26 February 2009 

Olympic javelin fourth-placer Goldie Sayers (Belgrave Harriers) has been named in the Aviva Great Britain & Northern Ireland Team for the European Cup – Winter Throwing event in Los Realejos, Tenerife on 14/15 March. The annual competition always attracts high-quality fields packed with Europe’s elite throwers.

Sayers is the defending champion in the women’s javelin, having won last year’s event in Split, Croatia with 63.65m, which gave her the platform for an excellent season culminating in Beijing where she just missed out on the medals with a UK record of 65.75m.

In Los Realejos, she is set to go up against some stiff opposition, including the silver and bronze medallists from Beijing, Maria Abukumova (Russia) and Chritina Obergfoll (Germany). “I do this event every year to see where I am in training,” said Sayers.

“March is not the greatest gauge as your timing is not quite where it should be yet, but I’m feeling in good shape. The winter has gone really well. I think I’ve improved my strength from last year. It can be a long slog through the winter without any competition, so this breaks it up nicely.”

Also included in the 10-strong Aviva GB & NI Team is Sayer’s Olympic team-mate, hammer thrower Zoe Derham (Birchfield Harriers) and former World Youth hammer bronze medallist Alex Smith (Sale Harriers Manchester).

AVIVA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM 

MEN

Shot: Kieren Kelly(Newham & Essex); Javelin: Mervyn Luckwell(Marshall Milton Keynes)

WOMEN

Hammer: Zoe Derham(Birchfield Harriers); Carys Parry (Rhondda AAC); Javelin: Goldie Sayers(Belgrave Harriers)

U23 MEN

Discus: Brett Morse (Cardiff AAC); Hammer: Alex Smith (Sale Harriers Manchester); Javelin: James Campbell (Cheltenham & County)

U23 WOMEN

Shot: Eden Francis (Birchfield Harriers); Discus: Francis; Hammer: Sarah Holt (Sale Harriers Manchester)