Brothers have big ambitions (From Gazette Series)

Brothers have big ambitions

8:50am Thursday 8th January 2009

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TWO YOUNG brothers from Yate are hoping to make an impression on the athletics scene this year before going on to realise their Olympic dream.

Craig and Richard Peters are members of Bristol and West Athletics Club and both made excellent progress in 2008.

Craig, 20, became the Welsh 5k road under-20 champion while younger brother Richard, 18, went to the Youth Commonwealth Games and overcame illness to finish 11th in the 1500 metre final.

Middle-distance runner Richard also went to the Youth Olympics in Belgrade in the previous year and having enjoyed those experiences, the Brimsham Green School sixth form pupil intends to make the step up to senior level and reach the Games in London.

“It made me want to make the big time - that’s what drives me on,” he said.

“It was amazing being out there, the atmosphere was really good as well and it makes you want to go for the real Olympics one day.

“2012 is definitely my aim but the average international runner is 24 or 25 so realistically 2016 is my best opportunity. But if everything goes well and I progress at a faster rate I may get there you never know.”

Craig has similar ambitions but he would face stiff competition from the African nations who have dominated long-distance running at the Olympics. Instead his focus is on reaching the Commonwealth Games in 2013.

He said: “I would love to make the Commonwealth games and compete for Wales in the 5k track event.”

“Maybe it’s too ambitious to look at it for next year but probably for the next Commonwealth Games.

“I would love to get into the Olympics but it’s hard as an endurance runner to make those necessary improvements to compete with the Kenyans and the Ethiopians.

“I’ve got a better chance at competing for a medal at the Commonwealth.”

They come from a strong athletics family background and the fact that Craig has chosen to represent Wales, while Richard represents England adds to some healthy rivalry between the brothers.

In 2007, Craig found out he was anaemic and also had to overcome a lot of injury problems before having a strong 2008.

He hopes to follow that up with another good year and he will now only be competing in the senior category.

He has the English nationals and the Inter-counties coming up in the next two months, as well as the Welsh nationals and the Midland Counties, which were the two events he won at under-20 level last year.

“I’m putting a lot more training in to compete at a higher level,” he said.

“In the Welsh national I’ll aim for the top ten and realistically I hope to get in the top 30 at the England nationals.”

Richard is targeting a good track season and the main competition he is looking forward to this year is the national championships in June.

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