ON hand to launch Tom MacGuinness of Horseware’s CX+ Sports apparel partnership with Athletics Ireland last week was none other than Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD.
The three-year agreement will see the Dundalk-based company supply Athletics Ireland with a full selection of team wear, including performance apparel for all international competitions.
CX+ Sport will also supply training kit and leisurewear for medal ceremonies, travelling and public appearances.
“We are delighted to use our knowledge of fabric technology to produce a world-class range for athletics,” said Tom MacGuinness, CEO and founder of Horseware Ireland and CX+ Sport.
Irish athletes Mick Clohisey (marathon), Sarah Lavins (hurdles), Shane Aston (decathlon) and Ciara Neville (60m), as well as Athletics Ireland President, Georgina Drumm, and CEO, John Foley were present at the launch.
Business development manager for CX+ Sport, David Minto, said: “It is an amazing honour for our relatively new brand to provide kit to the Irish athletics team. It was always the long-term plan for CX+ Sport to be represented internationally and this is a major milestone following our unprecedented growth in the last two years. We are incredibly excited about this partnership.
“On the back of this contract, we have hired an extra five members of staff, increasing our numbers to over 20 which is a considerable increase from our starting base of just four employees when CX+ Sport was launched in 2015.”
Irish athletes first wore the new CX+ Sport kit at the European U23 Track & Field Championships in Poland during the summer.
It was also on show at the European U20 Championships in Italy, where Ireland returned home with three medals, including their first gold since 2005, won in the 100m by Gina Akpe Moses.
Most recently, Irish athletes sported the new kit at the IAAF World Championships in London where athletes such as Rob Heffernan and Brian Gregan gave a great account of themselves.
Georgina Drumm, president of Athletics Ireland, expressed her delight at the sponsorship deal.
“Being from Dundalk, I am thrilled that a local business has come on board as a new sponsor for Athletics Ireland and I was delighted to see our junior and senior athletes perform in the new CX+ Sport kit at the International Track & Field Championships over the summer.”
Athletics Ireland CEO, John Foley said: “Athletics Ireland is delighted and proud to be working with CX+ Sport, one of Ireland’s new sports brands and this sponsorship deal represents an exciting time for both Athletics Ireland and CX+ Sport.”
CX+ Sport is the current kit supplier to SSE Airtricity League champions Dundalk FC, their Louth neighbours, Drogheda United and current Danske Bank Premiership league leaders, Coleraine FC.
The company also supplies kit, training equipment, and leisurewear to a host of junior and schoolboys GAA, rugby and cycling clubs around the country.