TWO all-rounders coached at Down Grange by Billy Jewers are among a record number of nine national squad athletes to have qualified for the first IAAF World Combined Events Challenge meeting of the summer.

Decathlete Ben Hazell, of Basingstoke and Mid-Hants AC, and Dean Showler-Davis (Winchester and District AC) will be heading for Desenzano del Garda, Italy, on May 5 and 6.

Ian Grant, Great Britain and Northern Ireland combined events team leader, said: "We have worked very hard over the last four or five years to get into this position.

"Through the national squad set-up, we have seen a lot more progress this winter and are looking forward to this summer with considerable excitement.

"Desenzano has been a good meeting for us over the years."

Hazell scored a personal best there last year on his way into the GB team at the European Cup of Combined Events.

This time, the 22-year-old and Showler-Davis will be among the UK competitors seeking qualifying performances for the summer's major targets, including the world championships in Osaka, Japan, the European under-23 championships in Debrecen, Hungary, and the world university games in Bangkok, Thailand.

"Things are buzzing in combined events," Grant added. "Hopefully, we will get some good results from Desenzano to set us up nicely for the summer."

The Multistars meeting in Desenzano, with series prizes ranging from $30,000 for wins to $5,000 for eighth places, is followed by the remaining fixtures at Gotzis, Austria, on May 26 and 27, Arles, France, and Ratingen, Germany, both on June 2 and 3, and Talence, France, on September 22 and 23.