ATHLETES REWARDED WITH WELSH CALL-UP

The North Wales Athletes who ran so well down in Swansea at the Welsh Cross Country Championships last month, have been rewarded for their efforts by being selected in the Welsh squad for the forthcoming International fixtures in Dublin and Perth.
Ricky Challinor of Deeside College and Phil Edge of Prestatyn will be delighted to pull on the Welsh vest when they compete in the Under 20 race out in Ireland. Gina Palletta of Yale College Wrexham and Becky Davies of Mold make up the Women's team. The Schools International takes place in the beautiful setting of Perthshire in Scotland.
It is encouraging to see three athletes from North Wales selected in the Middle Boys age group. Charlie Hulson and James Wright, as well as Louis Ford of Denbigh will take on a strong Scottish side on the picturesque course at Strathallan School. Abi Oliver of Connahs Quay will be carrying the torch in the Middle girl’s race, being the only North Wales athlete selected for this prestigious event.
I suppose the only disappointment from a North Wales perspective is that after some encouraging performances recently on the Country there were no Junior Boys or Junior Girls selected for the trip up to Scotland. We wish our athletes all the best while representing their country, and I'm sure they will all do the region proud!
Meanwhile, schoolchildren from across Wales will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Athens Olympians Kelly Sotherton and Mark Lewis Francis in the near future.
The cream of athletics talent from Welsh schools will be put to the test as they take to the track for the Norwich Union Sports hall Wales Final.
It is the breeding ground for tomorrow’s champions and many of today’s household names – including Lewis Francis and Sotherton - have been national champions of Sports hall athletics. Not only will the rising talents by vying for podium places, they will also be bidding for a spot at the UK final which will be staged in Birmingham’s NEC arena on Saturday 12th April.
Contested by teams representing the eight school districts across the nation, the victorious contingents in the Under 13 and Under 15 age groups will then travel to Birmingham for a showdown against Scotland, Ulster and England. Welsh Athletics Development Manager Chris Moss explains, “The Welsh Sports hall Athletics Final is a culmination of events that have taken place across Wales. Thousands of children have taken part in these regional events and Sunday’s National Final will see the best of Welsh talent compete for top honours.
“The Sports hall Athletics programme, which takes place through the winter months, is a chance for those who would usually hang up their spikes for the winter to get back into a competitive athletic environment before the athletics season begins. The whole initiative is a great way for young athletes to develop their skills and enjoy athletics in a fun, safe environment. Simply by looking at past results, you can see the calibre of the athletes that have taken part in Sports hall Athletics– some have gone on to represent Great Britain at World Championships and Olympic Games.
It would be fantastic to see some of North Wales's up and coming youngsters make it through the stages in this high profile event that has been graced in the past by athletes that have gone onto become World Class and represent GB at the highest level.