Preddy grasps Madrid ticket (From Stroud News and Journal)

Preddy grasps Madrid ticket

RYAN PREDDY will be living an athletic dream as he prepares to share the same stage with Great Britain's Olympic heroes at the SPAR European Indoor Championships in Madrid on Sunday.

The former Archway pupil, 21, will be taking his place in the senior Great Britain athletic squad for the first time, and will be networking alongside double Olympic Champion Kelly Holmes and gold medallists from Athens, Jason Gardner and Mark Lewis- Francis.

The Stroud man and former Shortwood United footballer has been named in the five-man squad for the 4x400 metre relay, and will run in the final on Sunday.

Preddy secured his spot after finishing as the second Briton in the Norwich Union AAA Championships, which incorporated the trials, and improving his personal best to 47.21 seconds earlier in the season.

"I'm delighted to get the call," said Preddy.

"To be on the plane and to stay in the same hotel with the Olympic stars and to be in the same team will be a brilliant experience."

Preddy will be joined by Gloucester AC team-mate Richard Davenport and Bath sprinters Dan Cossins, Dale Garland and Welshman Gareth Warburton in the squad.

* LIVE action from the 4x400 metre relay final can be seen on BBC2 this Sunday.