The Genting Cup started back in April when 600 5-a-side teams competed in Regional heats at 34 Powerleague venues across the country. The final 16 got the chance to play in the finals at Villa Park to win the trophy and with it the ultimate trip to Genting’s Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

The 16 finalists arrived at Villa Park, to get the same treatment that Darren Bent and the Aston Villa team get on a match day, having access to the players car park, changing rooms and lounges as well as the tunnel and most importantly the pitch.

Each team made their way out of the tunnel ‘Wembley-style’ and onto the Villa Park turf, to the accompaniment of a pulse raising fanfare. The standard was high with some great goals scored, however only 8 teams (2 from each group) could progress into the knockout rounds. After 6 pulsating knockout games, Clean Slate and Italiano Power emerged as the two finalists, playing for the right to be crowned champions. In a tight and passionate affair, Clean Slate appeared to just have the cutting edge, winning the final 1-0 making them the Genting Cup Champions!

The tournament was promoted and managed by Banana Kick with all the qualifying heats taking place at Powerleague centres across the country.

The sponsor of the cup Genting Casino’s is the main club sponsor of Aston Villa. The Genting portfolio includes 42 casinos in the UK and a series of leisure resorts across the world, one of which is Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

The Genting Cup has been an enormous success for all concerned, not least the winners.

All we can say is, what a way to end the season.  As most of you will know Aston Villa are now safe and will grace Barclays Premier League grounds next season.  This brings with it a new season of optimism and excitement around Genting’s Villa club sponsorships during the 2012/2013 season.

With this in mind, we also ended the season with a bang on the Villa Moments facebook page.  Over two different evenings winners of the ‘An Evening With’ competition had dinner with Darren Bent and Shay Given, two stars of Aston Villa.

The evenings were held and Genting Star City on May 3rd (Shay Given) and May 15th (Darren Bent) in the great atmosphere of the Star City Galaxy Suite.   There was a relaxed three-course meal filled with debate about Aston Villa and football in general.  These events simply brought the fans closer to their team, and that’s what Villa Moments is all about.

Banana Kick launched Villa Moments to engage the Villa supporters with their club through their sponsor and that’s exactly what we are seeing as the number of fans of the facebook page continue to grow.

He’s a big Bradford City fan, a season ticket holder for several years. He was even a ball boy! Currently Manager of Junior Tykes U8s football team, Phil has an FA level 1 coaching badge and even entered into the betting for the England vacancy we’re told.

Married with two boys, aside from football Phil spends his time watching films, listening to music and the odd bit of cycling. He can also play the drums, but not all at the same time!

Instagram arrives, pinterest follows. Then guess what? instagram counters with pinstagram! What next, insterest and pintergram?

Everyone’s a photographer these days. More boring than that, everyone’s a photography expert. Like music buffs dropping in the vinyl word, Joe public now talks about shutter speeds, resolutions and filters. Except it’s not progression we’re looking at, not for the images themselves at least. It’s retro 80’s polaroid lookalikes, sepia effects, washouts and colour cheating. David Bailey would be turning in his dark room!

Welcome to the world of image sharing. Why take a picture for picture’s sake when you can boast your 10-second post-production skills across the social networks.

Words are not enough anymore. Twitter has been the catalyst for image sharing, but maybe that platform is the equivalent to a lineage ad, when ‘new kids on the block’ instagram is the full bleed display ad. Then design your own groovy mood board using the next tagging technology and “voila” you’ve told everyone how great you are without even breaking a sweat.

Perhaps true old-fashioned advertising is about to be rekindled. An art form never lost now to be more widely shared through the wonder of social media. Words and pictures – now there’s something. Nostalgia meets technology. I’ll raise my 1980’s glass to that. Tell all your friends!

Teams for the National finals day of the Genting Cup – the biggest prize in 5-a-side football, have now been announced.

After playing off in the regional heats 16 successful teams will competing at Villa Park on Thursday 17th May for the chance to win this prestigious prize.

All teams will receive a VIP Experience at Genting Club Star City on the Eve of the Finals Day and will be treated like premier league stars using the same facilities as the Aston Villa team. The tournament winners will receive the ultimate trip to Genting Resorts World, Sentosa in Singapore, together with the coveted trophy all courtesy of Genting Casinos.

Banana Kick has marketed the tournament, partnering with Power League to run the regional heats across the country, culminating in Thursday’s finals.

Aston Villa stars Darren Bent and Richard Dunne made the draw for the finals. Watch the draw here.

On the evening of Thursday 15th March, Elland Road played host to one of the most glamorous nights in the Leeds sporting calendar, The Leeds Sports Awards. Banana Kick was asked to step up to the plate to produce a night to remember, worthy of honouring the prestigious athletes from our city. The star studded event showcased athletes both past and present, as well as paying homage to the outstanding volunteers, coaches and administrators, all who make our city so unique in the world of sport.

Guests included the Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Reverend Alan Taylor, host Tanya Arnold, and Lifetime Achievement winner Brian Close CBE, as well as an array of the city’s finest talent for the upcoming Olympic year – the Brownlee brothers, Nicola Adams, Hannah Cockroft and James Willstrop to name but a few. We were honoured that so many of the nominees could join us this year – an exceptional 44 of the 47 nominated.

This year’s award ceremony was the biggest attendance yet, with almost 400 guests, Banana Kick is thrilled that the night was so well received and were overwhelmed by all the positive feedback. It was an honour in the Olympic year to be involved with the awards and we wish all our potential Olympic athletes good luck.

Elland Road’s Centenary Pavilion was a vision to behold in blue, Banana Kick had gone to town and not a detail was left untouched, a napkin unfolded or a trophy unpolished. From video footage, to light installations, an Olympic torch, to an impressive table of cups and trophies, the Centenary Pavilion did justice to the achievements of the athletes, volunteers and coaches being honoured on the evening. Banana Kick is confident that with our sporting expertise and edgy eye for design, the evening could not have been received any better.

We are enormously grateful to our sponsors for their support, without which the event would not have been possible. The event was held in association with Sport Leeds, Leeds City Council, Leeds Gold and Leeds Sports Federation and sponsors for the event included Leeds City College, Est Display, Marketing Leeds, West Yorkshire Sport, Leeds Trinity University College, Leeds and York NHS Partnership Foundation Trust and Resource Print.

For a comprehensive list of this year’s winners please see below, or click here to take a look at our video. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s awards, if you would like to be involved please contact us by sending an email to hello@bananakick.com.

Young Achievers

Young Sportswoman of the Year – Chloe Hurd
Highly Commended – Ashpal Bhogal

2012 Young Sportsman of the Year – Jack Laugher
Highly Commended – Gordon Benson
Highly Commended – Jamie Higgins

Young Disability Performer of the Year – Matthew Hickling
Highly Commended – Danielle Bailey
Highly Commended – Josh Gardner

Young Team/Club of the Year – North Leeds Cricket Club Under 17s
Highly Commended – Temple Moor School
Highly Commended – Rosie Barrington & Jessica Ranson

Breeze Active Junior Sportsperson of the Year – Jacob Fincham-Dukes
Highly Commended – Melissa Knapton

Senior Achievers

Sportswoman of the Year – Claire O’Hara
Highly Commended – Nicola Adams
Highly Commended – Ellie Bates

Sportsman of the Year – Alistair Brownlee
Highly Commended – Jonathan Brownlee
Highly Commended – Brendan Boyce

Leeds and York Partnership Trust Disability Performer of the Year – Hannah Cockroft
Highly Commended – Claire Cashmore

Club/Team of the Year – City of Leeds Men’s and Women’s Diving Team
Highly Commended – Leeds City Athletics Club – Senior Men’s Endurance Squad
Highly Commended – Leeds Aikido Club 5 Man Randori Team

Leeds Trinity Award for Student Sport – John Agar
Highly Commended – Dean Bettle
Highly Commended – Oliver Hylands

Leeds City College Sports Personality of the Year – Tom Dugdale

Professional Achievers

Professional Performance Coach of the Year – Malcolm Brown & Jack Maitland
Highly Commended – Adrian Hinchliffe & Edwin Jongejans
Highly Commended – Dr Andi Drake

Professional Participation Coach of the Year – Sandra Rider
Highly Commended – Jane Townsend
Highly Commended – Paul Moseley

Professional Club/Team of the Year – Leeds Rhinos

Professional Player of the Year – James Willstrop

Exceptional Achievers

Sports Volunteer of the Year

– Madeleine Hegarty
– Michael Rossiter
– Ishmeal Mills
– David Robinson

Outstanding Service to Sport

– David Geldart
– Leonard Beatty
– John Reynolds
– Doreen Thompson

Lifetime Achiever – Brian Close

VILLA MOMENTS is the Aston Villa Facebook Page brought to you by main club sponsor Genting Casinos. Produced and managed through Banana Kick the page promotes “money can’t buy experiences” for it’s fans. Our recent Shay Given promotion – to win an evening with the Villa and Republic of Ireland number one proved to be extremely popular.

6 lucky winners got the chance to spend an evening with Shay, dining as VIP guests at the Genting Club, Star City. Shay also answered fans questions live on Facebook from 8.30pm.

The evening resulted in some extremely happy Villa supporters, a significant increase in traffic on the Villa Moments Facebook page and some great profile raising for Genting!

The Harrogate Spring Flower Show is regarded by many as one of the best of its kind in the country. Let this celebrated show of horticultural excellence enchant and inspire you.

www.flowershow.org.uk

Eilat Triathlon. Attracts hundreds of amateur and professional triathletes - the European Triathlon Championships will take place in Eilat in April 2012.

Donna is a keen swimmer and in the past has won over 20 medals for her achievements. She is also a keen player on the Xbox Kinect and is so far unbeaten at Dance Central 2!

In her spare time Donna loves travelling, spending time with her friends, baking, reading, gardening and eating at Nandos. Her greatest achievement to date is being able to buy her own house and car.