BENNETT AND CO READY FOR EUROPEAN THROWING CUP IN PORTUGAL

Chris Bennett (Michael Jones) will get his international season up and running at the European Throwing Cup in Leiria, Portugal as his preparations for the summer showpiece begin in earnest.

Bennett is part of a ten-strong GB & NI team set to #REPRESENT and will be looking to improve on his ninth-place finish in the hammer from 12 months ago, where he produced a best of 70.65m.

The 28-year-old would go on to make his World Championship debut in London last summer and this year is looking to return to the British team for the European Championships in Berlin.

Bennett will remember Leiria having also competed in the Cup in 2015, where he finished eighth, and is aiming to improve on his 69.52m effort at the trials that secured his trip to Portugal.

He’ll be joined in the hammer by Mark Dry (Self), who has a long history with the European Throwing Cup having made his first appearance at the 2011 edition in Sofia in Bulgaria.

Joe Harris will make his senior international debut in completing the trio of senior men selected, the Manx Harrier ready for the javelin after winning the trials in Loughborough last month.

There is also room for a senior international debut for Phoebe Dowson (Mark Chapman) in the discus following her own victory at the trials with a personal best of 52.37m.

Amelia Strickler (Steve Manz) is the second senior female called up – she’ll go in he shot – and she is no stranger to a British vest having competed at the European Team Championships last year.

Five developing athletes have been chosen to represent GB&NI in the under-23 events, chief among them Sarah Omoregie (Gareth Lease), who has enjoyed a fine start to 2018.

Omoregie has increased her personal best to 14.88m in the shot in less than three months this year and, only 17, placed fourth at the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships with that mark.

Amy Holder (Neville Thompson) is back in a British vest having competed at the European Under-23 Championships in Poland last year, her third overall in the discus at the trials earning her selection.

Bethan Rees (Mike Pinner) will represent in the javelin having also been third overall at the trials in Loughborough last month, she ended 2017 with a personal best of 49.56m.

Jac Palmer (Adrian Palmer) opened his season with a 64.90m effort in the hammer, enough to earn selection for Leiria, where like Rees, he has experience of competing before.

Daniel Bainbridge (Mike McNeill) completes the ten-strong British team and will compete in the javelin having improved his lifetime best to 64.28m at his season opener in Loughborough.

Watch the event on Vinco here.

The British team set to #REPRESENT at the European Winter Throws Cup in Portugal from 10-11 March 2018:

Senior Women:

Phoebe Dowson (Mark Chapman, Bournemouth) – Discus

Amelia Strickler (Steve Manz, Thames Valley Harriers) – Shot Put

Senior Men:

Chris Bennett (Michael Jones, Shaftesbury Barnet) – Hammer Throw

Mark Dry (self-coached, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) – Hammer Throw

Joe Harris (Manx Harriers) – Javelin

Under-23 Women:

Amy Holder (Neville Thompson, WSEH) – Discus

Bethan Rees (Mark Pinner, Cannock & Stafford) -Javelin

Sarah Omoregie (Gareth Lease, Cardiff) – Shot Put

Under-23 Men:

Daniel Bainbridge (Mike McNeill, Shaftesbury Barnet) – Javelin

Jac Palmer (Adrian Palmer, Cardiff) – Hammer