TAVISTOCK?S premier pentathlete is jetting off to the Pyrenees next Sunday where she will start her final preparations for this month?s Olympic Games.

Kate Allenby is heading for Paula Radcliffe?s training ground at Fontmoneau on August 8 along with fellow Olympic hopeful Georgina Harland.

Both hope to come away with the gold medal in Athens on August 27, and it looks likely to be a hard fought contest between Kate, bronze medallist from Sydney 2000, and Georgina, the current world number one.

Despite the domestic rivalry Kate says the two women work well together: ?She?s the best in the world which pushes me to be better as well ? Georgina and I get on very well.?

Kate and her companions decided to forego the Cypriot heat of the Great Britain training camp, and opted instead for altitude training in the mountains.

Kate said: ?We hope it will give us an edge when we get to Athens, because the riding and running events are both being staged later in the day when the intense heat has gone out of the air, so hopefully that will be less of a factor than it might otherwise be.?

Following Britain?s pentathlon success in the 2000 Games, where the now retired Stephanie Cook took gold for the UK, ahead of Kate?s bronze, this year?s event is being followed by a live BBC crew.

Throughout August 27 the girls will be shown competing in all five events with information coming live from 8.30am on BBC1.

Kate is delighted with the media interest, and said she is thrilled with the sheer number of good luck wishes she has received.

She said: ?I have had so many positive messages already, and people keep asking Dad to pass on their encouragement ? i just can?t wait to get there now.?

The Olympic Games opening ceremony is being held on August 13 with the pentathletes flying out from Barcelona on August 21 ready to compete in the final week of events.

Anyone wishing to pass on a good luck message to Kate can contact her at the address:

Kate Allenby ? Modern Pentathlon,

OLYMPIC VILLAGE

Athens

GREECE

Postal Code: 901 74

NOC Code: GBR

l Among those joining Kate for training in the Pyranees will be junior world champion Heather Fell, who comes from Merrivale.

Heather will not be competing in the Olympics, but is defending her world title in Hungary this week.