The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted (or at least one shareholder is) to announce the winner of its latest Readers’ Competition – dedicated to the first test rugby showdown between the British & Irish Lions and the All Blacks of New Zealand played in Auckland on Saturday. And today we unveil a similar contest for the second test to be played this Saturday in the New Zealand capital, Wellington.
In our inaugural competition, we asked whether the cream of four nations (Ireland, England, Wales & Scotland) could overcome the might of the current Rugby World Champions (and record three-times winners), the All Blacks, in the first of three-match series? Would the mighty Lions roar or would they be overcome by 15 marauding flightless (but not fightless) Kiwis?
Lions pride or All Black magic?
A simple question in which we asked our industry pundits to test their predictive skills. These fantastic prizes were on offer to the winner:
- From Walsh Whisky Distillery in Ireland: A bottle each of The Irishman – Founder’s Reserve & Writers’ Tears – Copper Pot (plus two free tours of Walsh Whiskey’s Distillery at Royal Oak in Ireland’s Ancient East region). These are two great drams from a country that has provided many the Lions’ biggest stars (and, more recently, one of the biggest upsets of the mighty All Blacks).
- A case (12 bottles!) of Matua Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, courtesy of Treasury Wine Estates. As wine aficionados know, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is among the world’s finest, just like the nation’s rugby team, and the Matua offer is one of the best.
- From Max Benjamin of Ireland (owned by Orla Geoghegan, wife of Travel Retail Brands owner Barry Geoghegan), a magnificent luxury hamper of premium natural wax candles and luxury fragrance diffusers.
A beautiful silver fern (New Zealand’s and the All Blacks’ national symbol) piece of Waterford jewellery from Ireland courtesy of Oscar Graves, the design company behind the range. The perfect accessory for anyone with split Kiwi/Lions loyalties.
- From Walsh Whisky Distillery in Ireland: A bottle each of The Irishman – Founder’s Reserve & Writers’ Tears – Copper Pot (plus two free tours of Walsh Whiskey’s Distillery at Royal Oak in Ireland’s Ancient East region). These are two great drams from a country that has provided many the Lions’ biggest stars (and, more recently, one of the biggest upsets of the mighty All Blacks).
Well, as all contestants surely now know, the result was an ultimately comprehensive, yet far from easy triumph for the All Blacks. The 30-15 scoreline barely reflects just how close (and exciting) the match was, nor how well the Lions played. And our contest was equally tightly fought.To take the spoils, contestants had to pick the winning team and be the closest to the winning score on total points differential. Judging by the first test contest, there are plenty of learned rugby pundits in the travel retail community.
DFDS Onboard Commercial Director Neil Doorley would usually have been close to the money with a 9-point differential: 32-22 All Blacks
And normally an 8-point differential would be in with a good chance of victory. Not so this time, alas, for:
Alex Cook of Singaporean retail marketing & design house FILTR, who is in New Zealand following the tour (and now drowning his sorrows): 35-12 All Blacks
Mary Wyse, Business Intelligence Manager, Aer Rianta International: 35-12 All Blacks
On an excellent 7 points were:
Brian Collie, long-time BAA and World Duty Free boss, now FLIO Chairman: 27-19 All Blacks
Nicholas Dunne, International Franchise Manager, WHSmith: 34-12 All Blacks
Alexander McCann, International Business Development Manager, WHSmith Travel: 26-12 All Blacks
Maurice (Mossie) Burke, veteran ARI duty free executive: 29-9 All Blacks
Kevin Zajax, Emirates Leisure Retail Chief Operating Officer: 23-15 All Blacks
Even closer, on just 6 points, was:
Richard Barker, General Manager Retail & Commercial, Auckland Airport (who accompanied Irishman Jack MacGowan, CEO of Aer Rianta International, as well as Auckland Airport CEO Adrian Littlewood to the match): 27-12 All Blacks
On a superb 5-point differential we had:
Tim Jobber, JES Duty free brand supply: 31-19 All Blacks
Salvatore Grana, Retail Operations Account Manager, World Duty Free Heathrow Airport: 28-12 All Blacks
But on 4 points…
Super, super close was James Kfouri, Director of Sales Australia, SE Asia & Global Travel Retail for Wonderful Pistachio (any Aussie supporting the All Blacks must be nuts): 27-16 All Blacks
And then..
Close, very close, but no cigar James. You were foiled by a fellow Aussie, none other than Ivo Favotto, CEO & MD at The Mercurius Group and former Lagardère Services travel retail Pacific and The Nuance Group senior executive.
Wow, Ivo (an expert with numbers, who has just underlined that fact) came in with a 30-12 tip for the All Blacks, noting, “After so many mental scars at the hands of the All Blacks (will the Wallabies ever win back the Bledisloe Cup?) how could I tip against them?”
How indeed Ivo? In fact, we suggest you never do, especially when it comes to the forthcoming All Blacks v Wallabies series. Now, in recognition of your expertise, some amazing prizes are heading your way.
To all non-winners (even the many of you who picked a Lions victory), do not despair. Courtesy of our sponsors we have similarly great competitions on tests 2 and 3. For test 2, to be played at Wellington next Saturday, we’re offering the same outstanding prizes – with one amazing addition.
Test 2 competition details:
- Pick the winning team (or draw) and predict a score
- The winner must choose the correct result and the closest entrant on total points differential takes out the grand prize (i.e. if the match ended 30-18 to the All Blacks, and you picked them to win 25-16, you would have a differential of 7). Readers: Please note that with my 30-18 prediction I would have tied with Ivo for victory. Just in case you want to know, I am picking a second test victory to the All Blacks by 39-17.
- You must be directly connected to the travel retail industry to enter
- Send your prediction for the second test to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com headed ‘All Blacks v Lions showdown’ by 23.00 London time, 30 June.
- Judge’s decision is final.The same excellent prizes are available to our winner second time around, with one important addition. For the second test, courtesy of Australian travel retail specialist AWPL, we also have an official Lions Tour jersey (British & Irish Lions Vaposhield Matchday Pro Jersey, size L).
