Organisers call for Hereford sports fans to come and cheer on Team GB.

Hereford will see a new sport on its doorstep this weekend as the European Tchoukball Championships kick off at thePoint4 Centre.

Top athletes from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, and of course Great Britain, will begin the competition on Friday (27 August) with the finals being played on Sunday (29 August) at 2pm.

Great Britain is tipped for success as they are currently ranked 3rd in the world and finished second in the 2008 European Championship in the Czech Republic.

Hereford has become a focal point for tchoukball development in the last year. Tchoukball UK, the national governing body hosting the championships, has been introducing tchoukball to local school children and working with the Royal National College for the Blind to create a version of the sport for people with visual impairments. A new club will soon be set up for budding tchoukball players.

Phil Moore, Tchoukball UK's Chief Executive, said: "Hereford has some of the best sports facilities in the country so it's great to be hosting the European Championships here. We're using the event to get more people of all ages and abilities playing tchoukball. My call to Hereford sports fans is 'come and cheer on Team GB'. They're strong this year but they need your support."

The championships are sponsored by Herefordshire-based company allpay and supported by local MP Jesse Norman.

Nick Peplow, Marketing Director at allpay, said:

"At allpay we are all about inclusion. So to come across a sport that is trying to include men and women of all ages and abilities is just great, and something that we just had to get involved with and support."

Jesse Norman MP said: "I'm thrilled to welcome the European Championships to Hereford ? tchoukball is just one of the areas where Herefordshire is taking a lead on the national stage. I congratulate Tchoukball UK on the work it has done to inspire local people to try the game, both in schools and at the RNCB. I hope everyone in Herefordshire will join me in cheering on Team GB!"

More details about the championships, including match times, photos and videos, are available on Tchoukball UK's website:

http://www.tchoukball.org.uk/euro2010

ENDS

Notes

Not for publication

Tchoukball UK will press release latest news, match results and photos each day. Interviews available on request. Media welcome to attend. Contact Andrew St Ledger 07779 322630 for details.

For publication

Tchoukball

Tchoukball, a cross between handball and volleyball, is a fast-paced team sport that can be played all year round - indoors, on grass or on the beach. Teams compete against each other by rebounding the ball off a tightly-sprung trampette at either end of the court. Defenders try to catch the ball before it hits the floor and if they don't, a point is scored. Tchoukball is unique because both sides can score at either end of the court. Tchoukball is a non-contact sport.

Tchoukball UK

Tchoukball UK is the national governing body for tchoukball and runs a range of tchoukball competitions and events, coaching coaches and taster sessions throughout the year. For more information visit www.tchoukball.org.uk

allpay

Specialists in payment solutions, allpay has 750 public and private sector clients and processes around £3.1 billion a year on their behalf.

Achieving rapid growth since its inception in 1996, allpay now operates more than 1800 payment schemes for public and private sector organisations that need efficient bill payment collection. allpay offers modern payment solutions to any kind of industry where payment collection and disbursement is necessary.

As well as saving money and processing payments more efficiently, compared with traditional payment methods, allpay?s clients can offer their customers the widest and most convenient range of payment methods possible. These include a swipecard that can be used at PayPoint and Post Office outlets; over the telephone, with their mobile phone; via the Internet or using one of allpay?s Self Service Payment Kiosks. In addition, clients can opt for Direct Debit origination services.

Constantly listening to what our clients want, allpay offers Prepaid MasterCard® Cards enabling organisations to have more control over the distribution of their funds, moving away from costly cash, cheques and vouchers. They provide the freedom to shop wherever the MasterCard® Acceptance Mark is seen.

The company is one of just seven MasterCard accredited card manufacturing and personalisation facilities in the UK with the ability to implant chip, personalise and fulfil card and PIN orders. allpay has also recently achieved Visa accreditation. A print and design division complements this service and incorporates direct mail.

Maintaining the highest standards in quality and security, allpay is PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant, ISO 27001 security accredited and acts as a BACS accredited Commercial Bureau. It also maintains the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, the ISO 18001 Health & Safety Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard certifications.

allpay upholds a strong emphasis on employee satisfaction, employing nearly 200 staff and supports a number of community initiatives. For more information on allpay please contact:

Annie Neesham, Aimee Morgan or Rebecca White, allpay Limited, 0844 557 8346

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