Britain finish third in European Team Championships

Weaknesses in the jumping and throwing events cost the British side as they lost their overnight one-point lead from the first day - something which regularly happened in the European Cup.

Yesterday victories from Dwain Chambers, who added the 200m title to his 100m success, and Andy Turner in the 110m hurdles complemented other wins in the opening session from Tim Benjamin (400m), David Greene (400m hurdles), Mo Farah (5,000m) and Emily Freeman, a surprise 100m champion.

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee acknowledged the weaknesses in several of the field events.

"Obviously when we travel somewhere, the aim is to win but finishing third is acceptable" he said.
However, van Commenee was pleased overall and acknowledged Chambers, now a recognised member of the national squad after being tolerated last season, had played a major role.

"Given his status and the opposition it is not a surprise that he won but then I'm very happy he agreed to substitute at the last minute," said van Commenee.

Chambers, after steamrollering his opponents in the 100m, repeated the feat after volunteering to run the 200m when Rikki Fifton pulled a hamstring in the 4x100m relay.

His second success, where he clocked an impressive time of 20.55 seconds in sweltering conditions, have helped persuade the reformed drug cheat to attempt a double at the world championships in August.

"I will try my best at the 100m and 200m in Berlin," said Chambers, who realises how difficult it will be just reaching the finals.
Having achieved victories in temperatures around 35 degrees on each day, the 31-year-old said: "It's good be a team player but I'm definitely smashed.

"The 200m is not my specialist event and I didn't know what I could do against these guys.

"I am very tired, the weather is very hot but I have to do this in order to become stronger and faster.

"This was about getting points for the team. I thought, go for it and not to lose."

Turner, who was stripped of his lottery funding last November, continued his string of recent successes in Europe with a time of 13.42sec although a back injury made him a doubtful starter until close to the meeting.

"This time last week I couldn't stand up straight," said the European and Commonwealth bronze medallist. "I wasn't sure whether I would be here until two or three days ago.

"I'm just happy to be here and take care of the business."

Turner, who clocked 13.42sec, is determined to continue his career despite the lack of funding and has now put the situation to the back of his mind, concentrating solely on his ambition of running at the 2012 London Olympics.

He said: "I don't care about the matter anymore it's been going on for so long.

"Obviously it's frustrating not to be on funding and the fact I haven't got access to the physio's and all that kind of stuff."

Chrissy Ohuruogu and Phillips Idowu, the Olympic 400m gold and triple jump silver medallists, were the were only other Brits to make a podium finish yesterday with the men's 4x400m relay team winning decisively and the women placing third.

Ohuruogu, stepping down to 200m and competing although unwell, was third in 23.40sec while Idowu lost a thriller by nine centimetres to Nelson Evora the Portuguese star who defeated him for the gold medal in Beijing.