South African company Positive Sports Solutions has continued its expansion into bringing top-quality bicycle products to the country following a recent deal with Controltech Bikes. Based in the Pacific Northwest in the United States, Controltech has distributors around the globe and now, thanks to this latest development, its highly rated bicycle components will be available to SA consumers. This follows on the heels of a number of contracts Positive Sports Solutions has concluded with overseas companies to import the latest brands, including HEAD bicycles, Westfalia bike racks and Gipiemme wheels. A Positive Sports Solutions spokesman said Controltech was looking for a distributor in South Africa and had approached Positive Sports Solutions. "We believe there is a demand and market for high quality products," said the spokesman. "Controltech is one of the biggest and most reputable bicycle component companies in the cycling world, providing excellent support and back-up service." "Additionally, the company's Global Research & Development Team - who are involved in the process from idea to prototype to final production design - ensure that the components are state-of-the-art." The new deal is tipped to strengthen the impact Positive Sports Solutions has on the local cycling market. "The company is expanding and this fits in very well with the other high-end products it already has," added the spokesman. The brand is not limited to one genre of cycling, but offers a variety of road, mountain and BMX components. "The products range caters from beginner to high end users," said the spokesman. "They are made of carbon fibre and aluminium, with an emphasis on providing a strong, advanced product without compromising on its weight." One of Controltech's strategies is not to restrict itself to one material, even within a single component. Each part of every piece is carefully specified for its particular properties - the strength . . .

University of Johannesburg's Kristen Paton has been pinching herself as her hockey career continues to progress. Paton, who played in the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, has now been included in the South African team to play in the World Cup tournament that starts in London on July 21. "I have to keep reminding myself that everything that happened this year was actually real," said the 21-year-old chiropractic student. "Less than a year ago I wasn't even considered as part of the national team. To have a Commonwealth Games and soon a World Cup behind my name just eight months down the line is an incredible feeling." Despite receiving the vote of confidence from the national selectors, she said she never felt sure of being selected. "There are always nerves. Every time a team is announced, it's a massive relief when you do get the call." Paton said she had learned a great deal from the Commonwealth Games in Australia where she experienced a range of emotions, from nerve-racking to sheer excitement, when she competed against some of the world's top players. "I loved being able to measure myself against some of the best players in the world. "It's easy to be a critic from your couch but when you physically play against top players, you quickly realise how difficult international hockey is," she said this week. "It was a massive learning curve for me and I realised just how much more work I had to do to be able to compete. "You need to adapt and you need to do it quickly, otherwise teams will punish you. That was a great challenge for us." International hockey required of players to be effective on attack, she added. "You don't necessarily need most of the possession, but you must be able to convert your opportunities and apply scoreboard pressure. "You can only defend for so long before you concede goals, so you must be able to shift the momentum. Learning to deal with pressure, both mental and physical, is also a major . . .