Sussex No.1 Ritchie Venner plays for Darlington in the European Nancy Evans Cup, featuring 56 teams in Cordoba, Spain, this weekend.

Venner's side are in a group of four including clubs from Portugal, Spain and Germany, who will be odd-ons to win the section.

The German side include former Chinese national squad player Ding Song, plus three internationals, Damien Eloi (France), Torben Vosik (Germany) and Jens Lundquist (Sweden).

Venner said: "That will be the strongest team I have ever played against. But the good news is that two teams go through to the second stage, so we must beat the Spanish and Portuguese sides."

Two Brighton-based coaches are in the news. Sussex national councillor David Berriman has been promoted as south east region coaching chairman.

Matthew Shorter, 18, has won the Young Coach of the Year, award at a national ceremony at Lilleshall. He has been coaching since he was aged 11.

Nicola Deaton, the reigning English champion and Alex Perry, the 1999 England title holder, will be coaching next month at Bevendean Primary School, Brighton.

Details will be announced shortly.