by Alex Hoad

Several promising Kent sports stars have been named in the TeamGB squad for a trip to Australia for the Youth Olympic Festival in January.

Canterbury hockey club prospect Ross Gilham-Jones, 20, from Hythe, has been named in the 16-strong men's hockey party for the trip to the event in Sydney between January 16 and 20.

His Canterbury teammate, 20-year-old keeper Diccon Stubbings, is one of two reserves for the competition, while Canterbury Ladies ace Grace Balsdon, 19, is a reserve for the GB women's team.

Former Bromley & Beckenham ace Rob Farrington, 18, from West Wickham is also in the main squad.

Maidstone gymnasts Courtney Tulloch and James Hall, both 17 and members of Pegasus Gymnastics Club, will make the trip to New South Wales while Dover rower Luke Moon, 19, is included in the single sculls, quadruple sculls and men's eight at the regatta where he will be joined by Pembury's Timothy Grant who is also in the eight aswell as the pairs and the four.

Tunbridge Wells rower Georgia Francis, 18, is a reserve for the youth women's rowing squad while Gravesend's Sophie Coldwell, 17, is one of two women selected to take part in the triathlon

TeamGB will send 120 promising athletes to Australia with a view to gaining valuable experience ahead of future Olympic Games.

In-all 1,700 athletes aged 13-19 from 30 nations will compete in 17 Olympic sports at many of the venues used at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.