Tullett gets GB call

Hayley Tullett has been given the chance due to Jo Pavey's illness

Hayley Tullett has been drafted into the Great Britain squad for the European Cross-Country Championships after Jo Pavey withdrew through illness.

The Swansea Harrier has agreed to step into Pavey's shoes for Sunday's competition in Edinburgh.

"My training has been geared towards 2004 and I was not planning on competing at the European Cross and have not specifically prepared for it," Tullett said.

"But my training is going to plan and I feel ready to compete in Edinburgh. I know how important the team championship is and for that reason have agreed to compete."

Exeter Harriers runner Pavey was forced to pull out after suffering flu.

"I have had flu and been unable to train since last Monday," Pavey said. "I tried to go for a jog over the weekend, but felt my legs were going to give way.

"It's disappointing because I was looking forward to it, especially with the championships being in Scotland rather than overseas.

"I feel as if I am letting the team down, but it's unrealistic to believe I could put in 20 minutes of really hard effort for the team after being unable to run at all for virtually two weeks.

"I know somebody else would run better. I wish all the best to the team."

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Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team:

Senior men
D Anderson (Belgrave Harriers), C Davies (Telford), B Farquharson (Mansfield Harriers), P Riley (Trafford), C Thompson (Aldershot Farnham & District) G Tromans (Coventry Godiva Harriers).

Junior men
M Ashton (Witney Road Runners/St Mary's), M Barnes-Smith (Ipswich Harriers), G Davenport (Bristol), T Humphries (Cannock & Staffs), S Jacobs (Ipswich Harriers), R McLeod (Elswick Harriers).

Senior women
K Butler (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow), S Partridge (City of Glasgow), P Radcliffe (Bedford), H Yelling (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow), L Yelling (Bedford), H Tullett (Swansea).

Junior women
D Barnes (Newquay & Par), C Dale (Invicta East Kent/St Mary's), F Fullerton (Havering Mayesbrook), A Hoban (Wakefield & District) L Kenney (Royal Sutton Coldfield) R Proctor (City of Norwich)