*Photo credit: Roger Keller

Stephen Miller (coach: Ros Miller, club: Gateshead) and Vanessa Wallace (Alison O’Riordan, Enfield and Haringey) have been voted as team captains of the British team for the European Para Athletics Championships which start on Tuesday 1 June in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

A vote was conducted among the team members selected for the Championships and both athletes came out on top.

Miller is one of the country’s most experienced Paralympians, having competed at every Games since Atlanta 1996. The three-time Paralympic medallist has won two silvers and one bronze medal at European level during his career.

Wallace, meanwhile, won her first continental title at the 2018 edition of the Championships in the F34 shot put. Since then, she has won world bronze and improved her personal best to 8.09 metres.

On receiving the captaincy, Miller said:

“I am very proud and honoured to be chosen as the male team captain for the European Championships. To be selected by your peers is a nice feeling and brings lots of responsibility. I hope to fulfil the role with the passion and purpose that I strive to bring to everything I do in life.

“The last time I was a team captain was in London 2012 and we had a fantastic Games, so I hope I can be a lucky omen again. There are a lot of new and young athletes in the team, I will try to help them to perform well and enjoy the experience.”

Wallace added her thoughts following the vote:

“Joy, gratitude and happy wiggles best sum up my reaction to finding out that I had been voted team captain. Knowing that I had been selected by my peers to captain our first major Championships, as we not only emerge from dealing with a pandemic and lockdowns, but also as we are in the final months leading into the Tokyo Paralympics, made the news all the more special.  It is an absolute honour to support such a resilient and phenomenal group of athletes.”

Paula Dunn, Para Athletics Head Coach, commented,

“Stephen and Vanessa are fantastic selections for team captains. They are both excellent role models and have been great support figures for their fellow squad members during their careers. I know both athletes were delighted when I called them to tell them the news, and it is always extra special when you have been chosen by your teammates.

“The Europeans are our first major Championships since the worlds in 2019, so I am excited to see how the team perform out in Bydgoszcz. We have a great mix in the squad, and I know Stephen and Vanessa will be great leaders as well as producing their best in the field.”

There have been a few updates to the British team heading to Poland following the withdrawals of Richard Chiassaro, Georgie Hermitage and Ellie Simpson. Richard Whitehead’s event, the T61 200m, did not meet World Para Athletics’ event viability criteria due to number of entries and therefore was cancelled in advance.

The British team for the European Para Athletics Championships, Bydgoszcz, Poland on 1-5 June:

Women:

Fabienne André (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy) – T34 100m and 800m

Olivia Breen (Aston Moore; City of Portsmouth) – T38 Long Jump and 100m

Lydia Church (Jim Edwards; Peterborough and Nene Valley) – F12 Shot Put

Libby Clegg (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) [Guide runner – Chris Clarke] – T11 200m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Kayleigh Haggo (John Owens; Ayr Seaforth) – RR3 100m

Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste; Charnwood) – T38 100m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Sophie Kamlish (Rob Ellchuk; Bristol & West) – T64 100m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie; Team East Lothian) – T35 100m and 200m

Polly Maton (Colin Baross; Team Devizes) – T47 Long Jump and 100m

Anna Nicholson (Richard Kaufman; Gateshead) – F35 Shot Put

Ali Smith (Benke Blomkvist; Guildford & Godalming) – T38 100m, 400m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Stef Reid (Aston Moore; Charnwood) – T64 Long Jump

Emily Stewart (Janice Kaufman; Gateshead) – F38 Discus

Hannah Taunton (Charlotte Fisher; Taunton) – T20 1500m

Vanessa Wallace (Alison O’Riordan; Enfield and Haringey) – F34 Shot Put

Mel Woods (Rodger Harkins; Red Star) – T54 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m

Men:

Ola Abidogun (Steve Thomas; Horwich) – T47 100m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Jonathan Adams (Margaret Nicholls; Ipswich) – F35 Shot Put

Columba Blango (Chris Zah; Shaftesbury Barnet) – T20 400m

John Bridge (Darrell Maynard; Cardiff) – T47 400m

Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Graham Ravenscroft; Newham & Essex Beagles) – T64 High Jump

Shaun Burrows (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) – T38 400m

Barney Corrall (Chris Sinclair; Charnwood) – T37 Long Jump

Aled Davies (Ryan Spencer-Jones; Cardiff) – F63 Shot Put

Kyron Duke (Ryan Spencer-Jones; DSW Para Academy) – F41 Shot Put

James Freeman (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy) – T33 100m

Dan Greaves (Zane Duquemin; Charnwood) – F64 Discus

Harri Jenkins (Nathan Stephens; DSW Para Academy) – T33 100m

Rhys Jones (Kevin Williams; DSW Para Academy) – T37 100m and 200m

Nathan Maguire (Ste Hoskins; Kirkby) – T54 100m, 400m, 800m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Stephen Miller (Ros Miller; Gateshead) – F32 Club Throw

Luke Nuttall (Alison Wyeth; Charnwood) – T46 1500m

Javaughn Parkes (Michelle Nicholas; Birchfield) – T36 100m

Ross Paterson (John Kinder; Red Star) – T38 100m and 400m

Dan Pembroke (David Turner; Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) – F13 Javelin

Zac Shaw (Leon Baptiste; Cleethorpes) – T12 100m and 4x100m Universal Relay

Daniel Sidbury (Christine Parsloe; Sutton & District) – T54 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m

Luke Sinnott (Roger Keller; Bournemouth) – T63 Long Jump

Zak Skinner (Aston Moore; Loughborough Students) – T13 Long Jump and 100m

Rafi Solaiman (Philip Fleetwood; Sheffield & Dearne) – RR3 100m

Alexander Thomson (Chris Baillie; Victoria Park City of Glasgow) – T38 100m and 400m

Harrison Walsh (Nathan Stephens; Swansea) – F64 Discus Throw

Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) – T38 100m and 4x100m Universal Relay