19 June 2008

The cream of British athletics will come together to form a strong Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team for the last ever SPAR European Cup this weekend. 

The two-day eight nation contest in Annecy, France, marks the last occasion of the event, which will be replaced by the European Team Championships from 2009. But, the 56-strong GB & NI contingent hope to go out with a bang as the majority of the team seek to build up their campaigns towards the Beijing Olympic Games.

The men’s and women’s teams includes eight athletes who have won medals at either the IAAF World Championships or IAAF World Indoor Championships in the last year, consisting of Christine Ohuruogu (World 400m gold, 4x400m bronze), Nicola Sanders (World 400m silver, 4x400m bronze), Kelly Sotherton (World heptathlon bronze, World indoor pentathlon silver), Marlon Devonish (World 4x100m bronze), Christian Malcolm (World 4x100m bronze), Phillips Idowu (World indoor triple jump gold), Chris Tomlinson (World indoor long jump silver) and Jeanette Kwayke (World Indoor 60m silver).

For Devonish, this event will mark a personal landmark, as he logs his 10^th European Cup appearance for GB & NI. At the other end of the scale, seven athletes will gain their first ever GB & NI senior vest, including Tom Lancashire, Michael Allen, Mike Floyd, Louise Butterworth, Nony Mordi, Rebecca Peake and Kadi-Ann Thomas.

There have been two further changes to the team.  Andy Turner (Sale Harriers), has withdrawn due to a minor hamstring niggle and will be replaced by Allan Scott (Shaftsbury Barnet Harriers) in the 110m hurdles.

Andrew Steele (Trafford AC) has an infection and will not compete in the men’s 4 x 400m relay, instead Dale Garland (Channel Islands AC), who will also compete in the 400m hurdles will step into the team. UK Athletics medical staff expect both Turner and Steele to be back to full health within the next week or two.

Jo Pavey (Exeter Harriers) has withdrawn due to feeling unwell. She will be replaced in the women’s 5000m by Kate Reed (Bristol & West).

NORWICH UNION GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM:

MEN

100m: Tyrone Edgar (Newham & Essex); 200m: Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva); 400m: Martyn Rooney (Croydon); 800m: Michael Rimmer (Liverpool, Pembroke & Sefton Harriers); 1500m: Tom Lancashire (Bolton Harriers); 3000m: Andy Baddeley (Harrow AC); 5000m: Mo Farah (Newham & Essex); 3000m steeplechase: Andrew Lemoncello (Fife AC); 110m H: Allan Scott (Shaftesbury Barnet); 400m H: Dale Garland (Channel Islands AC); High Jump: Samson Oni (Belgrave Harriers); Pole Vault: Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex); Long Jump: Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex); Triple Jump: Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers); Shot: Carl Myerscough (Blackpool Wyre & Fylde); Discus: Emeka Udechuku (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies); Hammer: Mike Floyd (Sale Harriers Manchester); Javelin: Michael Allen (Trafford AC); 4x100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Sutton & District), Devonish, Edgar, Rikki Fifton (Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets), Christian Malcolm (Cardiff AAC), Simeon Williamson (Highgate Harriers); 4x400m: Richard Buck (City of York), Garland, Rooney, Rob Tobin (Basingstoke & Mid Hants), Conrad Williams (Kent AC)

WOMEN

100m: Emma Ania (Shaftesbury Barnet); 200m: Christine Ohuruogu (Newham & Essex); 400m: Nicola Sanders (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow); 800m: Jenny Meadows (Wigan & District Harriers); 1500m: Susan Scott (City of Glasgow). 3000m: Helen Clitheroe (Preston Harriers); 5000m: Kate Reed (Bristol & West);3000m sc: Barbara Parker (City of Norwich); 100m H: Sarah Claxton (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies); 400m H: Tasha Danvers (Shaftesbury Barnet); High Jump: Susan Moncrieff (Trafford AC); Pole Vault: Louise Butterworth (Birchfield Harriers); Long Jump: Jade Johnson (Herne Hill); Triple Jump: Nony Mordi (Belgrave Harriers); Shot: Rebecca Peake (Sale Harriers Manchester); Discus: Philippa Roles (Swansea Harriers); Javelin: Goldie Sayers (Belgrave Harriers); Hammer: Zoe Derham (Birchfield Harriers): 4x100m: Ania, Montell Douglas (Blackheath & Bromley), Emily Freeman (Wakefield Harriers), Jeanette Kwayke (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) Anyika Onuora (Liverpool Harriers), Kadi-Ann Thomas (Marshall Milton Keynes AC);  4x400m: Vicki Barr (Rugby & Northampton), Meadows, Ohuruogu, Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury Barnet), Kelly Sotherton (Birchfield Harriers).

To keep up to date with all the action from Annecy, visit the European Athletics website