USA JUNIORS AND KLUFT TO MAKE BANK OF SCOTLAND CUP DEBUTS AT GRANGEMOUTH
Scotland and GB Under-23 star Eilidh Child - and live via video link from her home town of Vaxjo, Sweden, Olympic, World and European heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft – today (Monday 19th May) launched the 2008 Bank of Scotland Cup.
Having announced in March that she will not defend her Olympic heptathlon title in Beijing this summer but instead aim to compete in the long jump - the event she’ll take on in Grangemouth on July 1st – Kluft has lifted every major multi-events title since winning the World Championships gold medal in 2003. Of her involvement, she said: “It’s going to be great to come back to Scotland. I got married here in September and we had a great time.”
“Jumping as a guest in the Bank of Scotland Cup will form part of my competition programme in the lead in to Beijing. Long jump is my main focus for the Olympics and my competition programme will reflect that, although I may do some triple jump as well.
“If my coaches think triple jump is good for my long jump and I make the qualifying distance then I’ll give it a shot too.”
The event, which this year will see a USA Junior team compete against Scotland, Wales, Ireland, a Bank of Scotland Development Team and guests, will take place on July 1st at Grangemouth Stadium, Falkirk, hosted by Falkirk Council and organised by scottishathletics with the support of title sponsor Bank of Scotland and funding partner sportscotland.
British Universities 400m hurdles champion Eilidh Child, fifth in the European under-23 Championships last summer and undefeated this season to date, will captain Scotland – the victors in 2006 and 2007 – in the event to be televised live on Sky Sports from 7 – 9pm.
“It’s good to get out and compete for Scotland,” the Pitreavie AAC athlete and former Bank of Scotland Talented Young Athlete said, “we don’t get the opportunity all that often.”
“The home advantage really helps too,” she added.
Karen Tighe, Deputy Head of Sponsorship, Bank of Scotland said:
“Bank of Scotland is delighted to support the Bank of Scotland Cup 2008. The Cup, which demonstrates a fresh approach for us in athletics, celebrates all that is positive about the sport in Scotland.
“From the Youth Festival to the Bank of Scotland Development Team, this event gives young people the chance to experience top level competition in Scotland in an exciting format.
“Our sponsorship has developed, and we want to continue to develop a better pathway for our young athletes.”
With the event falling less than a fortnight prior to the UK Olympic Trials, the possibility of athletes looking to compete in Grangemouth in a bid to secure late qualifying marks is also realistic.
Katy Anderson: Media and Communications Officer, scottishathletics
t: 0131 476 7323
m: 0777 352 9336
e: katy.anderson@scottishathletics.org.uk
w: www.scottishathletics.org.uk
