LONG-JUMPER Chris Tomlinson insists his summer switch to London will finally help him end his major competition jinx after starting the year in style by winning the Norwich Union International in Glasgow.

The Middlesbrough-born athlete has been one of the biggest British track mysteries in the past six years.

Since bursting on to the international scene as a raw 20-year old, with a giant leap of 8.27 metres that shattered Lynn Davies' 34-year-old British long-jump record, Tomlinson has flattered to deceive.

Olympic, Commonwealth, World and European Games all passed by without a medal, a run that continued at last year's World Championships, where a below-par distance of 7.89m meant the 26-year-old failed to make the final.

Last summer's failure sparked a major lifestyle change for Tomlinson, who joined his fiancee Lucia Rovardi in London after she landed a major part in the West End musical Buddy.

After beginning his 2008 campaign with victory in Glasgow following a final round leap of 7.86m, Tomlinson is confident he will soon join his long-term partner as a top biller.

"Obviously Lucia getting a job was a big pull," said Tomlinson.

"But I also wanted a new impetus with London 2012 in mind.

"I have done a lot of the hard grunt in training and I hope to start the season well.

"When I first came on the scene I had a lot thrown at me.

One minute I'm ranked 150th in the world then, one jump later, I'm suddenly fifth.

"When you are young everybody wants to give you advice and perhaps I listened to too many people and confused myself.

"I know my major championship record is not good, and I should have won a medal by now but that's not what I'm aspiring to.

"I don't want the bronze - I want to start winning these things."

Despite failing to make his mark in Osaka, Tomlinson still ended the year as British No.1 after finally breaking his record with a leap of 8.29m in Bad Langensalza back in July.

And the former Middlesbrough AC star has been backed to come good in Olympic year by the man who is threatening to take his British crown - European silver medallist Greg Rutherford.

"Chris has had some unbelievably harsh criticism and it's just unfair. He's a great long jumper and people should remember that," said Rutherford.

"For whatever reason some things haven't worked out for him but I'm sure he can bounce back this year.

"To see him slated by some people is really harsh and he just needs a little bit of luck.

"He's the No.1 and I want to knock him off that crown but he's deserving of that title at the moment."

Meanwhile, as the GB team prepare for this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, Rutherford revealed his secret weapon - the great British pint.

"I have drunk milk for a long time and have found that it helps me recover after hard training sessions," said Rutherford. "It aides my recovery and replenishes lost nutrients."

* According to research conducted by Loughborough University, milk aids recovery after exercise more effectively than water and isotonic drinks - visit www.milkrecoveryzone.com.