Thundercats Take on The BlueSky Challenge!

04/07/2008

Staff at TSG, Technology Services Group, in Edinburgh and Glasgow may spend their day providing business and accounting software solutions plus IT infrastructure and System Care support for business but they are certainly no ‘computer geeks’ and may even turn out to be potential Gladiators!

As team TSG Thundercats, entered to compete in the BlueSky Challenge a corporate adventure race to be held on Friday 12th September at Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries-shire, these computer wizards are out to fly the flag for the IT world.

Team leader, Neil Harding, aka ‘Lion-O’, who as part of his portfolio manages BlueSky Experiences account, was up for the challenge and is using this opportunity to learn more about his client’s business while at the same time benefiting from the team building and physical challenge the race offers.

TSG, founded in October 2003 by Graham Wylie, one of the co-founders of SAGE, knows the benefits of a fit and healthy workforce as well as the need to preserve the planet and recently set up the TSG Cycle to Work Scheme. Under the scheme Harding recently acquired a mountain bike and has already completed a couple of 20K trails which will stand him in good stead when it comes to the cycling sections of the race.

“As a reformed smoker, 2 years in August, I have been trying to loose the ‘few’ pounds put on by indulging in cigarette substitutes aka cake.” Said Harding. “I’ve never competed in an event like the BlueSky Challenge but I am intrigued by the secret challenges and will be in training so that I can put in a good effort for the team on the day.”

Making up team Thundercats are ‘Cheetara’ Gillian Booth, ‘Tygra’ Steven Osprey and ‘Panthro’ Damian McAuley. Gillian Booth, a marketing-co-ordinator, claims that she has been forced to take part in sport in order to see more of her sports mad husband Martin and sons, Alex and Harris. Currently into running, both to catch up with and to get away from, the boys she has taken part in the Edinburgh half marathon and has tried her hand at both mountain biking and kayaking. Though her arm may have been twisted into competing; she never expected her name to come up in the ballot, she is looking forward to the event and has no fear of the high wire crossing – though she is hoping that she will not have to take her bike across with her!

Steven Osprey, an account manager at TSG in Glasgow has been with the company for 2 years since graduating from Glasgow University. A recent convert to rock climbing Osprey sees the challenge as the perfect motivation to get fit. “ It’s too easy to sit back with a pizza and lager on a Friday night so taking part in the challenge is just the boost I need” said Steven. “16 employees were hoping for a place in the team and I was delighted when my name was drawn “ he added. “ I don’t like loosing so I will be out to follow my previous sporting successes like 3rd place in the P5 3 legged race!”

Damian McAuley is going to be a useful man to have in the team. A competitive cycle road race champion he hung up his bike to get married in 2003 and now gets his fix competing in marathons. With impressive times and a string of successes; which we will keep under wraps so as not to scare our competitors’ Damian says he takes part because he likes speed, camaraderie and pain. Not averse to climbing the odd Munro and sneaking the bike out to take part in duathlon and triathlon this is one cat that should be quite at home on the challenge course.

“ The BlueSky Challenge will test us with a cleaver mix of physical, intellectual and strategic challenges which will bring us all closer together as a team and teach us skills that can be put into good practice in the workplace long after the bruises and adrenalin of the day have worn off. Win or loose it’s all about taking part and it will be a great fun day out in support of The Princes’ Trust which TSG are happy to support.” Said Lion-O.

Whether these cool cats are going to be king of the jungle only time will tell!