Harriers ace goes Global in Czech Republic (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Harriers ace goes Global in Czech Republic

6:50pm Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

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Bingley Harriers’ Abigail Greetham will represent Great Britain at the 2009 Global Games in the Czech Republic from July 5 to 14.

Abbie, a European bronze medallist last year, will be competing in several track events, including the 200 metres.

She has just returned from the French National Champ-ionships with silver and bronze medals.

Creating the Global Games for athletes with an intellectual disability is a step towards this category of sportspeople being included in the Paralympic Games, hopefully in time for London 2012.

Clubmate Carly Robinson was another youngster to show immense promise for the future.

On Saturday, at the British Milers’ Club Grand Prix at Stretford, she recorded a personal best in the 1500m B-heat.

Her 4min 41.35sec placed her ninth among a host of PBs in the race. At just 16 years old, this was a great step up to performing with senior level and international athletes.

An equally impressive 16-year-old, Pudsey & Bramley’s Alexandra Bell, was fourth in the B-heat of the 800m in 2min 8.53sec, a personal best too.

Team-mate Ryan Greaves, a year older, won the D-heat of the 800m in 1min 56.04sec.

Fifteen of the Airedale Athletics middle-distance team, arriving this week in Belgium for a month of continental grands prix, have just taken part in the Canadian National Championships at the refurbished Varsity Stadium in Toronto.

Five of the group were in the top 12 in the men’s 800m, with Geoff Harris a close second to world silver-medallist Gary Reed.

There were fourth places for Leanna MacLean in the 800m and Matt Lincoln in a tactically-run 1500m, and fifth for Alicia Dobranowski in the 400 hurdles and Adam Currie in the 800m.

Recent Olympians Steve Cram and Alison Curbishley were guests of honour at the third annual sportKeighley Olympic Dinner on Saturday at Victoria Hall, Keighley.

A question-and-answer session offered clues to the coaching and help needed to reach the top, plus several humorous Olympic tales.