Tomlinson shuts out rivalry (From The Northern Echo)

Tomlinson shuts out rivalry

9:50am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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CHRIS TOMLINSON admits he has let his British rival Greg Rutherford get under his skin but insists domestic rivalry will be the last thing on his mind at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Rutherford first upstaged Tomlinson at last summer’s World Championships when he broke the Middlesbroughborn athlete’s British long jump record on his way to fifth in Berlin – while Tomlinson was eighth.

His GB rival repeated the trick at the World Indoor Trials in Sheffield last month leaving an angry Tomlinson questioning his international future.

But while admitting the Battle of Britain had gone to his head in the Steel City, Tomlinson has vowed to keep his eyes firmly on the prize in Doha this week.

“I think maybe I got a bit too caught up in the rivalry in Sheffield and let it get to me but that’s all gone now,” said Tomlinson – who is part of a 38-strong Aviva GB&NI team heading to the Middle East.

“I went to Sheffield and I really wanted to win against Greg and it was a bit of a grudge match so when I didn’t get the outcome I wanted it was very frustrating.

“When I said after Sheffield that I wouldn’t go to a major international again until I was confident I was jumping well enough to compete I was being serious.

“But then in the last few weeks I have had some really good sessions and I am feeling really confident that I can go there and jump 8.15m or 8.20m which I think would get me a medal.

“It’s good to have a domestic rivalry but I am just looking forward to Doha now.”

Also on the plane to the Middle East will be Gateshead-born 400m runner Vicki Barr. The 27-year-old was not selected to run in the individual competition so will only take to the track in the 4x400m relay.

But Barr – who finished an agonising fourth in the relay at last year’s World Championships – revealed the solo event was never on her radar with the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games still to come in 2010.

“Competing in Doha in the individual 400m was never really something I wanted to do because it is a very long season this year,” said Barr.

■ Visa is proud to be Presenting Partner of Team 2012, a team of 1,200 athletes across the UK who are aiming to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For more information go to lifeflowsbetter.com