Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers athletes travelled out to Portugal yesterday to compete in the European Champion Clubs Cup.

The competition, which runs until next Monday, will prove an opportunity for Harriers to continue their development as the premier track and field club in the UK after winning their first Premiership title in 2012.

League champions from across Europe will be competing at the event and the favourites are the teams from Italy, Spain and Russia.

Shaftesbury Barnet are hoping to finish in the top four positions and the majority of their squad is made up of home grown athletes, young and old.

With the defence of the BAL Premiership off to a winning start in 2013, Harriers hope to become a regular at Europe’s top table of club athletics, matching the aspirations of their sporting partners.

Meanwhile, Harriers’ athlete Allan Smith has gained pre-selection for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Scottish team after an impressive display at the Loughborough International on Sunday.

Smith cleared 2.22m for second place in the competition which ranks him in first place in the Under-23 age group in 2013.

Harriers had 20 athletes competing at the event, which was more than any other UK club.