NEWSREADER Jamie Owen put on a sparkling performance to launch the Five Counties business awards 2004.

A crowd of around 100 Gwent business people gathered at the Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran, for the launch and were entertained with a few Owenite anecdotes.

He said: "I remember filming around here years ago. At the time I was restoring an old house and nipped off during a break to buy some paint.

"I got completely lost and shouted from the car to an old boy on a bench, 'is there a B&Q in Cwmbran?'

"With a wit typical of this area he replied 'No, there's a C and an M but no B&Q'."

A theme of brevity had earlier been established by Patrick Long, the managing director of Newport and Gwent Chamber of Commerce (ngb2b).

Mr Owen adopted this into his presentation, and recalled the talk of the principal of Yale University.

"He spent 15 minutes telling us the meaning of each letter in the name Yale.

"After an hour of torture, the host of the event stood up to thank the principal and invited the audience to share in his relief that the principal had not come from Massachusetts."

Mr Owen went on to say that it seemed only a few weeks since he presented the Five Counties 2003 awards.

He said the chamber had developed the Five Counties brand significantly since it was launched two years ago, and was looking forward to the biggest event yet.

"The objective is to raise the profile of the best businesses and celebrate Gwent as a thriving business community."

This year's winners will share a pot of cash prizes and services to the value of around £25,000.

In addition, the winners will be entered for a nationwide competition with a top prize of a further £25,000.

The awards categories are: new business of the year; business of the year (under 50 employees and over 50 employees); entrepreneur of the year; exporter of the year; best use of ICT; award for innovation and business woman of the year.

As our picture indicates, the awards are being supported by main sponsor The South Wales Argus.

Further support has been drawn from the five councils of Gwent and a number of private firms.

Patrick Long said that while Mr Owen had made a great success of last year's awards, there were elements of the exhibition (another component of Five Counties business week) which needed to be improved for this year.

To that end, a reorganisation has included the venue being moved from Newport Centre to Cwmbran Stadium.

All firms which have an NP postcode or are members of the Newport & Gwent chamber are eligible.

For more information contact ngb2b on 01633 222664 or email info@fivecounties.co.uk