28 January 2008

A strong Norwich Union GB and NI senior team, led by Team Manager Kerry Eddie, will compete in Sheffield on the 2 & 3 February, against European rivals France, Spain and the Czech Republic.

The men’s team includes Ed Dunford (Birchfield Harriers), who was pre-selected for the senior international after ending last season by achieving the B qualifying standard for the Olympic decathlon at the UK Combined Events Challenge Final at Stoke. Dunford recently won the England Athletics Senior Combined Events Open Indoor Championships at the EIS Sheffield by just one point ahead of team-mate Kevin Sempers (Trafford AC).

The women’s team features the new England Athletics Indoor Combined Events Champion Kate Cowley (Havering Mayesbrook AC), silver medallist Catherine Holdsworth (Colchester Harriers), Grace Clements (Dartford Harriers) who established a new personal best at the championships, and Phyllis Agbo (Thames Valley Harriers), who won the women’s heptathlon at that same UK Challenge Final on the weekend last autumn where Dunford signalled his determination to reach Beijing.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Norwich Union Combined Events International

GBR  v FRA v ESP v CZE

EIS Sheffield

2-3 February 2008

MEN                                                   

Ed DUNFORD (Birchfield Harriers)                                  

Louis EVLING JONES (Belgrave Harriers)                            

Oliver McNEILLIS (Birchfield Harriers)                           

Kevin SEMPERS (Trafford AC)                            

WOMEN

Phyllis AGBO (Thames Valley Harriers)

Grace CLEMENTS (Dartford Harriers)

Kate COWLEY (Havering Mayesbrook)

Catherine HOLDSWORTH (Colchester Harriers)

Reserve: Gemma WEETMAN (Oswestry Olympians)