14 May 2010

Competition will be fierce in the high jump at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, with the quest for European success on offer.

With only three places available in the Aviva GB and NI team headed for Barcelona for the Europeans, Samson Oni, Tom Parsons, Martyn Bernard and Germaine Mason will battle it out to ensure they are not left behind.

Oni, who recently finished a respectable seventh position at the World Indoor Championships in Doha, and is currently the highest ranked GB high jumper in the world, could be deemed the marginal favourite.

He said: “I’ve had a positive start to this year and I’m really keen to keep competing and maintain pole position on the rankings – obviously I would love a spot at the Europeans, it’s definitely in my sights and I’m pushing for it.

“Previous results have shown that the competition is fierce between myself and my competitors, but this year I hope to come out on top at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships."

Oni’s last appeared at the Alexander Stadium in 2009 saw him take second place against the in form Mason who was soon to be dealt with an injury blow that would rule him out for the rest of the year.

Also vying for team places are Parsons and Bernard, both made the high jump final in Beijing and are keen to emulate Mason who brought home the silver medal that evening.

Parsons has had a positive start to 2010 with a ninth position at the World Indoor Championships in Doha and podium positions throughout the majority of his recent competitions.

He said: “I’m looking forward to competing at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships, I’ve competed in Birmingham a lot over the years and I know that there will be a good level of competition there.

“I’ve done pretty well in the UK Championships before and I definitely want to get my hands on the national title but I know that there is going to be some tough competition, high jumpers in the UK are definitely increasing and getting better all the time.”

Commonwealth silver medallist Bernard has taken a step away from competing throughout the indoor season, choosing to participate at the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships in Sheffield over 400 metres.

Although he did not have the result he would have wished for at the last European Championships in Gothenburg 2006, where he exited in the qualifying rounds, he is hopeful for the 2010 season ahead.

He said: “I’m pretty optimistic about the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships, obviously I have not competed much during the indoor season so I’m looking forward to getting myself out there and pitting myself against the other boys.

“I would really like to get out to the Europeans again, it’s definitely an aim after getting there in 2006 and I’m confident that I can get a better result than that – it will just mean really pushing for it.”

Tickets for the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, on 25th – 27th June are available by phone on 08000 556 056 or online at www.uka.org.uk 

To celebrate the start of the IAAF Diamond League, today, UKA are offering tickets to all their Major Events, including the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships, at a 10% discount for one week only.  For more information go to www.uka.org.uk or phone 08000 556 056