KENT athlete Darren Hatton has been given the opportunity to take on some of the world’s leading decathletes after been picked to represent Great Britain in the Europa Cup Combined Events competiton.

The event, in Estonia next month, will be the biggest Hatton has competed in and offers him the chance to significantly raise his profile.

Hatton, from Seasalter, near Whitstable, is part of a four-strong British men’s team which does not include the injured Dean Macey and the 24-year-old is keen to make the most of his chance.

Plagued by injuries for the past two seasons, the former pupil of Simon Langton Boys’ School, Canterbury, only began training in January due to a back problem.

Hatton, a member of Ashford Athletic Club, admitted: “I’m absolutely over the moon with this. I didn’t need to think twice about accepting the invitation.

“It’s a big competition and there are bound to be quite few guys capable of scoring 8,000 points plus.”

Hatton’s own personal best points tally is 7,020, achieved in 2001, but he hopes to get somewhere near that in Tallinn on July 5-6.

It may well be his last serious competition this season and his ultimate aim is to qualify for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia.