourite sport, football, in which the slightest knock or tumble is accompanied with histrionics and pleas for punishment of the opposition.
Rugby provides many great anecdotes and I’ve been privileged to have heard some of these recounted by ex professionals at various dinners and awards ceremonies over the years. England legend Martin Bayfield told a memorable story of his team mate, Wade Dooley, imploring the referee of a match against France NOT to send off his opposite number for punching him, so that he could have a chance to exact his revenge!
It was extremely timely, following the Lions’ triumph, that we announced our newest Vitality Ambassador – world cup winning fly half Jonny Wilkinson. Jonny features as the cover star in our latest Vitality member magazine, sharing some top tips for those wanting to get in shape and discussing how he maintains his health and fitness.
We are proud that yet another sporting icon supports our unique, customer centric offeringAs I write this, England are taking on our perennial cricket foes, the Aussies, in the Ashes and ex Ashes winning captain, Michael Vaughan is in high demand for his analytical skills and partisan opinions!
More and more people are signing up to join Michael on his charity bike ride, PruProtect Chance to Ride in September and we want to give Financial Adviser readers the chance to join him. If you think you can tackle one of the four ride stages and then watch England take on the Aussies in an exciting One Day International game, visit winachancetoride.co.uk and register your details – we’ll choose four lucky winners at random at the end of July.
Justin Taurog is Distribution and Marketing Director at PruProtect
