Holmes and Radcliffe Lead British Promotion Bid

Dame Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe are to lead a strong team in the Spar European Cup later this month in Portugal as Great Britain's women look to make an immediate return to the Super League.

Holmes will compete in the 800m and Radcliffe will target her fourth title at the event when she takes on the 5,000m. Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton will also compete in the long jump as the top British women look to reverse their relegation on June 18-19 in Leiria.

Jo Pavey, who won the 3,000m at the Norwich Union International in Glasgow on Sunday, will compete over that distance and Helen Clitheroe has been selected for the 1,500m.

Holmes has been announced joint team captain along with triple jumper Ashia Hansen, who will attend in a non-competing role to support the squad, despite this competition being the scene of her career-threatening patella tendon injury in 2004.

The double Olympic champion said: "The women's team were devastated last year to be relegated and they are determined to gain promotion back into the Super League.

"Although as individuals we all want to compete well, this event is all about the team, where every performance and point counts. I hope I can play my part so that the Norwich Union GB Women's Team regain Super League status."

Mark-Lewis Francis has a chance to make amends for last year when he contests the 100m in the men's competition to be held on June 17-19 in Florence.

He was the pre-race favourite for the sprint but he was disqualified for a false start and the subsequent loss of an expected eight points proved costly as Britain finished fourth overall with Germany claiming the title.

Darren Campbell has been named as men's team captain and the men's triumphant Olympic sprint squad could be reunited for the first time since Athens as Marlon Devonish and Jason Gardener have all been named, along with Lewis-Francis and Campbell.

American-born Malachi Davis will make his debut in the competition over 400m following victory in Glasgow, while James McIlroy will be looking to continue his fine early-season form in the 800m.

Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland women's team for the Spar European Cup, Leiria, June 18-19:

100m: Joice Maduaka (Woodford Green/Essex Ladies); 200m: Joice Maduaka; 400m: Donna Fraser (Croydon); 800m: Kelly Holmes (Ealing); 1500m: Helen Clitheroe (Preston); 3000m: Jo Pavey (Exeter); 5000m: Paula Radcliffe (Bedford); 100m hurdles: Sarah Claxton (Belgrave); 400m: Lee McConnell (Shaftesbury Barnet, subject to form); 3000m steeplechase: Jo Ankier (Shaftesbury Barnet).

High Jump: Julia Bennett (Epsom & Ewell); Pole Vault: Janine Whitlock (Trafford); Long Jump: Kelly Sotherton (Birchfield); Triple Jump: Jasmine Regis (WSEH); Shot: Joanne Duncan (Woodford Green/Essex Ladies); Discus: Philippa Roles (Sale); Hammer: Shirley Webb (City of Edinburgh and Trafford); Javelin: Goldie Sayers (Belgrave). 4x100m: Diane Allahgreen (Trafford), Susan Deacon (Edinburgh), Katherine Endacott (Edinburgh), Laura Turner (Edinburgh), Emma Ania (Shaftesbury Barnet). 4x400m: Fraser, McConnell, Catherine Murphy (Woodford Green/Essex Ladies), Christine Ohuruogo (Newham & Essex Beagles), Kim Wall (Basildon).

Men's team for the Spar European Cup, Florence, June 17-19:

100m: Mark Lewis-Francis (Birchfield); 200m: Christian Malcolm (Cardiff); 400m: Malachi Davis (Bush TC); 800m: James McIlroy (Abbey); 1500m: James Thie (Cardiff); 3000m: Mo Farah (Newham); 5000m: Chris Davies (Telford); 110m hurdles: Damien Greaves (Newham); 400m hurdles: Chris Rawlinson (Trafford); 3000m steeplechase: Stuart Stokes (Sale); High Jump: Ben Challenger (Belgrave); Pole Vault: Nick Buckfield (Crawley); Long Jump: Nathan Morgan (Birchfield, subject to fitness); Shot: Carl Myerscough (Blackpool & Fylde); Discus: Emeka Udechuku (Woodford G/Essex L); Hammer: Andy Frost (Woodford G/Essex L); Javelin: Nick Nieland (Shaftesbury). 4x100m: Darren Campbell (Sale), Jason Gardener (Wessex & Bath), Chris Lambert (Belgrave), Lewis-Francis, Malcolm, Marlon Devonish (Coventry Godiva). 4x400m: Tim Benjamin (Belgrave), Davis, Robert Tobin (Basingstoke & Midhants), Gareth Warburton (Cardiff), Graham Hedman (Woodford G/Essex L), Rawlinson.