Chester handballers hope to represent britain in 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES

Three Chester teenagers have been picked to potentially represent Britain on the GB handball team in the 2016 Olympic Games.

Stephen Jameson, Sam Harvey and Saul Chambers, who all play for Deva Handball Club, were selected by the British Handball Association for the 2016 development squad last week.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Stephen Jameson, 17. “I went to my first training session five years ago and thought this is quite nice, but to go to the Olympics would be the ultimate goal.”

The teenagers will undergo a rigorous training regime over the next 8 years attending summer camps in Denmark with other members of the development squad who have been picked from across the UK.

They could even be selected for the 2012 Olympics in London if they reach the required ability in time.

Mr Jameson, who is currently studying for his A-Levels at Queen’s Park High School, was originally encouraged to join the Deva Handball club by two friends who were already members there.

“They saw me playing basketball and because handball is a similar sport they suggested I go to the training session with them,” he said. “It’s a very explosive sport, I love the team aspect of it but there’s still room for individual ability.”

Mr Jameson started a handball team at his school and plans to start another when he goes to university if there is not a club already established there.

Jon Kelly, operations manager of Chester and District Sports and Recreational Trust (CADSART), which runs Northgate Arena, started Deva Handball Club in 2003. He Captained Great Britain as a school boy and played for England as recently as 2006 and has championed the sport in Chester ever since.

“It will be fantastic for Chester to have some local lads in the Olympic Games,” he said. “School P.E. teachers and sports centres have been slow to take up the sport, which is a shame, and that’s something I’ve tried to redress. So to have our efforts recognised by the British Handball Association is great. Its fair to say that Chester is now often used by the handball hierarchy as an example of good practise in introducing and developing the sport locally.”

Sam Harvey, 17, from Eastham joined the team in 2003 and also plays for Wirral HC in the National League at an open age group.

“It’s brilliant to even by considered to play in the Olympics - it’s certainly motivated me to continue doing it,” he said.

Saul Chambers, 16, from Chester joined the team after playing at his primary school and was in the very first school visited by Jon to start the sport off back in 2003.

Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo are in the running to hold the 2016 Olympic Games. The winner will be announced in October 2009.

CADSART is a charitable organisation which runs a number of leisure centres around Chester including the award winning Northgate Arena.

Olympic hopefuls Stephen Jameson, Saul Chambers and Sam Harvey