CHRIS Tomlinson admits it’s time to put his money where his mouth is and return from this summer’s European adventure in Barcelona with more than experience to declare.

The 28-year-old continued his excellent recent form on Wednesday by leaping to long jump victory at the 2010 Super8 in Glasgow with a best effort of 7.96m, good enough to take maximum points for Gateshead at the revamped Scotstoun Stadium.

It’s a victory that comes hot on the heels of gold at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham earlier this month, which confirmed his spot on the plane to Barcelona.

Tomlinson is no stranger to the European stage, having donned the GB vest in both 2002 and 2006, but to date, sixth and ninth-place finishes in Munich and Gothenburg respectively are the best he could muster.

UKA head coach, Charles van Commenee, has recently suggested eight gold medals is achievable for Great Britain’s 72-strong squad bound for Barcelona, and Tomlinson will be among those considered able to contribute to that tally.

But as he bids to make it third time lucky in terms of European Championships, Tomlinson admits that talk is cheap until he climbs on to the podium.

“It was nice to jump in Glasgow with my name confirmed in the squad for Barcelona but without sounding too high and mighty, I have been to the Europeans a few times now and it is about time I come away with a medal,” said Tomlinson.

“I am not bothered about turning up and getting my kit – I am only focused on picking up medals now and I need one from the Europeans.

“Those days of turning up for the experience is unfortunately gone and it is time I did my talking on the track.

“Things have been going well for me recently and in my last few competitions I have collected first-place finishes, so that is obviously a confidence booster going into Saturday in Gateshead.”

And Tomlinson, who returned to the track for a lungbusting outing in the medley relay as the curtain came down on the second ever Super8 event, admitted he loved every minute of wearing the Gateshead colours in Glasgow.

“It was a bit of fun really and I had quite a good time out there,” he added.

“I jumped just under eight metres, which isn’t great, but given a strong headwind that is not that bad and I will take that given the circumstances, and I enjoyed it.

“I like the concept of the Super 8 because I am passionate about where I am from, so to represent the North-East is great and the fact that we all come together and work as a team is really good.”

■ Super8 is based on a City v City format, the event was piloted in Cardiff in 2009 and made a long-anticipated return in Glasgow on Wednesday July 7 for more information visit www.uka.org.uk/super8