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Since being paralysed in a rock-climbing accident at the age of 21 Karen has shown grit, determination and courage, overcoming physical and mental barriers, to complete many trips others believed impossible.Karen says she was “embarrassed” about winning the award and remains humble about being awarded the title: “It’s quite a humbling experience as there really are some women doing incredible things which fade my adventure exploits! However, we probably all think we’re just doing what we do / love doing and feel lucky we are able to, so I think most of the award winners have that thread of humility in common”. Karen also explains how she has found new ways to explore the outdoors since her accident: “People ask me if I'd have done this stuff anyway, regardless of being paralysed. I grew up with a love of sweat and mud and fresh air, so its just how life has always been, but being paralysed drives deeper than ever my need to be in different positions (a hand bike, a kayak, a sit-ski), to feel the wind in my hair and remember the world's a bigger and more exciting place than concrete ramps and tarmac”.

01 May 2013
The Churchill Centre is pleased to announce the judging committee for the 2013 Winston Churchill Design Competition.... Read more
22 Apr 2013
Pentland Group Plc receives The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category for 2013.... Read more
18 Apr 2013
Speedo unveils two-time Olympic champion as its latest brand ambassador.... Read more
15 Apr 2013
Are you team home or away? ... Read more
15 Apr 2013
Research Results Help Women Look Great and Love Swimming... Read more
10 Apr 2013
French Olympic Gold medalist has become newest Speedo ambassador... Read more
04 Apr 2013
Amazing pictures reveal Tamzin’s toned post-baby body following six-week Swim Fit programme ... Read more
02 Apr 2013
Canterbury Unveils New US Rugby Jerseys... Read more
26 Mar 2013
Earlier this year Boxfresh invited aspiring designers to submit their take on the brands cult footwear style ‘Swich’.... Read more
12 Mar 2013
Olympian, Michael Jamieson will become Speedo Ambassador. ... Read more
07 Mar 2013
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) today announced Prince Harry as Patron of All Schools... Read more
27 Feb 2013
The Harlem Shake started is an internet video of people performing a skit to the song "Harlem Shake".... Read more
18 Feb 2013
Rugby fans attending RBS 6 Nations games at Twickenham have the chance to win £500 of Canterbury kit... Read more
18 Feb 2013
Boxfresh have teamed up with Teenage Cancer Trust to launch Swich it Up, a contest that allows participants to unleash their creativity... Read more
28 Jan 2013
British climber and adventurer Leo Houlding has led an international team to success... Read more
24 Jan 2013
The 3rd Kickers collaboration with menswear designer Christopher Shannon was unveiled on London Collections... Read more
21 Jan 2013
Talks will take place at Nottingham Trent University ... Read more
21 Jan 2013
Congratulations to Berghaus athlete Philippe Gatta who is the winner of the 2013 Spine Challenger!... Read more
07 Jan 2013
The ellesse Italia UK women’s lifestyle fitness range is endorsed by TV personality and gym bunny Melanie Sykes.... Read more
20 Dec 2012
Watch the video... Read more
09 Dec 2012
Deportivo Huachipato won the Chilean league title, beating rivals Union Espanola... Read more
01 Oct 2012
Pentland, in partnership with the Churchilll Centre have launched a competition in conjunction with Arts Thread. ... Read more
19 Sep 2012
New England Rugby home and change kits unveiled ... Read more
13 Sep 2012
Pentland Group plc is pleased to confirm that its acquisition of Canterbury, from JD Sports Fashion Plc... Read more
12 Sep 2012
Leading rugby brand, Canterbury, is to unveil the exciting new England rugby kit ... Read more
10 Sep 2012
An unforgettable summer of swimming came to an end following the completion of the Paralympic Games this week... Read more
26 Jul 2012
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) wins the C.K. Prahalad Global Sustainability Leadership Collaboration Award ... Read more
15 Jul 2012
New Vapour Storm jacket wins prestigious OutDoor Industry Award for Innovation... Read more
15 Jun 2012
Pentland Brands UK sites have cut their energy use by 41% between 2004 and 2011... Read more
06 Jun 2012
Speedo UK is proud to be partnering with Total Swimming on their Pools 4 Schools initiative... Read more
31 May 2012
Speedo welcomed Dr. Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to the brand’s global headquarters in Nottingham.... Read more
25 May 2012
Pentland Brands plc, has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces 2012... Read more
09 May 2012
British supermodel Agyness Deyn recently took a shine to some key ellesse heritage items... Read more
09 May 2012
Prostar and Hampshire proudly launched the new Hampshire Cricket kits for three forthcoming competitions... Read more
24 Apr 2012
Boxfresh is proud to announce that it has been awarded The Queen’s Award for its outstanding achievements in international trade.... Read more
04 Apr 2012
Employees at Pentland Brands’ Headquarters in North London ran a series of charity events in aid of Sport Relief 2012.... Read more
29 Mar 2012
Berghaus showed its support to UK celebrities Denise Van Outen and Lydia Bright as they embarked upon an epic 262-mile charity bike ride through India.... Read more
26 Mar 2012
Mitre has been chosen as the official kit supplier for nine of the twelve teams in the Indonesian Premier League (IPL).... Read more
10 Mar 2012
The British Gas Swimming Championships took place at the London Aquatics Centre where an average of 70% of swimmers wore Speedo swimwear.... Read more
10 Mar 2012
British explorers gather at Buckingham Palace... Read more
05 Jan 2012
Speedo supports #1 ranked charity ... Read more
01 Dec 2011
Speedo unleashes groundbreaking Racing SystemTM trilogy for 2012... Read more
04 Nov 2011
Berghaus’ biggest brand campaign for a number of years has been launched.... Read more
24 Oct 2011
KangaROOS is proud and delighted to announce the extension of the “KangaROOS – Payton partnership” for a further 4 years... Read more
20 Sep 2011
Iconic Brit brands Raleigh and Red or Dead wins the award for Best Licensed Brand Range ... Read more
26 Aug 2011
Ellesse presents the limited edition ellesse x Piaggio Liberty bike... Read more
01 Aug 2011
Final update from the 14th World Championships... Read more
07 Jul 2011
Berghaus sponsored athlete, Karen Darke, has just completed the ‘B.Braun Fit 2 Wheel’ tour – a special awareness and fundraising event taking place in northern England’s three main spinal hospital units.... Read more
31 May 2011
This month Lacoste ran a campaign with ASOS.com, our exclusive distributor in the UK for the Tribute collection.... Read more
17 May 2011
Boxfresh are delighted to announce a collaboration with smart, which launched exclusively to the press on 10th May on the South Bank in London.... Read more
13 May 2011
On Monday 9th May, Red or Dead gave Schuh's flagship store on Oxford Circus a costmetic makeover. ... Read more
10 May 2011
The new state-of-the-art Speedo house was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal last month. ... Read more
08 Apr 2011
Spring is around the corner in Korea and the ellesse SS11 Q Feet collection has launched into the market! ... Read more
04 Apr 2011
Speedo enjoyed a very successful week in the 2011 British Gas swimming championships in Manchester. ... Read more
14 Jan 2011
'Sea Squad' Makes Swimming Fun... Read more
14 Jan 2011
'Sea Squad' Makes Swimming Fun... Read more
25 Nov 2010
Leo Houlding completes his free climb of The Prophey... Read more
01 Oct 2010
Speedo I-APP... Read more
01 Oct 2010
Berghaus Supports Celebrity Charity Trek... Read more
10 Sep 2010
Boxfresh Launches In HMV With Help From Kano ... Read more
26 Aug 2010
Speedo off to Winning Tri Start... Read more
26 Aug 2010
Red or Dead at MODA... Read more
19 Aug 2010
Berghaus 'Winning The War On The Floor'... Read more
19 Aug 2010
UK and German eCommerce Sites Launched... Read more
30 Jul 2010
Pentland Continues To Support Children & The Arts... Read more
19 Jul 2010
Kickers at Legoland... Read more
25 May 2010
Congratulations to Lewis Gordon Pugh..he did it! ... Read more
07 May 2010
World Swim Against Malaria 2010... Read more
26 Apr 2010
James Ketchell Successfully Rows the Atlantic Solo ... Read more
03 Mar 2010
James Ketchell Update... Read more
25 Feb 2010
James Ketchell Atlantic Update... Read more
22 Feb 2010
Leah Crane puts her skills to the test across Europe ... Read more
04 Feb 2010
James Ketchell - Atlantic Update... Read more
18 Jan 2010
Colour Me In To Win Campaign wins Award... Read more
13 Jan 2010
James Ketchell - Will be Solo Rowing the Atlantic in his Boat Named Speedo... Read more
21 Dec 2009
Mitre team are champions in Argentina... Read more
01 Dec 2009
Karen Darke has had her Adventurous Spirit Nationally Recognised... Read more
25 Nov 2009
Speedo Launches its most Comprehensive Range of Performance Swimwear... Read more
05 Nov 2009
Ed Stafford Attemps to walk the Length of the Amazon... Read more
23 Oct 2009
MITRE BOOSTS INTOSPORT.COM’S NETBALL ACADEMY... Read more
21 Oct 2009
Mark Schwarzer Joins Mitre... Read more
13 Oct 2009
Living the brand!... Read more
24 Sep 2009
How Do You Rock Your ROOS?... Read more
15 Sep 2009
Leo Houlding And Team Successfully Summit Mount Asgard... Read more
14 Sep 2009
14-Time Olympic Gold Medalist and Speedo Share Common Goal to Grow the Sport of Swimming... Read more
14 Sep 2009
Britain’s original and iconic men's magazine "LOADED" have invited eight top designers to make ... Read more
14 Sep 2009
KangaROOS are going back to school and making things much more interesting... Read more
18 May 2009
Berghaus sponsored athlete Leo Houlding has announced an expedition to climb Mount Asgard... Read more
18 May 2009
Mitre has been storming ahead in Chile with its local partner securing the soccer kit sponsorship... Read more
18 May 2009
Ellesse continue its global expansion with the brand now launching in Benelux... Read more
18 May 2009
An exclusive series of animated short films in association with Modern Toss... Read more
18 May 2009
Ellesse, the iconic Italian sportswear brand is celebrating its 50th anniversary... Read more
31 Mar 2009
11th March 2009, Speedo announced that its partnership with British Swimming will... Read more
31 Mar 2009
Walk magazine, the leading official magazine of the Ramblers offers news... Read more
31 Mar 2009
Mitre with its Italian partner is supporting the Italian Charity Organisation, IPSIA... Read more
12 Feb 2009
LACOSTE, the French brand founded by the legendary tennis champion Rene Lacoste... Read more
12 Feb 2009
El Salvador and Mitre have announced a new partnership... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Brasher ensures that you can treat your feet to extreme levels of comfort... Read more
03 Feb 2009
What a year! 2008 marked the 80th anniversary of the iconic swimwear brand... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Mitre Venturi netball was unveiled recently at the start of the UK’s new domestic season... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Berghaus has joined Prince Harry in pledging its support for a project that unites... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Boxfresh, the UK’s leading streetwear brand, has announced a unique music collaboration... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Boxfresh turns 20 this year and to mark the 20th Anniversary an exclusive collection of 20 tees... Read more
03 Feb 2009
LACOSTE launches a very special footwear capsule collection for this Spring... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Brasher Lithium XCR, launching this month, is the lightest boot in its class... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Kickers launches Remix Music Video, the first partnership of its kind by a fashion brand... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Ellesse celebrates the brand’s 50th anniversary this year launching a global design competition... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Berghaus has signed an agreement that will see Berghaus products distributed in... Read more
03 Feb 2009
KangaROOS partners with the Walter Payton Foundation in a momentous deal... Read more
03 Feb 2009
Double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington was today announced as the latest athlete... Read more