BLACKBURN Harriers are hoping to be celebrating an Olympic hat trick this weekend - with Sophie Hitchon and Holly Bleasdale looking to join Sam Murray at London 2012.

Pole Vaulter Bleasdale, of Chorley, and hammer thrower Hitchon, of Burnley, are competing at the Olympic trials in Birmingham today and tomorrow as they bid to seal an expected spot in the summer games.

Clitheroe modern pentathlete and Harrier Murray has already been named by GB with her team-mates all set to join her this weekend.

Harriers secretary George Davis, said: “It is a very big weekend for the athletes and for the club. To have three locally produced athletes at the Olympics would be a phenomenal achievement.

“Of course primarily it is down to the individual and the commitment and dedication they have put into the sport to reach such a level.

“But to have three Harriers in the Olympics at the same time would be unheard of for a club our size. I am reasonably sure not many clubs the size of Blackburn Harriers will have produced three Olympians. I would be amazed if they had.”

Hitchon, 20, and Bleasdale, 20, are top of the national rankings in their respective sports but a top two finish is essential to guarantee their place at London 2012.

“I just hope everything goes well for them,” said Davis. Both are national record holders and both are top of the rankings. I would be pretty surprised if they didn’t make it.

“Obviously the athletes’ parents will be there but we will be officiating at the Mid Lancs on Saturday and have a national junior league fixture at Witton Park on Sunday. I had tickets for Birmingham but can’t go now.”