EYOWF: Newman expecting Scandinavian dominance in Liberec

From Ben Baker, Sportsbeat, in Liberec

RUARIDH Newman admits it'll be him versus Scandinavia at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival - but the cross-country skier is adamant he can still bag a top-20 finish.

CHOOSING HIS BATTLES: Ruaridh Newman knows only too well that it is his Scandinavian rivals he will have to look out for at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Liberec

Newman will be part of a 15-strong Great Britain squad doing battle with their European counterparts in the Czech Republic-based event which kicks off on February 12.

The 17-year-old will have a busy week in Liberec, competing in the 1.5km, 7.5km and 10km races, and admits he has only got eyes for a top-20 finish.

But with the words of older brother William - an EYOWF veteran from the 2009 event in Poland - ringing in his ears, Newman junior knows he has got his work cut out.

"I am really excited to be going out to Czech Republic because I think it will be a great event," said Newman.

"My ultimate goal would be to get into the top 20, it would be amazing if I could do that.

"Obviously to win it would be the best thing but I think the top 20 is realistic and I'd love to be able to do that.

"In my sport the Scandinavian nations are really strong and even though I don't know who is going to be competing yet, I know they will be the people that I have to beat.

"I have spoken to my brother about the last festival and he said there was a Norwegian guy who just annihilated everyone so I know it is going to be tough but I am looking forward to it." 

Newman and his GB teammates will be a fraction of the total number of faces competing in Eastern Europe with 1500 athletes from 44 European countries going head-to-head.

But rather than be overawed by the scale of the event Newman thinks the GB safety-net will be a welcome change of scenery.

"A lot of the time when I compete there are just people there from my own sport," added Newman. 

"So it will be nice to have the whole GB team there and I think we will be able to learn quite a lot from each other about how we all train and the differences between our two sports.

"It was a great feeling when I got selected because it will be a great honour to represent my country in the sport that I have been doing for so long."

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads the ‘Best of British' at the summer, winter and youth Olympics. It supports Team GB and National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk