WRITTEN FOR TEAM 2012 VISA (ON MARCH 3RD)
After comfortably holding onto the UK number-one spot for the past five years, Kate Dennison is making changes following a below-par indoor season which saw the pole-vaulter pushed down the national pecking order, writes Nicola Bamford.
In a rare blip for her performances on the British scene, Dennison’s 2011 campaign was short and certainly not so sweet, following a best of only 4.26m – over half a metre short of her best mark.
Having competed on only three occasions, the 26-year-old not only lost her national indoor title for first time in five years but also the UK number-one tag to World junior bronze-medallist Holly Bleasdale – a promising young pretender to the long-term domestic crown.
Having returned from a long training spell in South Africa, the country of her birth, over the Christmas and New Year period, Dennison appears a shadow of her former self but fortunately, she can pinpoint as to the reasons why:
“I’ve been changing a few things technically this year, which takes time but it is starting to come together,” the former gymnast explains.
“Obviously, working with a new coach too takes time, but we are both learning how each other work.”
Having hooked up with Scott Simpson at her Loughborough University base last autumn and following a summer of several coaching switches, Dennison is content with her mentor at last.
Turbulent
The partner of Olympic 400m finalist Martyn Rooney, Dennison is eager to return to her 2009 form which saw her break the British record an incredible thirteen times.
The current national indoor and outdoor record-holder with a leap of 4.60m, suffered a turbulent outdoor season last summer, evidently caused in part by the unstable guidance in her training camp.
A psychology graduate from Staffordshire University, Dennison endured much heartache in a year which began in promising fashion.
Having taken her fifth consecutive national indoor title with 4.40m, she went on to record her British best before failing to qualify for the final of the World indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar and the problems rolled on from there.
In the summer, Dennison managed only seventh in the European Team Championships (with 4.20m) and despite winning her fourth straight UK outdoor crown (with 4.45m), disappointed in both major championships of the season – placing sixth and third, respectively in the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
2010 was ‘solid’ but she ‘wanted more’ after leaping 4.55m in the continental event in Barcelona and giving away the gold medal in Delhi with 4.25m after being tipped as the pre-competition favourite.
Determined
Although understandably frustrated with the past two seasons, Dennison remains confident and upbeat ahead of the important 2011 outdoor campaign.
Keen to hone the new skills she has been working hard on through the winter, the six-time national junior champion and nine-time senior champion is determined to approach the summer season as a new, improved athlete:
“Training is going well with the focus on the summer this year and with the World champs late August,” she reveals on her main goal of the year, the global event in Daegu, South Korea.
“I want top-five but will hopefully be jumping the same heights that can get me a medal.”
Eager to progress from sixth place from the 2009 Berlin edition, Dennison is even more determined to improve for when it matters most – in the Olympic Games in London next summer.
Failing to go beyond the qualifying round in Beijing in 2008, Dennison simply insists that a medal is the key priority and if patience is a virtue, then this certainly is her best asset in the pressure-filled build-up.
And hoping her current training re-vamp pays off sooner rather than later, Dennison may well manage to return to not only domestic supremacy but also a world-class level in time for her Olympic test.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Chasing Glory
WRITTEN FOR TEAM 2012 VISA (FEB 6TH)
She was tragically forced to relinquish her place in the Beijing Games four years ago through injury but now, Britain’s top steeplechaser Hatti Dean is on course to realise – and make an impact on - her Olympic dream in London next summer, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 29-year-old had the season of her career last year when, after two years out of her specialist event, she caused the biggest surprise of Team GB’s fortnight at the European championships in Barcelona by finishing fourth in a lifetime best of 9:30.19.
Such a remarkable performance for the Sheffield-based runner was all the more impressive, as Dean not only carved an astonishing eight seconds off her best time but also crossed the finish-line within a second of the British record.
Her 2010 campaign was topped off with seventh position for Europe in the IAAF/VTB World Cup in Split last September before placing seventh again and top British woman in the European cross-country championships in Portugal at the end of the year.
Eager to further progress from her breakthrough year, Dean has just returned from a month-long spell in Kenya on a UK Athletics endurance camp and is already feeling the benefits:
“Kenya was really good – we had a really nice group of athletes and a great atmosphere,” Dean explained.
“I think I adapted quicker to the altitude this time after going before in October.
I got some good mileage and sessions in, and got the work done in such a hard environment – it was great having the time to do all the little things as a full-time athlete.
We’d always run at sunrise which was beautiful and very warm even at that time, then have breakfast, go to the gym, have lunch and relax. In the afternoons, we’d do a harder session – it was mostly eat, sleep, train.”
Determined
Having finished a respectable fifth in a world-class field in the Bupa Great Edinburgh cross-country international at the turn of the year, Dean is targeting the English and British national crowns before an attempt at the global edition.
The English champion in 2009, Dean revealed:
“I’d like at least a medal in both but my aim’s to win them. If I make the World’s (in Spain in March) then I’d like top twenty-five.”
Guided by Bud Baldaro in frequent visits to his Birmingham base, Dean finished fifteenth in the 2007 event in the season in which she broke the national 3,000m steeplechase record three times in the build-up to the World championship final - which in turn, she agonisingly missed by less than a second.
This time around, the former England junior lacrosse player is determined to make the final cut:
“My aim for 2011 is to run sub-9:25 and to make the final of the World’s,” Dean explained.
“I also want to get my flat times down for the 1500m and 3,000m (currently 4:16.57 and 8:58.77).”
Pressure
Despite being on UK Sport funding, Dean works part-time as statistician for the civil service and is seeking additional sponsorship to the help she currently receives from sportswear company Puma.
A master’s graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, she is aware of the pressures to become a full-time athlete but also to remain sensible away from the sole focus of her sporting ambitions.
After all, there is no guarantee for any athlete with dreams of making the Olympics so Dean is keen to give the pressure off in case the disaster of China repeats itself:
“I want to make the final but I don’t want to get too carried away,” she revealed.
“I know I’ve got a lot more progressing to do as I’m still not full-time and I’ve only been to high-altitude twice.”
Praising the provision of sports psychologists and media training in the countdown to the big event, Dean continued:
“The atmosphere in Barcelona was amazing so to have a home crowd would be awesome and really inspiring and motivating - but also nerve-wracking.
I feel I’m getting fitter all the time and there are still improvements to be made – it’s quite exciting to see how much better I can get.”
She was tragically forced to relinquish her place in the Beijing Games four years ago through injury but now, Britain’s top steeplechaser Hatti Dean is on course to realise – and make an impact on - her Olympic dream in London next summer, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 29-year-old had the season of her career last year when, after two years out of her specialist event, she caused the biggest surprise of Team GB’s fortnight at the European championships in Barcelona by finishing fourth in a lifetime best of 9:30.19.
Such a remarkable performance for the Sheffield-based runner was all the more impressive, as Dean not only carved an astonishing eight seconds off her best time but also crossed the finish-line within a second of the British record.
Her 2010 campaign was topped off with seventh position for Europe in the IAAF/VTB World Cup in Split last September before placing seventh again and top British woman in the European cross-country championships in Portugal at the end of the year.
Eager to further progress from her breakthrough year, Dean has just returned from a month-long spell in Kenya on a UK Athletics endurance camp and is already feeling the benefits:
“Kenya was really good – we had a really nice group of athletes and a great atmosphere,” Dean explained.
“I think I adapted quicker to the altitude this time after going before in October.
I got some good mileage and sessions in, and got the work done in such a hard environment – it was great having the time to do all the little things as a full-time athlete.
We’d always run at sunrise which was beautiful and very warm even at that time, then have breakfast, go to the gym, have lunch and relax. In the afternoons, we’d do a harder session – it was mostly eat, sleep, train.”
Determined
Having finished a respectable fifth in a world-class field in the Bupa Great Edinburgh cross-country international at the turn of the year, Dean is targeting the English and British national crowns before an attempt at the global edition.
The English champion in 2009, Dean revealed:
“I’d like at least a medal in both but my aim’s to win them. If I make the World’s (in Spain in March) then I’d like top twenty-five.”
Guided by Bud Baldaro in frequent visits to his Birmingham base, Dean finished fifteenth in the 2007 event in the season in which she broke the national 3,000m steeplechase record three times in the build-up to the World championship final - which in turn, she agonisingly missed by less than a second.
This time around, the former England junior lacrosse player is determined to make the final cut:
“My aim for 2011 is to run sub-9:25 and to make the final of the World’s,” Dean explained.
“I also want to get my flat times down for the 1500m and 3,000m (currently 4:16.57 and 8:58.77).”
Pressure
Despite being on UK Sport funding, Dean works part-time as statistician for the civil service and is seeking additional sponsorship to the help she currently receives from sportswear company Puma.
A master’s graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, she is aware of the pressures to become a full-time athlete but also to remain sensible away from the sole focus of her sporting ambitions.
After all, there is no guarantee for any athlete with dreams of making the Olympics so Dean is keen to give the pressure off in case the disaster of China repeats itself:
“I want to make the final but I don’t want to get too carried away,” she revealed.
“I know I’ve got a lot more progressing to do as I’m still not full-time and I’ve only been to high-altitude twice.”
Praising the provision of sports psychologists and media training in the countdown to the big event, Dean continued:
“The atmosphere in Barcelona was amazing so to have a home crowd would be awesome and really inspiring and motivating - but also nerve-wracking.
I feel I’m getting fitter all the time and there are still improvements to be made – it’s quite exciting to see how much better I can get.”
Back to Square One
WRITTEN FOR TEAM 2012 VISA (ON FEB 24TH)
On top of the world after claiming Olympic bronze three summers ago, 400m hurdler Tasha Danvers is currently trying to salvage her career in time for London 2012, after surgery and two years virtually out of the sport, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 33-year-old shot to second on the British all-time list with a 53.84 clocking in the 2008 Beijing Games but the following two years were plagued with career-threatening injuries to her Achilles.
Competing in the occasional 800m race and achieving a best of only 55.19 in the 2009 season, Danvers also suffered from hamstring issues and the breakdown of her marriage to her former coach Darrell Smith as well.
Racing only once in 2010 when clocking 56.44 in France, the mother-of-one still managed to climb to third on the British rankings for the year but injury struck again, this time resulting in surgery.
“Training’s not too bad - I’m getting back from my Achilles surgery last winter,” Danvers explains.
“I’ve done a lot of rehab but I’m sprinting in moderation at the moment. I want to do whatever’s sensible.”
Cautious
Having left her former LA base to join Malcolm Arnold’s training group in Bath, Danvers now trains alongside European and Commonwealth 400m hurdles champion Dai
Greene and a plethora of international hurdlers in her quest to return to fitness.
A former 12.96 100m hurdler, Danvers will train in Italy this spring but is cautious as to when she may even think about beginning to race again:
“I just want to stay in shape and see how far I can go,” she reveals.
“It’s great with Malcolm and training with Dai is inspirational after all’s he has achieved recently.”
In her absence from the athletics scene over the past two-and-a-half years, the female domestic one-lap hurdling scene has thrived, with European bronze-medallist Perri Shakes-Drayton and Commonwealth silver-medallist Eilidh Child leading the way.
“It’s brilliant we’ve got a lot of young girls like Perri and Eilidh coming through and carrying the baton on very well,” Danvers explains.
Usually known for her outgoing nature and off-the-wall fashion statements on and off the track, Danvers appears a little despondent with the sport and considering her luck of late, it is somewhat understandable.
“I hope my son goes into football not athletics,” she reveals.
“I love it but it’s tough.”
Having survived a two-year injury nightmare, it is the thought of the Olympic Games in London next year which has kept Danvers motivated through the dark days.
And if she can find consistency in both her health and training, then this athlete of thirteen years’ international experience could well bounce back for one glorious last hurrah next summer.
“2012 will be an excellent opportunity if I can keep everything aligned well,” Danvers explains.
“I want to give it my best but take each day as it comes.”
On top of the world after claiming Olympic bronze three summers ago, 400m hurdler Tasha Danvers is currently trying to salvage her career in time for London 2012, after surgery and two years virtually out of the sport, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 33-year-old shot to second on the British all-time list with a 53.84 clocking in the 2008 Beijing Games but the following two years were plagued with career-threatening injuries to her Achilles.
Competing in the occasional 800m race and achieving a best of only 55.19 in the 2009 season, Danvers also suffered from hamstring issues and the breakdown of her marriage to her former coach Darrell Smith as well.
Racing only once in 2010 when clocking 56.44 in France, the mother-of-one still managed to climb to third on the British rankings for the year but injury struck again, this time resulting in surgery.
“Training’s not too bad - I’m getting back from my Achilles surgery last winter,” Danvers explains.
“I’ve done a lot of rehab but I’m sprinting in moderation at the moment. I want to do whatever’s sensible.”
Cautious
Having left her former LA base to join Malcolm Arnold’s training group in Bath, Danvers now trains alongside European and Commonwealth 400m hurdles champion Dai
Greene and a plethora of international hurdlers in her quest to return to fitness.
A former 12.96 100m hurdler, Danvers will train in Italy this spring but is cautious as to when she may even think about beginning to race again:
“I just want to stay in shape and see how far I can go,” she reveals.
“It’s great with Malcolm and training with Dai is inspirational after all’s he has achieved recently.”
In her absence from the athletics scene over the past two-and-a-half years, the female domestic one-lap hurdling scene has thrived, with European bronze-medallist Perri Shakes-Drayton and Commonwealth silver-medallist Eilidh Child leading the way.
“It’s brilliant we’ve got a lot of young girls like Perri and Eilidh coming through and carrying the baton on very well,” Danvers explains.
Usually known for her outgoing nature and off-the-wall fashion statements on and off the track, Danvers appears a little despondent with the sport and considering her luck of late, it is somewhat understandable.
“I hope my son goes into football not athletics,” she reveals.
“I love it but it’s tough.”
Having survived a two-year injury nightmare, it is the thought of the Olympic Games in London next year which has kept Danvers motivated through the dark days.
And if she can find consistency in both her health and training, then this athlete of thirteen years’ international experience could well bounce back for one glorious last hurrah next summer.
“2012 will be an excellent opportunity if I can keep everything aligned well,” Danvers explains.
“I want to give it my best but take each day as it comes.”
Learning His Trade
WRITTEN FOR TEAM 2012 VISA (ON FEB 17TH)
Last year, although still a student of the event, he captured three national titles and Commonwealth bronze in only his third full season and this summer, 110m hurdler Lawrence Clarke hopes to graduate on to the global senior scene, writes Nicola Bamford.
The prodigious European junior champion is aiming for an early twenty-first birthday present next month when he makes his Great Britain senior debut at the European indoor championships in Paris, following an injury-ravaged yet eye-catching past few months.
Guided by Malcolm Arnold at his Bath base, Clarke took British university, England senior and English under23 gold in 2010 but his campaign was capped off with Commonwealth bronze in Delhi last October.
A seven-time national medallist already, Clarke consolidated his UK outdoor bronze medal by completing the Team England medal-sweep in India behind European champion Andy Turner and he training partner Will Sharman, despite a freak injury shortly beforehand.
Tearing his hip flexor just minutes before the final, Clarke decided to bypass a warm-up to remarkably enjoy his first senior international piece of silverware in an impressive season which saw him move to twenty-second on the British all-time lists,
courtesy of a 13.69 lifetime best in France in July.
“I learnt a lot in 2010 and set really high targets for myself,” explains Clarke.
“I was happy with my races but also got injured at the end of July so that ruined my year and preparation for Delhi.
It was really disappointing but I did the best I could and I couldn’t have been happier – to run 13.7 with a bad injury set me up for the winter.”
Experience
In his final year studying theology and religious studies at Bristol University, Clarke is currently enjoying a rich vein of form despite having never planned to contest the indoor season.
After beginning his winter training late due to his big test in India, Clarke had intended to race from May onwards but a call-up to the Commonwealth Select team at the Aviva International in Glasgow last month brought a surprise 7.71 60m hurdles best.
Recently third Aviva European indoor trials and UK championships after again straining his hip flexor, Clarke will next take on Turner, the UK number-one at the Birmingham Grand Prix this weekend before heading to France in a bid to further establish himself on the international senior stage.
“Making the final would mean the world to me,” reveals Clarke.
“Andy’s not going so it will be the youngsters on the team which will be interesting. Essentially, I want to come out of the indoors with more experience for a good summer.”
Invaluable
Having spent a month-long warm-weather training stint in South Africa in January, Clarke will remain strictly at home prior to the outdoor season while he takes his final-year exams before an important summer on the track.
With an aim to win gold at the European under23 championships in Ostrava in July, Clarke also harbours aspirations on making the squad for the world championships in Daegu, South Korea the following month:
“I want to continue my victories in the European age-group championships and I don’t want to think of times, as if I medal there then I may have the qualifying time for the World senior’s,” Clarke explains.
Training alongside Sharman, the former World championship 110m hurdles fourth-placer, Clarke reveals how the talented group of sprint hurdlers in Malcolm’s stable is benefiting both his ability and education in his specialist event:
“The group’s incredibly strong - it’s like going to the national championship final every day.
It’s a little stressful and I feel the pressure but it shows you where you are.
Malcolm’s extremely happy and it’s great for us to have Dai (Greene, the European and Commonwealth 400m hurdle champion) so we can see how a world-class athlete works, it’s invaluable.
Dai’s a very good mentor and I can relate to Will – I’m constantly being pushed and the competition is really beneficial.”
Stepping Stone
Heir to a baronetcy which will one day see him become a Sir, Clarke is literally leaping the class barrier to make a name for himself in his own right - as a winner of titles rather than as an inheritor of one.
And with the 2012 Olympic Games fast-approaching, he is eager to embrace the opportunity for further growth:
“2012’s obviously always in the back of mind as everything’s measured towards that goal,” reveals Clarke.
“Having the Olympics in your home country will have only happened here three times in the last century and I’m in a position to compete for a place there so I won’t throw away the chance of a lifetime.
For me, it’s still a stepping-stone for 2016, really – I’m wary of peaking too soon and I’d like great longevity.
I don’t want to have the unfortunate luck of being too successful too young – I will use 2012 as the perfect experience to prime myself for the future.”
And if he continues to serve his hurdling apprenticeship at this current rate of progression, then Clarke will certainly make his ancestors proud.
Last year, although still a student of the event, he captured three national titles and Commonwealth bronze in only his third full season and this summer, 110m hurdler Lawrence Clarke hopes to graduate on to the global senior scene, writes Nicola Bamford.
The prodigious European junior champion is aiming for an early twenty-first birthday present next month when he makes his Great Britain senior debut at the European indoor championships in Paris, following an injury-ravaged yet eye-catching past few months.
Guided by Malcolm Arnold at his Bath base, Clarke took British university, England senior and English under23 gold in 2010 but his campaign was capped off with Commonwealth bronze in Delhi last October.
A seven-time national medallist already, Clarke consolidated his UK outdoor bronze medal by completing the Team England medal-sweep in India behind European champion Andy Turner and he training partner Will Sharman, despite a freak injury shortly beforehand.
Tearing his hip flexor just minutes before the final, Clarke decided to bypass a warm-up to remarkably enjoy his first senior international piece of silverware in an impressive season which saw him move to twenty-second on the British all-time lists,
courtesy of a 13.69 lifetime best in France in July.
“I learnt a lot in 2010 and set really high targets for myself,” explains Clarke.
“I was happy with my races but also got injured at the end of July so that ruined my year and preparation for Delhi.
It was really disappointing but I did the best I could and I couldn’t have been happier – to run 13.7 with a bad injury set me up for the winter.”
Experience
In his final year studying theology and religious studies at Bristol University, Clarke is currently enjoying a rich vein of form despite having never planned to contest the indoor season.
After beginning his winter training late due to his big test in India, Clarke had intended to race from May onwards but a call-up to the Commonwealth Select team at the Aviva International in Glasgow last month brought a surprise 7.71 60m hurdles best.
Recently third Aviva European indoor trials and UK championships after again straining his hip flexor, Clarke will next take on Turner, the UK number-one at the Birmingham Grand Prix this weekend before heading to France in a bid to further establish himself on the international senior stage.
“Making the final would mean the world to me,” reveals Clarke.
“Andy’s not going so it will be the youngsters on the team which will be interesting. Essentially, I want to come out of the indoors with more experience for a good summer.”
Invaluable
Having spent a month-long warm-weather training stint in South Africa in January, Clarke will remain strictly at home prior to the outdoor season while he takes his final-year exams before an important summer on the track.
With an aim to win gold at the European under23 championships in Ostrava in July, Clarke also harbours aspirations on making the squad for the world championships in Daegu, South Korea the following month:
“I want to continue my victories in the European age-group championships and I don’t want to think of times, as if I medal there then I may have the qualifying time for the World senior’s,” Clarke explains.
Training alongside Sharman, the former World championship 110m hurdles fourth-placer, Clarke reveals how the talented group of sprint hurdlers in Malcolm’s stable is benefiting both his ability and education in his specialist event:
“The group’s incredibly strong - it’s like going to the national championship final every day.
It’s a little stressful and I feel the pressure but it shows you where you are.
Malcolm’s extremely happy and it’s great for us to have Dai (Greene, the European and Commonwealth 400m hurdle champion) so we can see how a world-class athlete works, it’s invaluable.
Dai’s a very good mentor and I can relate to Will – I’m constantly being pushed and the competition is really beneficial.”
Stepping Stone
Heir to a baronetcy which will one day see him become a Sir, Clarke is literally leaping the class barrier to make a name for himself in his own right - as a winner of titles rather than as an inheritor of one.
And with the 2012 Olympic Games fast-approaching, he is eager to embrace the opportunity for further growth:
“2012’s obviously always in the back of mind as everything’s measured towards that goal,” reveals Clarke.
“Having the Olympics in your home country will have only happened here three times in the last century and I’m in a position to compete for a place there so I won’t throw away the chance of a lifetime.
For me, it’s still a stepping-stone for 2016, really – I’m wary of peaking too soon and I’d like great longevity.
I don’t want to have the unfortunate luck of being too successful too young – I will use 2012 as the perfect experience to prime myself for the future.”
And if he continues to serve his hurdling apprenticeship at this current rate of progression, then Clarke will certainly make his ancestors proud.
Bleasdale Leaping into the Record Books
WRITTEN FOR TEAM 2012 VISA (March 21st)
She debuted on the senior stage and leapt to the national number one spot all in one winter. Now pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale has her sights on the world age-best record later this summer.
Despite only recently completing her third season, the 19-year-old Blackburn Harrier enjoyed an indoor campaign of jumping from strength to strength, shattering her best marks and shooting up the national record lists with a best height of 4.50 metres.
In addition to this remarkable breakthrough on the senior stage, Bleasdale captured the UK crown and was selected to join Team GB at the European indoor Championships in Paris earlier this month, where she finished a credible 11th in qualifying with a 4.45m mark.
A season to remember for the national junior record-holder, whose glorious start to the year included a 44cm improvement on her previous lifetime best.
She debuted on the senior stage and leapt to the national number one spot all in one winter. Now pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale has her sights on the world age-best record later this summer.
Despite only recently completing her third season, the 19-year-old Blackburn Harrier enjoyed an indoor campaign of jumping from strength to strength, shattering her best marks and shooting up the national record lists with a best height of 4.50 metres.
In addition to this remarkable breakthrough on the senior stage, Bleasdale captured the UK crown and was selected to join Team GB at the European indoor Championships in Paris earlier this month, where she finished a credible 11th in qualifying with a 4.45m mark.
A season to remember for the national junior record-holder, whose glorious start to the year included a 44cm improvement on her previous lifetime best.
“I have really enjoyed this Indoor season - winning the senior trials and getting selected for the Europeans have definitely been major highlights of my pole-vaulting career,” reveals the world junior bronze-medallist.
“I am now looking forward to training hard and hopefully improving my vaulting for the outdoors just as much as I have done in the indoors.
“I have still got lots to improve on and I just need the time to enable me to do this.”
As she has proven before, though, a block of time is not always necessary in order to witness a sharp improvement.
Having only started to train seriously for the event in the autumn of 2008, Bleasdale progressed from 2.80m to an impressive 4.05m leap, which saw her break the national junior record on numerous occasions in her debut season.
A Team GB call-up for the 2009 European junior championships subsequently arrived but an ill-timed broken foot bone put paid to her international aspirations, as she required surgery and six-months out from training.
Fast-forward 12 months and Bleasdale is riding on the crest of a wave following an unprecedented comeback in the sport. After claiming global bronze (with 4.15m) in Canada last summer, she is currently poised to claim the British senior number-one mantel in thrilling fashion this summer.
Now second on the national all-time indoor lists behind Kate Dennison’s 4.60m leap, Bleasdale aims to eclipse her rival’s 4.60m outdoor mark to capture the British record this season and cement her status as the country’s finest.
Coached by Julien Raffalli-Ebezant at SportCity in Manchester, she has the ‘A’ qualifying mark for August’s World Championships (in Deagu, South Korea) and is only a mere 6cm away from breaking two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva’s world age-19 best.
“I feel happy that my season went so well - it makes all the training and hard work I put in throughout the season feel worthwhile when I achieve personal bests and medals at major championships,” says Bleasdale.
“I knew during my winter training that I was feeling fit and strong, so to see the results in competitions is great.
“I stayed focused and positive during my injury and I worked on other weakness in my body such as core strength and upper body strength.
“To be honest, if I could go back I wouldn’t change my injury - it did me good, as it changed the way I thought about athletics and has really helped me.”
After adding two strength-and-conditioning sessions, a gym workout and a gymnastics session to her weekly routine, Bleasdale is in top condition.
Currently on a gap year before beginning her university studies, the former heptathlete has transformed over the winter months into an exciting international contender on the senior scene.
“I knew during my winter training that I was feeling fit and strong, so to see the results in competitions is great.
In 2010, the Lancashire athlete’s best outdoor mark was 4.35m when taking the UK silver medal with a British junior record but she will be expected to jump around 20-30cm higher to make an impact in Daegu.
“My main aims for 2011 are to medal at the European under-23 championships [in Ostrava in July] and to jump a height of 4.56m for the world age-19 record,” Bleasdale reveals.
“I feel this is within my capabilities and it would be an amazing achievement.
“My long-term goals are to compete in all the major championships and the ultimate aim in my career is to get close to five metres and win the Olympics.
“I have a long way to go before I reach this, but I feel aiming high is the key to ensure motivation.”
She debuted on the senior stage and leapt to the national number one spot all in one winter. Now pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale has her sights on the world age-best record later this summer.
Despite only recently completing her third season, the 19-year-old Blackburn Harrier enjoyed an indoor campaign of jumping from strength to strength, shattering her best marks and shooting up the national record lists with a best height of 4.50 metres.
In addition to this remarkable breakthrough on the senior stage, Bleasdale captured the UK crown and was selected to join Team GB at the European indoor Championships in Paris earlier this month, where she finished a credible 11th in qualifying with a 4.45m mark.
A season to remember for the national junior record-holder, whose glorious start to the year included a 44cm improvement on her previous lifetime best.
She debuted on the senior stage and leapt to the national number one spot all in one winter. Now pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale has her sights on the world age-best record later this summer.
Despite only recently completing her third season, the 19-year-old Blackburn Harrier enjoyed an indoor campaign of jumping from strength to strength, shattering her best marks and shooting up the national record lists with a best height of 4.50 metres.
In addition to this remarkable breakthrough on the senior stage, Bleasdale captured the UK crown and was selected to join Team GB at the European indoor Championships in Paris earlier this month, where she finished a credible 11th in qualifying with a 4.45m mark.
A season to remember for the national junior record-holder, whose glorious start to the year included a 44cm improvement on her previous lifetime best.
“I have really enjoyed this Indoor season - winning the senior trials and getting selected for the Europeans have definitely been major highlights of my pole-vaulting career,” reveals the world junior bronze-medallist.
“I am now looking forward to training hard and hopefully improving my vaulting for the outdoors just as much as I have done in the indoors.
“I have still got lots to improve on and I just need the time to enable me to do this.”
As she has proven before, though, a block of time is not always necessary in order to witness a sharp improvement.
Having only started to train seriously for the event in the autumn of 2008, Bleasdale progressed from 2.80m to an impressive 4.05m leap, which saw her break the national junior record on numerous occasions in her debut season.
A Team GB call-up for the 2009 European junior championships subsequently arrived but an ill-timed broken foot bone put paid to her international aspirations, as she required surgery and six-months out from training.
Fast-forward 12 months and Bleasdale is riding on the crest of a wave following an unprecedented comeback in the sport. After claiming global bronze (with 4.15m) in Canada last summer, she is currently poised to claim the British senior number-one mantel in thrilling fashion this summer.
Now second on the national all-time indoor lists behind Kate Dennison’s 4.60m leap, Bleasdale aims to eclipse her rival’s 4.60m outdoor mark to capture the British record this season and cement her status as the country’s finest.
Coached by Julien Raffalli-Ebezant at SportCity in Manchester, she has the ‘A’ qualifying mark for August’s World Championships (in Deagu, South Korea) and is only a mere 6cm away from breaking two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva’s world age-19 best.
“I feel happy that my season went so well - it makes all the training and hard work I put in throughout the season feel worthwhile when I achieve personal bests and medals at major championships,” says Bleasdale.
“I knew during my winter training that I was feeling fit and strong, so to see the results in competitions is great.
“I stayed focused and positive during my injury and I worked on other weakness in my body such as core strength and upper body strength.
“To be honest, if I could go back I wouldn’t change my injury - it did me good, as it changed the way I thought about athletics and has really helped me.”
After adding two strength-and-conditioning sessions, a gym workout and a gymnastics session to her weekly routine, Bleasdale is in top condition.
Currently on a gap year before beginning her university studies, the former heptathlete has transformed over the winter months into an exciting international contender on the senior scene.
“I knew during my winter training that I was feeling fit and strong, so to see the results in competitions is great.
In 2010, the Lancashire athlete’s best outdoor mark was 4.35m when taking the UK silver medal with a British junior record but she will be expected to jump around 20-30cm higher to make an impact in Daegu.
“My main aims for 2011 are to medal at the European under-23 championships [in Ostrava in July] and to jump a height of 4.56m for the world age-19 record,” Bleasdale reveals.
“I feel this is within my capabilities and it would be an amazing achievement.
“My long-term goals are to compete in all the major championships and the ultimate aim in my career is to get close to five metres and win the Olympics.
“I have a long way to go before I reach this, but I feel aiming high is the key to ensure motivation.”
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Stepping Up
WRITTEN FOR SKYSPORTS (APRIL 8TH)
In an effort to make his mark in the senior ranks this summer, middle-distance man Niall Brooks has increased not only the training load but also his specialism on the track, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 19-year-old European junior 800m runner-up was so encouraged by his 2010 outdoor campaign over two-laps, coming off the back of minimal training, that he has recently switched focus to the metric mile just in time for his senior seasonal debut.
Coached by Norman Poole and training alongside European 800m silver-medallist Michael Rimmer and World 1500m finalist Tom Lancashire in Manchester, Brooks has doubled his mileage this winter and tackled the cross-country season with a view to raising his endurance for the 1500m event and with current success:
“Training’s going very well at the moment,” Brooks revealed.
“Last year, I was only running 35-miles a week and ran my personal best, which showed I have room for development in my speed endurance.
My coach thinks I will be a world-class 1500m runner so we’re starting to change things for that now.”
Successful
If last summer’s achievements were anything to go by, then Brooks should indeed excel this year under a tougher regime.
Britain’s fastest junior at both 800m and 1500m for the past two years, he was also ranked fifth in the latter event on the senior rankings in 2010, which bodes well for the new chapter in his athletic career.
Having registered an impressive 3:38.62 at the Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead last July to improve his lifetime best by over three seconds, Brooks additionally shot to second on the national all-time junior list before improving his half-mile mark a fortnight later in Canada.
There, at the World junior Championships, the English under20 800m champion sped to a 1:47.02 personal-best to become the sixth-fastest Briton ever and capped his season with a senior international debut at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, placing fifth in his 800m semi-final last October.
“I was injured last year so to just miss out on a world medal by two-hundredths of a second and make the Commonwealth’s was great – overall, it was a successful summer,” Brooks explained.
Experience
Working full-time at a finance company and studying for a business administration diploma, Brooks is excited to tackle both the new event and senior opposition in the months ahead.
With the key aim of the year to gain the 3:35.0 qualifying time for the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in August, he intends to begin racing in Europe from May in order to have the time under his belt so as to focus on the global trials later in the year:
“I’m aware in the back of my mind of the need to make a mark for myself again, going into my first year as a senior, but training with Mike and Tom, I don’t see myself miles away from that,” he revealed.
“I’m looking forward to it and I’m feeling excited rather than daunted.
I’ve not yet done many 1500m races so it’s definitely going to be a new experience for me but I’m stepping up the training to cope with the possibility of doing three rounds of the 1500m in a championship.”
With strong aspirations of making both the World and Olympic Games in the next two seasons, Brooks is well aware of the importance of championship experience:
“I want to go to the 2012 Olympics knowing I’ve been stuck in on the world level so I want to reach the semi-final at least this year,” he explained.
“My aim’s to make the 2012 final but the big goal’s a medal in 2016 - the final next year would be a dream result to lead me to Rio four years later.
Competing in a home Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity but I’m not getting carried away, as this year’s big for me in order to make a name for myself on the domestic and international stage – I’ll then get more excited if that goes well.”
And after a few smart changes this year, he may indeed be a very happy young man in the long-term.
In an effort to make his mark in the senior ranks this summer, middle-distance man Niall Brooks has increased not only the training load but also his specialism on the track, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 19-year-old European junior 800m runner-up was so encouraged by his 2010 outdoor campaign over two-laps, coming off the back of minimal training, that he has recently switched focus to the metric mile just in time for his senior seasonal debut.
Coached by Norman Poole and training alongside European 800m silver-medallist Michael Rimmer and World 1500m finalist Tom Lancashire in Manchester, Brooks has doubled his mileage this winter and tackled the cross-country season with a view to raising his endurance for the 1500m event and with current success:
“Training’s going very well at the moment,” Brooks revealed.
“Last year, I was only running 35-miles a week and ran my personal best, which showed I have room for development in my speed endurance.
My coach thinks I will be a world-class 1500m runner so we’re starting to change things for that now.”
Successful
If last summer’s achievements were anything to go by, then Brooks should indeed excel this year under a tougher regime.
Britain’s fastest junior at both 800m and 1500m for the past two years, he was also ranked fifth in the latter event on the senior rankings in 2010, which bodes well for the new chapter in his athletic career.
Having registered an impressive 3:38.62 at the Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead last July to improve his lifetime best by over three seconds, Brooks additionally shot to second on the national all-time junior list before improving his half-mile mark a fortnight later in Canada.
There, at the World junior Championships, the English under20 800m champion sped to a 1:47.02 personal-best to become the sixth-fastest Briton ever and capped his season with a senior international debut at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, placing fifth in his 800m semi-final last October.
“I was injured last year so to just miss out on a world medal by two-hundredths of a second and make the Commonwealth’s was great – overall, it was a successful summer,” Brooks explained.
Experience
Working full-time at a finance company and studying for a business administration diploma, Brooks is excited to tackle both the new event and senior opposition in the months ahead.
With the key aim of the year to gain the 3:35.0 qualifying time for the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in August, he intends to begin racing in Europe from May in order to have the time under his belt so as to focus on the global trials later in the year:
“I’m aware in the back of my mind of the need to make a mark for myself again, going into my first year as a senior, but training with Mike and Tom, I don’t see myself miles away from that,” he revealed.
“I’m looking forward to it and I’m feeling excited rather than daunted.
I’ve not yet done many 1500m races so it’s definitely going to be a new experience for me but I’m stepping up the training to cope with the possibility of doing three rounds of the 1500m in a championship.”
With strong aspirations of making both the World and Olympic Games in the next two seasons, Brooks is well aware of the importance of championship experience:
“I want to go to the 2012 Olympics knowing I’ve been stuck in on the world level so I want to reach the semi-final at least this year,” he explained.
“My aim’s to make the 2012 final but the big goal’s a medal in 2016 - the final next year would be a dream result to lead me to Rio four years later.
Competing in a home Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity but I’m not getting carried away, as this year’s big for me in order to make a name for myself on the domestic and international stage – I’ll then get more excited if that goes well.”
And after a few smart changes this year, he may indeed be a very happy young man in the long-term.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Green Shoots
WRITTEN FOR SKYSPORTS (MARCH 31)
He turned down the chance to study in America last autumn to train alongside Britain’s best and now, 400m hurdler Jack Green is reaping the rewards for remaining loyal to his English roots, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 19-year-old from Kent AC chose to join hurdling guru Malcolm Arnold’s training squad in Bath over a journalism scholarship in Nebraska and has since witnessed a dramatic improvement in form.
Training alongside European 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene and Commonwealth fifth-placer Rick Yates, Green shattered his 400m flat lifetime on six occasions during the indoor season and finished the winter as Britain’s sixth-fastest senior.
The start of 2011 was indeed an impressive campaign for the Londoner’s first year in the senior ranks, having clocked a swift 46.91 and finishing fourth in the UK Championships, and the national junior indoor 400m and 400m hurdles champion is now excited about his potential in the countdown to the London Olympics next summer:
“Since moving to Malcolm, I have started training six times a week –I only trained two or three times before and hadn't started weights, and Dai and Rick are really helping me progress,” explained Green.
“I'm really happy with 46.91 when my outdoor personal best is only 47.94.
The (indoor) season was all about me experimenting and now we are addressing my race pacing and things are going in the right direction.”
Breakthrough
A first year sports performance student at Bath University, Green enjoyed a stellar outdoor season last summer to record personal bests in the 200m (21.77) and his specialist event (50.49) – the latter taking him to third on the British under20 all-time list and fifth place at the World junior Championships in Canada.
There, he also anchored Team GB to the 4x400m bronze medals with a storming 45.76 leg to cap off a memorable season.
“2010 was a bit of a breakthrough year - I picked up a world junior medal and ran the fastest split of the championships,” revealed Green.
I'm looking forward to taking that through to outdoors and hopefully make a breakthrough into the senior team in both the hurdles and the relay.”
With British duo Greene and Rhys Williams leading the way in Europe and Green himself ranked only eighth-quickest senior in 2010, the young pretender knows all too well how tough such an aim will be, regardless of his stark improvements:
“The 400m hurdles have really stepped up in the UK and that's a positive for everyone in the event,” he explains.
Experience
Having enjoyed a productive spell of warm-weather training with Arnold’s stable in South Africa at the turn of the year, Green intends to open his outdoor campaign at the British Universities Championships in May before heading to high-altitude for a short stint in Italy.
The plan is to compete as much as possible in Europe to experience the life of a professional athlete and gain some scalps and quick times ahead of his biggest goal of the summer, the European under23 Championships.
Held in Ostrava in July, Green is targeting continental gold and additionally hopes to make the senior squad for the senior World Championships in Daegu, South Korea the following month:
“I really want the experience of a major senior competition before London 2012,” he explained.
“I would love to be there and I will do everything in my power to make sure I am selected and then be in a position to make the final and do myself justice,” Green revealed on his aspirations for the Olympic Games in London next year.
“To walk out in front of a home crowd all cheering for you would be amazing.
My long-term goals are the same as every athlete really - global titles and world records - I don't want to leave the sport thinking I should have achieved more.”
He turned down the chance to study in America last autumn to train alongside Britain’s best and now, 400m hurdler Jack Green is reaping the rewards for remaining loyal to his English roots, writes Nicola Bamford.
The 19-year-old from Kent AC chose to join hurdling guru Malcolm Arnold’s training squad in Bath over a journalism scholarship in Nebraska and has since witnessed a dramatic improvement in form.
Training alongside European 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene and Commonwealth fifth-placer Rick Yates, Green shattered his 400m flat lifetime on six occasions during the indoor season and finished the winter as Britain’s sixth-fastest senior.
The start of 2011 was indeed an impressive campaign for the Londoner’s first year in the senior ranks, having clocked a swift 46.91 and finishing fourth in the UK Championships, and the national junior indoor 400m and 400m hurdles champion is now excited about his potential in the countdown to the London Olympics next summer:
“Since moving to Malcolm, I have started training six times a week –I only trained two or three times before and hadn't started weights, and Dai and Rick are really helping me progress,” explained Green.
“I'm really happy with 46.91 when my outdoor personal best is only 47.94.
The (indoor) season was all about me experimenting and now we are addressing my race pacing and things are going in the right direction.”
Breakthrough
A first year sports performance student at Bath University, Green enjoyed a stellar outdoor season last summer to record personal bests in the 200m (21.77) and his specialist event (50.49) – the latter taking him to third on the British under20 all-time list and fifth place at the World junior Championships in Canada.
There, he also anchored Team GB to the 4x400m bronze medals with a storming 45.76 leg to cap off a memorable season.
“2010 was a bit of a breakthrough year - I picked up a world junior medal and ran the fastest split of the championships,” revealed Green.
I'm looking forward to taking that through to outdoors and hopefully make a breakthrough into the senior team in both the hurdles and the relay.”
With British duo Greene and Rhys Williams leading the way in Europe and Green himself ranked only eighth-quickest senior in 2010, the young pretender knows all too well how tough such an aim will be, regardless of his stark improvements:
“The 400m hurdles have really stepped up in the UK and that's a positive for everyone in the event,” he explains.
Experience
Having enjoyed a productive spell of warm-weather training with Arnold’s stable in South Africa at the turn of the year, Green intends to open his outdoor campaign at the British Universities Championships in May before heading to high-altitude for a short stint in Italy.
The plan is to compete as much as possible in Europe to experience the life of a professional athlete and gain some scalps and quick times ahead of his biggest goal of the summer, the European under23 Championships.
Held in Ostrava in July, Green is targeting continental gold and additionally hopes to make the senior squad for the senior World Championships in Daegu, South Korea the following month:
“I really want the experience of a major senior competition before London 2012,” he explained.
“I would love to be there and I will do everything in my power to make sure I am selected and then be in a position to make the final and do myself justice,” Green revealed on his aspirations for the Olympic Games in London next year.
“To walk out in front of a home crowd all cheering for you would be amazing.
My long-term goals are the same as every athlete really - global titles and world records - I don't want to leave the sport thinking I should have achieved more.”
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