26 January 2008

The Norwich Union Great Britain & Northern Ireland team kicked off Olympic year in style by taking on some of the world’s leading stars in Glasgow and winning the Norwich Union International Match.

For many athletes the road to Beijing began in Scotland where GB&NI beat the USA, Sweden, Germany and a Commonwealth select team.

A host of personal and season’s bests peppered the proceedings at a packed Kelvin Hall which saw GB&NI win the team match by one point from the United States and Germany.

Britain won the event in the very last event, when Craig Pickering scored an impressive victory the greatly anticipated 60m. Pickering got off to a good start and never looked back as he pipped fellow Brit Simeon Williamson, competing for the Commonwealth team, with a fast season’s best of 6.57.

His victory meant the Norwich Union GB&NI team secured 54 points from the 17 events, pushing the Americans and Germans down to equal second with 53 points each.

Victories throughout the afternoon meant GB&NI were always in contention.