Valley athlete chases Olympic spot.

Brian Doyle, Finn Valley, is in the Irish 4 x 4 start team in Namur, Belgium on Saturday. The team includes David Gillick, Paul Mc Kee from Belfast and Offaly man Gordon Kennedy with Patsy Mc Gonagle in attendance as manager.

Emails and texts have been flying this week as the team gets into a mental zone --- a last chance situation and an opportunity of a life time to be on the start line in China in late August with the best in the world.

The requirement is to record the time within the top sixteen in the world as only that number of teams can gain access.

Doyle has trained well accompanied by Mc Gonagle and the other members to a training camp in Portugal in early May and so the big day is fast approaching. Brian last competed for Ireland in the European relay final in Gothenborg 2006. 2007 was low key but recent 200m form and a low 46 sec 400m indicates strong current form.

We wish the Valley pair good luck.