European Clubs : T- 24 Hours

First of all the management and athletes would again like to sincerely thank everyone who supported the team's fundraising requests and table quiz. Without these generous contributions it would have been impossible to field as high quality a team as is travelling to the competition tomorrow.

Crusaders AC is looking forward to a competitive match against the finest European Athletics Clubs. Whether the team can pull off a victory such as Liverpool FC attained last night in the soccer tournament remains to be seen but with the high quality athletes that are competing with the team a top 3 finish is realistic.

Two british athletes will be competing in Crusaders vests as International guests (each club is allowed 2). Scot Thompson will be shot putting and throwing the discus and James Ellington will be running in the 100m and 200m. Both athletes are members of Belgrave Harriers in London (Thanks due to Bill Laws for helping to recruit these guys).

The squad of Crusaders athletes changes somewhat from last year when the club competed in the same competition in Maribor Slovenia. This time young Ian McDonald will be competing in the 110 hurdles instead of Peter Coghlan. A newcomer to the squad, frenchman Francois Kulik will be competing in the high jump. Another newcomer but familiar face Garett Coughlan will be taking the 3000m in place of Peter Madsen and Ian Chaney will take on the 5000m. Antoinne Burke will travel to the European Clubs for the first time in an illustrious career to try consolidate a place on the Europa Cup team in the 400 hurdles. Other faithful Crusaders competing include Lorcan Carpenter in the hammer and Steve Flemming in the Long Jump. Ruairi o'Briain competes in the Pole Vault once again (in search of an early season PB perhaps). Eoin Cummins moves up a distance from last year to run the 1500m.

Last years captain Eugene O'Neill returns in the Steeplechase. When asked what he thought the teams outlook was he said

"Last years competition was fairly low key as far as the ECCC goes and the result we got was fairly dissapointing. This year we are in the mix with the A division and even though the invitation to B division clubs came last minute we have managed to put together a strong team. I think we have a good chance of doing well and I sure am excited about running with the A division athletes. We have 2 excellent international athletes onside aswell, and the trip will be great for building up the senior mens team in the run up to the summer."

Another newcomer to the competition is Thomas Chamney. 'Chammers' has already set 2 PB's this season and travels to Lagos from barcelona where he is completing some warm weather training. Thomas can look forward to a proper championship race. You can never tell who will be competing in these kind of races. He could well be toeing the line against the likes of Yuriy Borzakhovskiy and even some Africans like Laban Rotitch.

Other members of the squad include Simon Kenny and Barry McCarron who may pass the baton in the 400 relay and Kieran Dyer in the Triple Jump. We are all looking forward to seeing what the athletes can do at this high level of competition.