Edwards sets sights on Rio (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Edwards sets sights on Rio

11:00am Friday 18th January 2013 in Sportsview

FORMER King Charles I School pupil Marc Edwards is hoping to begin the path to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by impressing Team GB coaches over a series of assessment days.

The 23-year-old from Kidderminster has been invited along to attend four days at the National Sport Centre in Bisham Abbey where he will have his skills rigorously tested by coaches and selectors.

If successful he will then be awarded a six-month long central contract by Great Britain chiefs who have started the long process ahead of the next Olympics in three years’ time.

Edwards, who plays for Cannock, said: “I think it will be very close whether I will be selected.

“I will either be just in or just outside the central contracts but I am hopeful.

“It is my dream to play for Great Britain at an Olympics but there is still a long way to go.”

Edwards missed out on the GB squad which contested the Champions Trophy in Australia last December but he was selected as a first reserve just in case there was an injury problems for the national team.

He is also having another good season for Premier League third-placed side Cannock.

The Staffordshire side are 13 points behind leaders Beeston.

Edwards added: “It has been a bit of an odd season.

“We lost to Beeston heavily at the start of the season but since then we have beaten second-placed Canterbury 6-2.

“But we do need to be more consistent in the second-half of the campaign. I was disappointed not to make the Champions Trophy squad but was happier when I discovered I was first reserve, it shows I am in the coaches’ thoughts.

“There were a couple of players in the squad with knocks and I suspected I might be called up but they made it through.”