PARKER/VECTRIX
WINS SHAKE-A-LEG WALL STREET AND CORPORATE CHALLENGE
NEWPORT,
R.I. (July 15, 2003) – A team comprised
of Cleveland and Newport corporate executives
won Shake-A-Leg’s 12th annual Wall Street
and Corporate Challenge Cup (WSCCC), held July
11-12 in Newport, R.I. and presented by Hyatt
Regency Newport. Parker Hannifin Corporation of
Ohio and Vectrix, Inc. of Rhode Island joined
forces to form team PARKER/VECTRIX, allowing representatives
to trade their suits for sailing attire and take
to
 |
Vectrix
President Andy MacGowan, a veteran America’s
Cup sailor skippers "Courageous"
in the Shake-A-Leg Wals Sreet and Corporate
Challenge.
|
Narragansett
Bay for two day’s worth of competition aboard
the historic America’s Cup 12-Meter yachts
American Eagle, Columbia, Intrepid and Courageous.
Proceeds from the event—each of four teams
raised $30,000 for the opportunity to participate--support
Shake-A-Leg-Newport’s various programs for
people with spinal cord injuries and nervous system
dysfunctions.
"It
was exhilirating," said Parker’s Vice-President
of Corporate Communications Lorrie Crum, who described
missing a mark in one of three races held in Friday’s
thick fog and reveling in glory after four races
held Saturday in brisk 15-20 knot breezes and
sunshine. "At the same time, it was quite
the exercise in innovation and team building."
Crum
explained that Parker, a Fortune 500 Company,
recently partnered with Vectrix to continue development
of its electric and hydrogen-hybrid propulsion
systems and used the Shake-A-Leg experience to
further enhance the working relationship. A newcomer
to sailing, Crum crewed with her colleagues under
the watchful eye of skipper and Vectrix President
Andy MacGowan, a veteran America’s Cup sailor.
"At
the end of the first day’s three races,
all the boats were very close in the standings,"
said MacGowan, who steered to second place at
last year’s event. "On Saturday, when
the strong winds kicked in, we really pulled it
together and the conditions turned out to be perfect
for our team aboard Courageous."
Parker/Vectrix
posted a total of 273 points under the Barclay
Scoring System. Finishing second was MBIA (Armonk,
N.Y.) with 255 points. Two-time defending champion
Mellon/Dreyfus Bank (New York, N.Y./Boston, Mass.)
finished third with 244 points, while the Friends
of Shake-A-Leg team rounded out the standings
with 243 points.
The
corporate teams consisted of up to ten members
of the 14-person 12-Meter crew. A sailing notable
was assigned to each boat, with additional top
sailors from Shake-A-Leg’s adaptive sailing
program leaving their wheelchairs on the dock
to join the racing action.
Among
the disabled sailors was Shake-A-Leg-Newport’s
Chief Executive Officer Paul Callahan of Providence/Newport,
R.I., who represented the USA in sailing at the
2000 Paralympic Games. Race Director was Robie
Pierce (Newport), accomplished international able-bodied
and disabled sailor. Other sponsors were Crystal
Spring Water, The Market-Newport, Team One-Newport
and Quinnipiac University.About Shake-A-Leg Shake-A-Leg
is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, the mission
of which is to assist its participants to become
all they can be in education, work place and quality-of-life
pursuits. Shake-A-Leg utilizes Salve Regina
University and Fort Adams State Park facilities
for its adult and teen rehabilitation services,
as well as the Confidence is Cool Camp for youngsters.
Shake-A-Leg’s
internationally recognized adaptive sailing program
is located at Fort Adams and provides recreational,
instructional and competitive sailing opportunities
for those who wish to build confidence.
About
Shake-A-Leg
Shake-A-Leg
is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, the mission
of which is to assist its participants to become
all they can be in education, work place and quality-of-life
pursuits. Shake-A-Leg utilizes Salve Regina University
and Fort Adams State Park facilities for its adult
and teen rehabilitation services, as well as the
Confidence is Cool Camp for youngsters.
Shake-A-Leg’s
internationally recognized adaptive sailing program
is located at Fort Adams and provides recreational,
instructional and competitive sailing opportunities
for those who wish to build confidence.
"What’s
beautiful about our sailing programs as well as
the Wall Street and Corporate Challenge Cup,"
said Larry Gadsby, Shake-A-Leg Newport’s
Chief Operations Officer and producer of the WSCCC,
"is that people with disabilities become
equal to able-bodied people when they are out
on the water."
For
more information, contact Shake-A-Leg-Newport
at P.O. Box 1264, Newport, R.I., 401-849-8898
(phone), 401-848-9072 (fax), Larrygadsby@aol.com.
Results will be available at www.shakealeg.org
or www.wsccc.org
