Author

Hugh

MARCUS MEPSTEAD SELECTED FOR TOKYO 2020

written by Hugh

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has today confirmed Marcus Mepstead as the sole
fencer who will represent Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this summer.

Mepstead will take to the piste in the men’s foil Individual event, joins
Team GB in Tokyo for his second Olympic Games, having been
part of the team that achieved sixth place in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Prior to this, Mepstead
competed in the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015, where he helped Team GB claim the gold medal in the team foil event, stunning reigning champions Italy in the final.

London-born Mepstead is currently ranked number one for men’s foil in the United Kingdom and 14^th in the world. He cemented
his credentials as a world class fencer at the 2019 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary
,
where he won individual silver,
beating the world number one in the first round before overcoming top fighters from
the
Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, and Korea on the way to the final.

His performances throughout a qualification period interrupted by the pandemic culminated in a successful journey, including a further silver medal in Mexico City and an 11^th place result in Turin, to finish as the number one athlete in the European Qualification Zone.

Mepstead’s journey to Tokyo has seen him turn challenges into successes. After British fencing lost funding in 2017, Mepstead’s determination to win gold in Tokyo saw him launch a personal training business, move to New York to work with an Olympic medal winning coach and elevate his performance. Two years later his silver medal at the World Championships allowed British Fencing to secure National Lottery funding to build his support team and access world class training and competition, putting him in a great position to challenge for a medal in Tokyo.

Team GB Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Mark England, commented: “I would like to congratulate Marcus on this outstanding achievement, and we are delighted to once again welcome him onto the team.

“Marcus’ determination and consistency has been incredible to watch over recent years, and this has ensured that Team GB can be represented in fencing at another Olympic Games – something Marcus should be very proud of. Marcus brings with him great experience and fantastic talent and we know that watching him perform in Tokyo will be nothing but exciting.”

British Fencing Olympic Team Manager and Fencing Team Leader for Tokyo 2020, Johnny Davis, said: “Marcus has been on an incredible journey on the way to securing his qualification for Tokyo. Faced with challenging financial and logistical circumstances, Marcus met the challenge head on and created a world class environment and culture which has underpinned his qualification for Tokyo. Securing one of the two available individual automatic European qualification slots for the Olympics is arguably the most difficult route to Olympic qualification. For Marcus to have secured the number one European slot is an extraordinary achievement given the quality of the opposition he has faced in this Olympic cycle. His silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, coupled with strong results in Turin and Mexico City and consistent performances throughout the qualification period have provided the basis for his qualification and his current w
orld r
anking of number 14.

“Marcus has shown himself to be a determined, focused, resilient and astute athlete who is providing the next young cohort of British
f
encers with an ideal role model.
As British Fencing’s Olympic Team Manager, I have had the great pleasure of supporting Marcus over the last few years, and I look forward to him finishing this extraordinary journey with the success he deserves in Tokyo.”

A total of
71 athletes have now been officially selected to Team GB for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, taking place from 23 July to 8 August 2021. Fencing joins swimming, archery, marathon and race walk, shooting, triathlon, canoe, sport climbing and sailing as the sports booked onto the plane for Tokyo.

22nd May 2021 0 comment

TSF News

World Sports Photography Awards – Finalists

written by Hugh

It is time for the 2nd edition of the World Sports Photography Awards – 400 incredible images across more than 20 different sports including Football, Tennis, Golf, Athletics, F1, American Football and Boxing.

These images are from some of the world’s leading sports photographers and are stunningly powerful pieces of content.

This year, because of the pandemic, we’ve allowed photographers to enter images from 25 years of their archives, so there are some remarkable entries in every sport.

You can see the categories announced so far World Sports Photography Award Finalists.

Please se a selection of images below (credits at the bottom)

On June 1st we will announce the Champion pictures – in overall and sporting categories, but also with opportunities for thematic groupings like celebration, passion, speed and “untold stories”.

Image Title	Year	Photograph	Agency
Table Tennis	2000	Phil Hillyard	News Corp Australia
Great Britain	2017	Steven Pasto
Athletics Me	2006	Tim Clayton
Splash	2018	Stefan Wermuth
Judo throw	2019	Gabriela Mur
Cliff Diving	2012	Ryan PIerse	Getty Images
Bernie again	2017	Barbara GabrC8
Ethereal	2017	Roger Evans
Desperation	2020	Nathan Clark

21st May 2021 0 comment

TSF News

Patients hail Stockport’s ‘life saving’ COVID recovery programme

written by Hugh

Stockport patients recovering from COVID 19 have hailed a ‘life-saving’ programme run by Life Leisure and Stockport Council.

Life Leisure, which saw the return of its indoor fitness classes yesterday (Monday, May 17), has been aiding residents’ recovery with a special rehabilitation programme designed to build up their strength after a battle with the virus.

The programme is supported by the Stockport Moving Together campaign, funded by Stockport Council and Sport England. It includes weekly exercise sessions on zoom and a physical activity pack containing equipment such as resistance bands and pedal exerciser, as well as ongoing support from experts at Life Leisure.

Mary Smith, 66, lives in North Reddish and was shielding when she contracted COVID last October. She says the programme has gone above and beyond helping her tackle the long-lasting effects of the killer virus.

Mary, who runs a therapeutic art group on the stroke rehab ward at Stepping Hill Hospital as a volunteer, said: “The support from Life Leisure has been absolutely fantastic. It has boosted my mood and made me more physically capable – it’s been a life saver.”

Mary, a former deputy-headteacher and mother-of-one, was left disabled as a result of two brain stem strokes when she was 53. She was referred for the support through the PARiS (Physical Activity Referral in Stockport) scheme which encourage health recovery through activity.

She said: “Receiving the COVID pack was very exciting. The pedal exerciser is brilliant, I can do it when I’m watching tv at night, and it just keeps my muscles moving.

“The exercises we do are all part of helping us in every-day life, such as reaching around to put a seat belt on and ‘stepping around a cat’, which has been brilliant for my balance.”

Mary, who continues to suffer from the effects of COVID 19, added: “To receive the COVID pack was a fantastic affirmation that I can still do somethings, albeit slowly! It helped to raise the mental fog of depression and anxiety, which was beginning to overwhelm me.

For a video of Mary go to: http://blog.lifeleisure.net/community/how-stockport-moving-together-helped-marys-covid-recovery/

“The other amazing thing is that once a week I am connecting with people through the zoom activity classes, it’s been great fun!”

More than a hundred activity packs, created as part of the Stockport Moving Together campaign and funded by Stockport Council and Sport England, have been distributed across Stockport, with care home residents also benefiting from the kit in an effort to keep vulnerable residents as healthy as possible during the pandemic.

Michelle Childs, Head of Health and Development at Life Leisure, said: “Both in hospital and in the community we have seen that people who have Covid-19 have a wide variety of symptoms, some of which can be longer-lasting. These can often include generalised weakness, breathlessness, fatigue and issues affecting psychological wellbeing. Starting some exercise with the support of Stockport Moving Together can be a great way of helping some of these problems.

“As well as the recovery pack, recipients benefit from specialist advice and ongoing support with a Life Leisure PARiS Coach to create a programme of exercises suitable for their personal recovery.

“While much of the support has been provided online and over the telephone, we look forward to continuing this support and welcoming our patients into the gym once it is safe for them to do so!”

Jennifer Connolly, Director of Public Health at Stockport Council, said: “Mary is one of many Stockport residents that has benefitted from this programme that forms part of our wider recovery as we build back better from the impact of COVID 19. The scheme has been successful in aiding the physical and mental recovery of residents suffering with longer lasting symptoms of COVID 19.”

To benefit from Life Leisure’s movement for health programmes you must be referred by your GP or hospital or individuals can self-refer via the website. Enquiries for the physical activity packs can be emailed to gpreferral@lifeleisure.net.

Stockport Moving Together, which was launched in September 2020 and forms part of the broader One Stockport campaign, is a joint initiative between the Council, GPs and Primary Care in Stockport, Stockport CCG, Stepping Hill NHS Foundation Trust and Life Leisure.

For more information about Life Leisure go to www.lifeleisure.net.

For more information about One Stockport, visit https://www.onestockport.co.uk/

For more information on how to establish healthy habits, visit https://www.healthystockport.co.uk/

Image: Mary Smith, centre, is pictured with PARiS Specialist David Lornie and Michelle Childs, Head of Health and Development at Life Leisure.

19th May 2021 0 comment

TSF News

Do we have the coaches we need for a more active population? Lords committee to ask coaching trade bodies

written by Hugh

The House of Lords Sport and Recreation Committee will this week hold its first evidence session of the new session of Parliament with coaching experts and trade bodies, including a former professional rugby player and coach, as it explores whether we have the right pathways and resources to help coaches support a more active population.

The Committee will take evidence from 3:30pm on Wednesday 19 May. Giving evidence to the Committee will be:

Tara Dillon, CEO, Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity
Heather Douglas, Head of Policy & Impact, UK Coaching
Russell Earnshaw, Coach and Director, The Magic Academy

The remote evidence session will available to watch live or after the session on demand at www.parliamentlive.tv

Questions the session will cover include:

The current state of the sport and coaching workforce and volunteers in the UK.
How sports can improve the diversity of their coaches and other members of the workforce including in leadership positions.
Whether apprenticeships and other career pathways are delivering the number of skilled coaches needed for the sport and recreation industry.
How better links can be developed between volunteer coaches and professional coaches and careers.
Whether there should be a mandatory assessment or qualification system in place for all sport coaches.

17th May 2021 0 comment

Basketball

London Lions Win First Ever WBBL Play-off Final

written by Hugh

WBBL Play-Off FinalLondon Lions 93-71 Newcastle Eagles (21-16, 45-37, 69-55)

(Lions – Beckford-Norton 30, Leonard 20, Umeh 16; Eagles – Gorrell 30, McVicar 19, Lowe 10)

London Lions have won the WBBL Play-off Final for the first time in club history after over-powering Newcastle Eagles 93-71 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, live on Sky Sports.

Records tumbled with some amazing performances from the Lions’ stars as Shanice Beckford-Norton tied the highest points total in a Play-off Final with 30 points, picking up the MVP award, and Kennedy Leonard recorded a first ever triple-double in the showpiece game with 20 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

Lions won all four quarters in what was a competitive game, and despite trailing by double-figures in the first half Eagles came back to tie it at 51 in the third period on Alison Gorrell’s ‘and-one’ play – she also had 30 points to tie the Play-off final record.

But London’s response was immediate and decisive. They hit the next 13 points in an unstoppable surge, as Beckford-Norton made an amazing four-point play and then found Chantel Charles inside, with Stephanie Umeh adding four points as Eagles were held scoreless for four minutes and the lead reached 64-51.

There was no way back from there, as Beckford-Norton hit a big corner three in the fourth period that brought up her 25th point, after Leonard drove baseline for the assist that also broke the record for assists in a Play-off Final, before the lead went through twenty at 87-66 as Cassie Breen scored five in a row.

London add this silverware to their WBBL Trophy success earlier in the season, and Head Coach Mark Clark – who has had a storied career in various roles across British basketball – ranks this among the best:
“This is right up there with winning my first championship back in 1985. The great thing about this one is that it’s the beginning of something, because the organisation wants to do something big in British basketball. Shanice epitomises that, as she was a junior with us in Barking, along with Chantel, and so that completes a cycle.”

Image courtesy of WBBL

16th May 2021 0 comment

Judo

8 FIGHTERS TO REPRESENT BRITISH JUDO AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

written by Hugh

British Judo has announced the 8 fighters that have been selected for the upcoming World Championships which are due to be held in Budapest, Hungary from 6-13^th June.

Prior to selection, it was agreed that the team would consist of fighters in direct or continental quota Tokyo Olympic qualification positions, or fighters identified by the GB Senior Coaching Team to have the potential to qualify for Tokyo, due to several factors caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The World Championships will be the final Olympic qualification event and there is plenty at stake for all British Judo fighters in Budapest. In the -63kg category, two fighters are still vying for one qualification spot whilst others will be aiming to secure a top 8 seeding on the Olympic qualification list, to ensure they are in a seeded position come the draw for the Olympic Games.

Chelsie Giles has been in superb form in 2021, after winning gold at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam, where she defeated the current Olympic Champion, she claimed silver at the Tbilisi Grand Slam.

Budapest will be Ashley McKenzie’s 9^th appearance at the World Championships. Earlier this year he narrowly missed out on a medal at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam, finishing 5^th.

Olympic selection in the -63kg category will come down to the final qualification event, with a little over 500 points currently separating Lucy Renshall and Amy Livesey.

Both fighters have made the podium this year with Renshall winning gold at the Antalya Grand Slam, following 5^th and 7^th place finishes at the Tbilisi and Tel Aviv Grand Slams respectively, whilst Livesey won bronze in spectacular fashion at the Tashkent Grand Slam, throwing her opponent in just 13 seconds.

2020 Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist, Gemma Howell makes her 6^th World Championship appearance, whilst former World Championship bronze medallist Natalie Powell makes her 7^th appearance at the World Championships.

Max Stewart who will be making his 4^th World Championship appearance and Sarah Adlington, who competes at her 7^th World Championships, complete the team.

Performance Director, Nigel Donohue, said: “This is a unique and unusual position that we are in, in that we have a World Championships in an Olympic year which is 1 month before the Tokyo Games and is also the final Olympic Qualification event. Our priority is the Olympic Games, but we have a number of fighters requiring Olympic qualification points to seal qualification or move into the top 8 of the world rankings, which will ensure being in a key seeded position in Tokyo.

“Saying that, this is also an opportunity to be a World and Olympic medallist in the same year which will create a bit of history, however, it is imperative that we get high quality performances in this event to build on the strong foundations of our success this year, give confidence and utilise the preparation programme as a spring board into the Olympic Games. What an exciting time it is to be a world class Judo fighter, in what has been a challenging 12 months for everyone on and off the mat.”

British Judo Head Coach, Kate Howey, said: “I am delighted to be selecting such a strong team of fighters for the World Championships. It will be a different feeling heading to a World Championships knowing we have another major event to follow but one that I know our fighters are relishing.

“This past year has been a difficult period for all, but I am proud of how our fighters have responded and of their performances this year.”

2021 Senior World Championships, 6-13 June 2021, Budapest, Hungary:

Image & Words courtesy of British Judo

14th May 2021 0 comment

Athletics

LAURA MUIR TO RACE 1500M AT MÜLLER GRAND PRIX GATESHEAD

written by Hugh

Middle-distance star Laura Muir (coach: Andy Young, club: Dundee Hawkhill) will race on home soil for the first time in 15 months when she tackles the 1500 metres at the Müller Grand Prix Gateshead on Sunday 23rd May.

The event at Gateshead International Stadium in just under two weeks’ time is the first meeting in the 2021 Wanda Diamond League series and Muir will be hoping for another good performance on the road to the Tokyo Olympics.

The Scottish athlete is the reigning European champion at 1500m and holds the British record with 3:55.22. But surprisingly she has yet to score her first victory on the track at Gateshead.

Muir said: “I am training and racing in the United States right now, but the Müller Grand Prix Gateshead will be my first competition in the UK when I return home later this month. Diamond League events are always exciting and it is extra special for me when the event is on British soil.

“I have won road mile races at the CityGames in the North East of England a few times over the years. But the last time I actually raced at Gateshead International Stadium was in the National Junior League as a teenager! I didn’t win those races either so hopefully this month I can try to win my first-ever track race at the venue.”

Muir certainly looks in fine form. Last month in Eugene, Oregon, she enjoyed a runaway win in the 1500m in 4:01.54, whereas on Sunday (9^th May) she celebrated her 28^th birthday with a fine second place behind training partner Jemma Reekie in the 800m at the Continental Tour Gold in California, narrowly missing her PB with 1:58.46.

The first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 was due to take place in Rabat but has been moved to Gateshead due to the coronavirus pandemic. It means Gateshead will be staging its first international grand prix meeting since 2010 and it will offer welcome competitive opportunities to British athletes ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

So Muir will be joined in the 1500m at Gateshead by Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Rob Denmark; Poole AC), Eilish McColgan (Liz Nuttall; Dundee Hawkhill), Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow; Guildford & Godalming) and Holly Archer (Andrew Parmenter; Cambridge & Coleridge).

Courtney-Bryant holds Welsh records for 3000m and 5000m and two years ago won bronze in the European indoor 3000m final as Muir took a 1500m and 3000m double. McColgan is a two-time Olympic finalist and European 5000m silver medallist. Better known as an 800m runner, Tracey ran a 1:59.50 PB for two laps this weekend. Archer, meanwhile, won the British indoor 1500m title in 2020 and European indoor silver at the distance two months ago.

Added to this, in recent days the organisers have announced a red-hot women’s 100m featuring Dina Asher-Smith, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Sha’Carri Richardson, while the men’s pole vault sees a clash between Mondo Duplantis, Sam Kendricks and Piotr Lisek.

The Müller Grand Prix Gateshead will be broadcast live internationally from 7pm-9pm, but the meeting will start at 6pm with a series of para athletics events, as well as some of the Wanda Diamond League field competitions.

British Athletics looks forward to welcoming back fans in some capacity for this month’s event and is taking every step to remain as flexible as possible in order to manage ticket distribution accordingly. As a result tickets will hopefully go on sale later this week, allowing for the maximum number of fans allowed to attend in line with the latest government roadmap announcement.

To be in with a chance of getting tickets, fans are encouraged to sign up here for all the latest information: www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/muller-grand-prix-gateshead-2021

10th May 2021 0 comment

Athletics

CHANGE OF VENUE FOR MÜLLER ANNIVERSARY GAMES

written by Hugh

An agreement has been reached between LLDC and UK Athletics for the Müller Anniversary Games to be moved away from the London Stadium in 2021.

A spokesperson for LLDC commented: “This event is an important part of London Stadium’s summer schedule and will remain so in future years. However, because of the repercussions of the Covid pandemic on other events at the stadium, in particular the usual concert programme, it was important to reach an agreement with UK Athletics to remove the need to reconfigure the Stadium for one event. We are grateful that UK Athletics have agreed to a revised proposal that covers the costs of relocation and disruption to their plans.”

Joanna Coates, Chief Executive of UK Athletics added: “Our priority has been to stage the event at the London Stadium. Unfortunately, that has proven impossible. As a result, we have agreed to a settlement that allows us to mitigate losses and invest significant resource into the sport to help our athletes succeed. We will now be putting on a world class event at another UK stadium and will be announcing further details in the near future.”

9th May 2021 0 comment

TSF News

Team GB and adidas unveil Tokyo 2020 kit

written by Hugh

Today, adidas revealed the new kit that will be worn by Team GB athletes at the Games taking place in Tokyo this summer.

Following a year of uncertainty, unprecedented challenges and unique circumstances, Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes will rise together in a kit that represents unity in diversity. The kit design features a contemporary representation of the Union flag, incorporated with inspiration from the host city, featuring intricate Japanese iconography.

To launch the kit, adidas have created a striking photography series featuring athletes across a range of disciplines and experience including Laura Kenny, Max Whitlock, Laviai Nielsen, Ojie Edoburun, Tom Daley and Shauna Coxsey.

One of the key features of the new kit is the deconstructed Union flag. The village wear designs also feature lion graphics alongside the national flowers of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and incorporate transparent overlays to bring a rich depth of uniqueness and modern relevancy to celebrating national pride.

The collection includes competition wear for a breadth of sports such as track and field and gymnastics, as well as debut Olympic sports like skateboarding and sport climbing, alongside podium and village wear. To help athletes keep cool during what is set to be the hottest Games on record, the kit features HEAT.RDY technology, which is constructed using cooling material and textures that are optimised for use in hot environments.

Complementing the collection is the latest innovation in footwear, adidas 4DFWD. The silhouette has been crafted using years of athlete data, cutting-edge technologies in 3D printing, and Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis™ providing athletes with precision performance in every step.

Hero items from the collection include:

Podium Jacket: Featuring a deconstructed Union flag in vibrant colourways, to stand out in a moment of celebration.
Podium Shoe: adidas 4DFWD utilising bespoke 4D technology, to create a new dimension of support and comfort for athletes.
Competition Vest: Featuring the unique deconstructed design alongside innovative HEAT.RDY technology to help athletes keep cool whilst performing
Village Hoodie: A design blended with the British lion and iconic flower symbols of the four nations in bold colours giving a contemporary finish to a classic style.

Crafted with sustainability in mind, each piece in the collection integrates sustainable innovation for the first time in kit history. Leading adidas technologies including PRIMEGREEN: a series of high-performance recycled materials that use a minimum of 40% recycled content and PRIMEBLUE: a high-performance recycled yarn containing at least 50% Parley Ocean Plastic will feature throughout the apparel.

Andy Anson, British Olympic Association CEO said: “Despite the incredibly difficult times society has faced this year, everyone associated with Team GB has remained positive and focused, especially the athletes who have worked incredibly hard to keep their dream of going to the Tokyo Olympic Games alive.

“Today’s launch of the adidas Team GB kit is another important step on that journey, bringing the athletes closer to realising their ambition. It’s always such an exciting moment when we see the kit for the first time and with the innovation and creative design of adidas we have no doubt that the athletes will look and feel ready to perform in Tokyo.”

Melina Hartmann, Design Director, adidas said: “It is so exciting to be unveiling the new kit for the Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes. Through experimentation and dedication, each piece in the collection highlights how far we have pushed the boundaries in contemporary design, innovation, and sustainability. We hope all athletes feel like they can make their mark as individuals and as a team when wearing the kit at the Games this summer.”

Chris Walsh, VP Brand, adidas North Europe said: “At adidas, we pride ourselves on crafting product with creativity and innovation at its heart, and we have brought those values to life in the new Team GB and ParalympicsGB kits. Fusing performance with iconic style, the new kit will not only support our athletes as they rise to the challenge in Tokyo but will also provide a sense of unity for the many fans who will be watching back at home.”

To see the Team GB Tokyo 2020 adidas kit in more detail, please got to: https://shop.teamgb.com/pages/teamgb-adidas-tokyo-2020

6th May 2021 0 comment

Athletics

MONDO DUPLANTIS HEADS RED-HOT POLE VAULT LINE-UP AT MÜLLER GRAND PRIX GATESHEAD

written by Hugh

Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis takes on pole vault rivals Sam Kendricks and Piotr Lisek at the Müller Grand Prix Gateshead on Sunday 23rd May.

Just over a year ago Swedish star Duplantis set a world record of 6.18m at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow and in little over a fortnight he will return to the UK to face a strong field that includes double world champion Kendricks of the United States and world championships bronze medallist Lisek of Poland.

Will the world record fall again? Much depends on the weather in North East England on 23^rd May, but a great competition is guaranteed at the opening meeting of the 2021 Wanda Diamond League season.

The trio finished one-two-three at the World Athletics Championships in Doha two years ago and Duplantis, who finished runner-up to Kendricks on that occasion, said: “I’m hugely excited to be heading back to the UK to compete at the Müller Grand Prix Gateshead this month. I have great memories of vaulting in the UK. My first World Championships was in London four years ago and I set a world record of 6.18m in Glasgow just over a year ago.

“I’ve heard the women’s pole vault world record has been broken a few times in Gateshead over the years so if we get good conditions then hopefully we can clear some good heights. The support is always good at British meetings and it’s another important event on the road to Tokyo.”

Indeed, Daniela Bartova of the Czech Republic set a women’s world record of 4.14m at Gateshead in 1995 while Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia set world marks of 4.82m in 2003 and 4.87m in 2004 at the same venue.

Kendricks said: “The United Kingdom loves athletics. When you get to jump for people who love the sport, you can feel it! It has been the site of some of my greatest achievements – the Anniversary Games, World Cup and World Championships have all been good to me with gold medals and I am happy to return.

“Mondo’s greatest achievements have also come in the same areas, with his keynote world record being just north in Glasgow indoors. We love to compete together and always bring the best from one another.

“He is extremely hard to beat these days, and I love the challenge of world champion jumping against the world record-holder!”

Lisek added: “I’ve competed in the UK a number of times – in London, Birmingham and Glasgow – and it’s always good support there from a knowledgeable crowd. I’m looking forward to competing in Gateshead on 23rd May in this important Olympic year. A strong line-up is being assembled but I’m ready for the challenge.”

The event was due to take place in Rabat but has been moved to Gateshead due to the coronavirus pandemic. It means Gateshead International Stadium will be staging its first international grand prix meeting since 2010 and it will offer welcome competitive opportunities to British athletes ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This allows Harry Coppell (Scott Simpson; Wigan & District) and Charlie Myers (Chris Boundy; Birtley) to be part of this world-class pole vault line-up.

Coppell, who set a British record of 5.85m at the Müller British Athletics Championships in Manchester last September, said: “If you’d said this time last year that we’d have the world’s best vaulters all in Gateshead for a competition like this, no one would have believed it. It’s brilliant that everyone’s coming over and for myself and Charlie to have the opportunity to jump in a Diamond League on home soil is great.”

The Müller Grand Prix Gateshead will be broadcast live internationally from 7pm-9pm, but the meeting will start at 6pm with a series of para-athletics events, as well as some of the Wanda Diamond League field competitions.

British Athletics looks forward to welcoming back fans in some capacity for this month’s event and is taking every step to remain as flexible as possible in order to manage ticket distribution accordingly. As a result tickets will go on sale during the week commencing 10^th May, allowing for the maximum number of fans allowed to attend in line with the latest government roadmap announcement.

To be in with a chance of getting tickets, fans are encouraged to sign up here for all the latest information: www.britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/muller-grand-prix-gateshead-2021

5th May 2021 0 comment

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Hugh

British Judo has announced the 8 fighters that have been selected for the upcoming World Championships which are due to be held in Budapest, Hungary from 6-13th June.

British Judo has announced the 8 fighters that have been selected for the upcoming World Championships which are due to be held in Budapest, Hungary from 6-13^th June.