THE most promising of Hertfordshire's young sporting talent will travel to Norwich this weekend (June 22/23), to take part in the regions first Active Sports Talent Camp initiated by Sport England.

More than 1,000 youngsters between the ages eight and 16 will benefit from the expert advice of 300 of the country's top coaches, including Olympic Decathlete gold medalist Daley Thompson, Boston marathon winner Paul Evans, ex-England rugby player Nicola Ponsford and Bruce Longdon, mentor to 400m star Sally Gunnell.

Participation in the camp is by invite only, with the Hertfordshire representatives identified by the governing bodies of the eight sports involved (swimming, basketball, football, hockey, rugby, tennis, athletics and netball).

Apart from advanced coaching, the camp will also focus on topics such as lifestyle management, nutrition, careers opportunity's and sports science.

Watford Harriers Athletics Club will be well represented at the event with Paul Yeomans, Richard Hansard and Darren Allen all hand-picked to attend.

For Hansard and Allen, selection may have been expected but a delighted Yeomans, who picked up gold at Saturday's Herts Schools Athletics Championships in the Intermediate Boys pole vault, was somewhat shocked at the news.

"It definitely took me by surprise," said Yeomans, "but I'm really looking forward to it, it is a great chance."

June 21, 2002 11:00