Going for Gold ahead of London 2012 (From The Northern Echo)

Going for Gold ahead of London 2012

11:53am Wednesday 4th January 2012 in Athletics News

The 2012 Olympics promise to be the biggest event in British sport for decades, and The Northern Echo will be there every step of the way to provide the most comprehensive coverage possible.

In the build-up to the Games, we will be following the North-East hopefuls as they attempt to win a place on the British team.

We will also be making regular visits to London to report on Olympic preparations, and detailing how our region is preparing to host the torch relay in June and the football tournament at St James’ Park.

Then, during the Games themselves, The Northern Echo will be the only North-East newspaper to have accredited journalists based in London to provide the best possible coverage of the Olympic competition. In Olympic year, The Northern Echo is going for gold.

ARCHERY

ALAN WILLS (PETERLEE)
Having taken up archery because he “liked shooting things”, 30-year-old Wills has established himself as one of the mainstays of Britain’s elite squad. He competed in the Beijing Olympics, finishing in 15th position, and won a gold medal at the 2010 World Field Archery Championships.
Chances of competing in London: 4/5

ATHLETICS

VICKI BARR (CHESTER-LE-STREET)
Barr was selected for the 2008 Olympics as part of Britain’s 4x400m relay squad but did not compete, and the relay would appear to be her best chance of a place at the London Games.

The 29-yearold will compete for a place in the individual 400m at June’s trials, but with the likes of Christine Ohuruogu, Nicola Sanders and Lee McConnell also involved, a spot looks unlikely.
Chances of competing in London: 2/5

JOHANNA JACKSON (REDCAR)
Jackson has topped the British rankings in the 20km walk for the last six years and is guaranteed a place at the London Games provided she remains fit.

A Commonwealth Games gold medallist in Delhi in 2010, the British number one finished 21st in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Chances of competing in London: 5/5

CHRIS TOMLINSON (MIDDLESBROUGH)
Having been a permanent fixture on the British longjumping scene for the best part of a decade, Tomlinson produced the best leap of his career last season.

He broke the British record during a Diamond League meeting in Paris, and while there will be strong competition for a place in the British squad, a repeat display could see him contesting a medal in London.
Chances of competing in London: 4/5

BASKETBALL

CHANTELLE HANDY (DURHAM)
Britain will field teams in both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments this summer, and Durham-born Handy is a key member of the senior women’s squad. She currently plays for Athinaikos, one of the leading club sides in Greece, having completed a college course at Marshall University in the United States.
Chances of competing in London: 4/5

BOXING

WARREN BAISTER (SUNDERLAND)
The Wearside heavyweight put himself to the front of the queue for Olympic selection when he won the British Championships in November. A member of Sunderland ABC, Baister, will hope to get the nod for the final Olympic qualifier in Istanbul this spring ahead of his heavyweight rival and fellow North-Easterner, Simon Vallily.
Chances of competing in London: 3/5

AMANDA COULSON (Hartlepool)
Coulson, a four-time ABAE champion and three-time European silver medallist, has been one of the trailblazers for women’s boxing in Britain. However, the Hartlepool Catholic ABC lightweight has fallen behind Chantelle Cameron and Natasha Jones in the race for an Olympic place, and faces a huge battle to win a spot in the GB squad.
Chances of competing in London: 2/5

SAVANNAH MARSHALL (HARTLEPOOL)
At the start of 2011, Headland ABC fighter Marshall was ranked number two in the world at welter weight, but with no Olympic class in that category, she has subsequently stepped up to middleweight.

She underlined her continued class at the higher weight with a gold at November’s London Invitational, an official Olympic warm-up event, and could well be one of the North-East’s leading medal candidates this summer.
Chances of competing in London: 5/5

SIMON VALLILY (MIDDLESBROUGH)
When Teesside heavyweight Vallily claimed a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2010, he looked a shoo-in for an Olympic place. However, he has subsequently struggled to retain his form, and having lost in the last 16 of the World Amateur Championships in October, the 26-year-old could struggle to claim Olympic selection ahead of Baister.
Chances of competing in London: 2/5

CYCLING

DAVID DANIELL (MIDDLESBROUGH)
Previously described as “the new Chris Hoy” by British Cycling coach, Shane Sutton, Teessider Daniell has previously represented Britain in the sprint events at World Championships and World Cups.

However, to gain selection for the Olympics he will have to out-perform Hoy and Jason Kenny, an exceptionally tough task. He could secure a place in the team sprint, but perhaps his time will come in Rio in 2016.
Chances of competing in London: 2/5

EQUESTRIAN

NICOLA WILSON (NORTHALLERTON)
A former world champion as part of Britain’s allconquering three-day eventing team, Wilson was a member of the squad that claimed a bronze in the European Championships last year. The North Yorkshire rider has achieved the Olympic qualifying standard with four different horses, and will hope to compete in the individual and team events in London.
Chances of competing in London: 4/5

FOOTBALL

JOE BENNETT (NORTHALLERTON)
The Middlesbrough full-back has established himself in the England Under-21 squad this season and is a live contender for Stuart Pearce’s Olympic side. His main rivals for the squad are Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs and Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand, but the former could yet be involved in Euro 2012.
Chances of competing in London: 2/5

ANDY CARROLL (GATESHEAD)
Carroll will hope to force his way into Fabio Capello’s England squad for Euro 2012, thus making ineligible for the Olympics. However, if the £35m Liverpool striker fails to make the cut for Ukraine, a place in the Team GB side would be a decent pick-meup after a so-far unflattering season.
Chances of competing in London: 3/5

JORDAN HENDERSON (SUNDERLAND)
Another player on the fringe of the England senior squad, Henderson looks a certainty for the Olympic squad if, as expected, he doesn’t feature in Euro 2012. The former Sunderland midfielder is a key member of Pearce’s Under-21 side and the Team GB boss is a known admirer of his qualities.
Chances of competing in London: 4/5

JASON STEELE (CHESTER-LE-STREET)
The Middlesbrough goalkeeper has made a number of England Under-21 appearances in the last two seasons, and has an outside shot of making Pearce’s Olympic 23. However, it remains to be seen whether the Team GB boss selects any of the reserve goalkeepers who will travel to Ukraine with England, but are unlikely to play.
Chances of competing in London: 2/5