Chris Tomlinson heading to Gateshead

Jun 16 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

CHRIS Tomlinson is hoping to produce a top performance in front of his home crowd when he competes against world champion Dwight Phillips at the Aviva British Grand Prix in Gateshead on the 10 July.

The former World Indoor long jump silver medallist and British record holder Tomlinson will use the Aviva British Grand Prix, Britain’s first Diamond League Event, as a crucial part of his preparations for the forthcoming European Championships, due to take place in Barcelona this August.

The Middlesbrough-born athlete, who spent time at the UKA warm weather training camp in Formia, Italy, in April, is looking forward to pitting himself against some of the World’s elite athletes when he competes in his native North East.

He said: “I’m looking forward to competing at the Aviva British Grand Prix.

“It’s always been a world class event and the fact that it’s now part of the Diamond League is tantamount to this.

“Having the opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in the world on home soil is fantastic preparation for us ahead of the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games which are happening later this year. Competing against the likes of Dwight Phillips (pictured above) will really push me to give my best performance so I’m hoping for a good result which will stand me in good stead for the European Champs.

“I love competing in the North East in front of my home crowd. The support I get is always fantastic.

“The Gateshead International Stadium is brilliant venue and the atmosphere is awesome. I always enjoy competing there.”

Phillips, the reigning world champion, broke the stadium record at the Gateshead International stadium last year with an outstanding jump of 8.39m and leads this year’s world rankings at 8.42m. The Athens Olympic champion, who finished second in the Shanghai leg of the Diamond League last month, has returned to form with recent victories in Hengelo, Rabat and Rome.

He said: “I really enjoyed competing at the Aviva British Grand Prix last year.

“I got the gold and set a new stadium record which was great so I’m looking forward to coming back this year to see if I can do even better.

“Last year was a great year for me and although there are no major competitions this year, the introduction of the Diamond League still means that I have the opportunity to compete against the best athletes in the world on a regular basis.”