The Women's Tour | GLL announces sponsorship of Oxfordshire Women’s Tour stages

6 Jun 2019

Oxfordshire councils’ commitment to health and wellbeing has received a major boost after GLL, one of sport and leisure’s leading charitable social enterprises, announced a three-year sponsorship of the OVO Energy Women’s Tour stage in the county.

The race, coming through the county on Wednesday 12 June, is expected to inspire more people to exercise for leisure or in competitions.

GLL’s ambition is to make community services and spaces better for everyone. It is investing £10,000 in the Oxfordshire stage of the Tour over the next three years.

The social enterprise has sports centres across the county, including locations along this year’s race route, in Henley-on-Thames and Carterton.

The sponsorship deal will be formerly announced at GLL’s Carterton Leisure Centre on Thursday. The ceremony will be attended by GLL’s Area Community Sports Manager, Rod Noble; OVO Energy Women’s Tour Project Director (Oxfordshire), Gabby Heycock; and West Oxfordshire’s newly appointed Cabinet member for Leisure – and a Carterton councillor – Councillor Michele Mead.

Reaction to today’s news

GLL’s Rod Noble said:

“The health legacy vision of the Women’s Tour reflects our ambition to make community services and spaces better for everyone.

“Our group cycling, or spin classes, are extremely popular with people of all ages. We’ve chosen Carterton as the place to announce this sponsorship package, because this leisure centre is undergoing a major refurbishment. Part of our commitment to a healthy Oxfordshire.”

Gabby Heycock, OVO Energy Women’s Tour Project Director (Oxfordshire), added:

“We are delighted that GLL shares the Oxfordshire councils’ vision to promote, improve and protect the health of local people. GLL has a wealth of experience, not only in delivering excellent fitness facilities but also in the promotion of healthy living and physical activity within our communities.”

Councillor Michele Mead, Cabinet Member for Health and Leisure at West Oxfordshire District Council, said:

“It is fantastic to hear that the women’s race is passing Carterton and I am sure residents will come out in large numbers to see the riders in action.

“This event is truly inspirational for women and anyone who aspires to being involved in elite sporting events and shortly we will have a top-class facility at the Carterton Leisure Centre which could help them fulfil their dreams, so it is a win-win situation for the town.

“Our leisure services operator GLL has invested £8.3m in Carterton phase two and it is great to see them sponsoring the race over the next three years.”