Jo nets winner for GB in Olympic countdown

8:32am Thursday 17th July 2008

BEN Rhydding Hockey Club's Olympic hope Jo Ellis was in the Great Britain women's side which completed its final match before the Games in Beijing.

They came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 in Terrassa with Jo scoring the equaliser after Raquel Huercas scored for Spain in the fourth minute.

Great Britain worked their way back into the game levelling in the 24th minute.

Alex Danson and Helen Richardson combined to put the former Ben Rhydding star in for the equaliser at the far post.

The winner came in the 50th minute when Richardson won possession and went on a 30 metre run to shoot past Maria Rosa.

The sides faced off again on Tuesday in an unofficial match in which no caps were awarded.

Jo will fly out with the GB hockey squad for the British Olympic Association's training camp in Macau to prepare for Beijing where their first game will be against defending champions Germany on August 10.

Athlete Emily Freeman booked her place at the Olympics when she won the 200 metres at the Olympic trials in Birmingham on Sunday.

The Wakefield runner was always the favourite and was fastest in the first round and the semi-finals.

In the final she held off the challenge of World 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu to win in 22.92, just outside her personal best.

The girl who once received free training to aid her Olympic hopes at the former Johnny's Gym in Yeadon, is sure to be named in the relay as well as the individual 200 metres.

A civil engineer who put her career on hold in October to become a full-time athlete she has been the revelation of the season.

There was disappointment for Guiseley schoolteacher Charlene Thomas at the trials. After leading for much of her race she faded to fifth in 4:19:10.

Rebecca Romero, who won a silver medal in the last Olympic Games in Athens in the same boat as Guiseley rower Debbie Flood, has achieved an amazing Olympic double having now been named in the GB cycling team for the Beijing Games having switched sports.

Romero said: "Having already been to the Olympics as a rower and then retired I never thought I'd return to the Games. Having taken up cycling my aim was to qualify and getting the selection letter made it real that I was going; and not only am I going but I'm going as the World's number one!"

Otley Town Centre Cycle Race champoions Mark Cavendish (2005) and Chris Newton (2001 and 2003) along with Otley race regulars Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy and Paul Manning are named in the GB cycling team for the Games.

The newest edition to Team GB's Olympic squad has finally been given a name. The official Team GB mascot has been given the name Pride and will accompany the Olympic athletes on their way to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in search of Olympic glory this summer.

As an official member of Team GB the mascot will no doubt be popping up everywhere.

Each athlete will be given their very own 15 inch Pride as a memento.

EDITOR'S CHOICE