Dallas Police Department Wins U.S. National SWAT Championships; Avon Protection Systems, Inc. Sponsors Inaugural Competition and

July 31, 2007

LITTLETON, Colo., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Rubber p.l.c.'s protection business, Avon Protection Systems, Inc., sponsored the first U.S. National SWAT Championships (USNSC) recently conducted at the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Center in Littleton, Colo. After two days and eight live- fire events, the Dallas Police Department (PD) was victorious, winning the overall competition.

The events, which included the Avon Barricaded Gunman, MGM Multi-Gun, Eagle Officer Rescue, Defense Control Four-Gun, Rick's Pistol Relay, Hostage Rescue, Sniper Duel and the Colorado Pistol Shootout, were designed to test the teams' weapons proficiency, fitness, organization and toughness.

"We were both impressed and honored to be a part of the first U.S. National SWAT Championships," said Bruce Schorer, director of sales and marketing, homeland security, Avon Protection Systems, Inc. "It was great to see our masks utilized in the demanding, stressful environment that some competitors said was second only to the real tactical operations. We design our products with the end user in mind, so we really enjoyed seeing our masks tested in these accurately simulated environments."

In addition to sponsoring the Dallas PD and serving as a founding sponsor of the competition, Avon Protection Systems donated gas masks to the overall winners and to the winners of its event - the Avon Barricaded Gunman. In recognition of the Dallas team's success, Avon Protection Systems is donating $1,000 to the Dallas PD's charity of choice. Additionally, competitors wore the Avon Protection System's FM53 mask for both the Avon Barricaded Gunman and Colorado Pistol Shootout events.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of the inaugural U.S. National SWAT Championships and congratulate the Dallas PD for winning the overall competition," said Jack O'Connor, director, U.S. National SWAT Championships. "Our goal for the competition was to conduct a world-class training event, host the most professional SWAT competition in the nation and treat the sponsors and teams better than any other competition. We feel that our inaugural event met our goals and we are very excited about next year."

The competition will be returning to the Highlands Ranch Training Center in Colorado in May of 2008 for the second U.S. National SWAT Championships. For more information, visit www.nationalswatchampionships.com.

About the U.S. National SWAT Championships

The U.S. National SWAT Championships is a property of Advanced SWAT Training & Competition, LLC (AST&C), a Colorado company that specializes in law enforcement training. AST&C - whose objective is to provide cutting-edge, relevant and practical training to law enforcement agencies for the goal of making each student more skilled, efficient and capable - also organizes and conducts national level competitions that are focused on policing skills and weapons marksmanship.

About Avon Rubber p.l.c.

Avon Rubber p.l.c. supplies a range of advanced CBRN respiratory protection solutions through Avon Protection Systems to the world's military and police forces, as well as first responders and emergency services. Avon is an acknowledged world leader in the field of CBRN respiratory protective equipment and has been supplying respirators to the UK Ministry of Defense and other NATO allies for over 80 years. Trusted by U.S. armed forces, Avon holds the Joint-Service General-Purpose mask contract with the Department of Defense. Avon Rubber p.l.c. also owns Avon-ISI, which designs, develops and manufactures a range of SCBA equipment for fire, rescue and law enforcement, as well as military applications, further enhancing the product offering to end users and enabling integration of RPE systems to suit varying operational requirements. Avon has manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom and the United States .

SOURCE Avon Protection Systems, Inc.

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