Solicitor leaps into team for Commonwealth Games

ATHLETICS: Addleshaw Booth & Co provides backing

A solicitor is jumping for joy at her inclusion in the England women's athletics team for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester next month.

Ann Danson, a trusts solicitor at north-west firm and games sponsor Addleshaw Booth & Co, has been selected to represent her country at long jump following a personal best performance at the Commonwealth trials last weekend.

The Sale Harriers athlete finished second at the trials with a distance of 6.38 metres - two centimetres short of the English qualification guideline - but was still selected as one of three representatives in the event.

'I'm delighted and relieved,' she said.

'It would have been nice to get the qualifying distance and it would have saved me a few sleepless nights, but I was reasonably confident of getting in the team.'

Ms Danson said her employer - which has extended its innovative fees-for-sponsorship deal with the games organisers to become a full sponsor of the event - had been understanding about her training.

'Addleshaws has allowed me to work reduced hours so I can train in the morning, as opposed to after a hard day at work,' she said.

'I used to work from eight till six and then try and fit in training until ten, which was very hard.'

However, Ms Danson, who said she hoped for a top-six finish at the games, is planning to retire from athletics next year.

'I'm 31 and there isn't the money in athletics for me for it to be a full-time job, so I'll be concentrating on my legal career,' she said.

Andrew Towler