Alfa Romeo

Talented atheletes are awarded MiTos at European trials - 28/06/2010

Four promising athletes on the UKA World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) received an unexpected bonus at the Aviva European Trials & UK Championships in Birmingham, after being announced as winners to receive a brand new Alfa Romeo MiTo Cloverleaf. The Cloverleaf badge itself is a symbol of sporting success and first appeared on Alfa race cars back in the 1920s and has appeared on every racing Alfa ever since.

Sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, high jumper Tom Parsons, 1500m runner Charlene Thomas and long jumper Chris Tomlinson were judged by Alfa Romeo and UKA as the most worthy recipients to receive a car, following a competition launched by Alfa Romeo (Official Car Supplier to UKA) early this month.

Over 100 athletes benefiting from the WCPP were invited to submit an application highlighting their "Passion, Performance and Pride" - the three core values at the sporting heart of the Alfa Romeo brand, which celebrates its Centenary this year.

Tom Parsons said, “I am so grateful to Alfa Romeo to have been selected as one of the winners. My own car is very unreliable; it let me down twice during the Indoor Season earlier this year, including a breakdown on the way to a competition. Having a brand new Alfa will make travelling to training and competitions so much easier!”

Former youth and junior 100m World Champion, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey added, “The next year is crucial for me in terms of breaking onto the world stage at a senior level. To receive an Alfa is fantastic and will make a real difference in helping me to focus one-hundred percent on my training and performance.”

Brand Communications Manager at Alfa Romeo UK, Damien Dally said, “We received many inspiring entries, but the four winning athletes really stood out. Alfa's commitment to UK Athletics is not just about rewarding the medal winners but extending the opportunity to other athletes on the World Performance Programme.”

Yesterday Alfa MiTo recipient, Chris Tomlinson won the men's Long Jump at the European Trials, with a best distance of 8.17metres and impressed spectators as he remained the only competitor to clear 8m, which he managed three times.

Leading athletes from across the UK & NI are battling it out at the Alexander Stadium, in a bid to be crowned UK Champions and to secure their place at the European Championships, which begin on 27 July, in Barcelona.

For more information go to our UKA Athletics page