Bold Burton gathers gong in Vienna

TRANENT'S Euan Burton salvaged another bronze medal to add to his collection at the European Championships in Vienna last night.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Apr 2010, 12:25 BST
Updated 24th Apr 2010, 13:45 BST

The 31-year-old already owned three bronzes at world and European level and won his opening 81kg bout against the Ukrainian Arutyun Sarskisyan. But Burton then lost the Pool A final to former world champion Guillaume Elmont of Holland.

The Scot had one last chance via the repechage system and took it with both hands as he overcame Romanian Sergiu Toma and Frenchman Antoine Jeannin to make it onto the medal podium.

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"I am more relieved than delighted to get the bronze," he admitted. "Having come into the tournament to win and become European champion, it's disappointing not to do that. I was in good condition and felt strong all the way through, but going into the bronze medal fight I just didn't want to give him a chance.

"It's always tough against the French – they are strong, technically sound and well-prepared, so I just had to go out hard."

Burton's girlfriend and Edinburgh club-mate Sally Conway was beaten in the first round of the 70kg category.