Chambers helps British team to third in Portugal

Published on Sunday 21 June 2009 22:32

DWAIN Chambers, the former outcast of the Aviva GB British team, emerged as its top point-scorer as the team finished third in a thriller at the inaugural European Team Championships in Portugal.

Chambers – adding to his 100 metre success in the opening session in Leiria – and Andy Turner, were the only individual champions on the second day's action, with the men's 4x400m relay quartet lifting the team into bronze medal position when winning the last event of the day.

After Saturday's victory Chambers gave his rivals a taste of the same medicine when stepping in for the injured Rikki Fifton and winning at a canter over 200m.

His second maximum points scoring success, in which he outclassed France's Martial Mbandjock and Alex Kosenkow of Poland, has now made the reformed drug cheat hungry to chase a double at the World Championships in August.

The 31-year-old European indoor 60m champion again showed why he is Europe's unchallenged No 1, making a cautious start but then breaking clear with 50m remaining, before slowing when approaching the finish line.

Chambers said: "The 200m is not my specialist event and I didn't know what I could do against these guys. This was about getting points for the team. I thought go for it and not to lose."

Chambers, who until the arrival of UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee in February found himself an unwanted member of the British team, took inspiration from his win and is now planning to double at the world championships in August.

Revealing his intentions for the first time, he said: "I will try my best at the 100m and 200m in Berlin."

Van Commenee, acknowledging Chambers' contribution, said: "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."

Turner scored the team's only other individual victory when comfortably winning the 110m hurdles in 13.42 seconds. He was stripped of his lottery funding last November but remains totally loyal to representing his country, although an injury almost precluded his appearance in Portugal.

Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and triple jump silver medallist Phillips Idowu were only other Britons to achieve an individual podium finish. Idowu lost by nine centimetres to Portugal's Nelson Evora, the Olympic champion, who came from behind with a clearance of 17.59m.

Ohuruogu, stepping down to the 200m, finished third behind Russia's Yuliya Gushchina and Marta Jeschke of Poland, who clocked 23.01seconds and 23.34. Ohuruogu, the team captain, pulled out of the 4x400m feeling unwell. The quartet finished third.

Van Commenee added: "Coming to the competition you want to win. But finishing third is acceptable.

"Obviously we had some weak events – I knew that in advance.

"But there were some positives for me, so overall I would say it was an acceptable performance."

Germany won the overall title ahead of Russia – with both teams proving more dominant in the field events.