GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD SET FOR THE 2023 EUROPEAN THROWING CUP

A total of 11 athletes will represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at next month’s European Throwing Cup in Leiria, Portugal (11-12 March 2023).

2022 European and Commonwealth medallist Lawrence Okoye (coach: Zane Duquemin, club: Shaftesbury Barnet) will begin his 2023 season at the event, competing in the men’s discus. The 2012 Olympian won silver in Birmingham last summer, and then went on to seal his maiden continental bronze medal at the Championships in Munich.

Tokyo Olympian Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York) will contest the men’s shot put in Leiria. The City of York athlete won Commonwealth Games bronze last summer, and defended his UK Athletics Indoor Championships title in Birmingham last weekend.

U23 medallist at the European Throwing Cup in 2022, Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading AC) will look to build on her encouraging campaign last year by stepping up to the senior women’s hammer at this year’s edition. She will compete alongside her compatriot, Katie Head (Paul Head, Newham and Essex Beagles).

WCP Head of Field and Combined Events at UKA, Scott Simpson, commented, “We are pleased to once again be providing this competition opportunity for our throwers.

“For those athletes who have established themselves on GB & NI teams at major Championships, this is a key competition in their athlete plan for the coming season. While for those athletes who are continuing their development in the sport, this event will provide significant experience on the international stage, as they navigate their journey to bridging the gap to world-class senior level.”

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the European Throwing Cup, Leiria, Portugal, 11-12 March 2023:

Senior Women

Hammer

Katie Head (Paul Head, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading AC)

Discus

Taia Tunstall (Harrow)

Senior Men

Shot Put

Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York)

Discus

Lawrence Okoye (Zane Duquemin, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Nick Percy (Zane Duquemin, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Hammer

Chris Bennett (Andy Frost, Shaftesbury Barnet)

U23 Women

Shot Put

Serena Vincent (Mike Winch, City of Portsmouth)

Discus

Zara Obamakinwa (Mark Chapman, Blackheath & Bromley

U23 Men

Shot Put

Lewis Byng (Mark Edwards, Stratford-upon-Avon)

Discus

Chukwuemaka Osammor (James Taylor, Sheffield & Dearne)