MIDDLESBROUGH long jumper Chris Tomlinson continued his Berlin World Championship preparations in fine style by landing gold at the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham at the weekend.

With fierce rival Greg Rutherford missing with a hamstring tears – Tomlinson was the nailed-on favourite to top the podium and the Newham and Essex Beagle didn’t disappoint.

Tomlinson jumped over eight metres for the sixth time this season – winning the event in Birmingham at a canter with a leap of 8.03m – with fellow Newham and Essex Beagle Andrew Fernandez 48cm back in second.

Calf and Achilles injuries have halted Tomlinson’s charge at both last year’s Olympic Games and March’s European Indoor Championships.

But the perennial major championship under-achiever has found some consistency in recent weeks, winning in Spain, Italy and at the inaugural Super8 event in Cardiff – jumping a season’s best of 8.23m in Malles, Italy last month in the process.

And Tomlinson now has eyes firmly focussed on bettering his personal best of 8.29m in the coming weeks as he looks to finally make his mark when it matters most at a major championship final.

“My main aim was to come here and win and I have achieved that so I am very happy,” said Tomlinson.

“It is important for me to keep jumping over eight metres because that is where world class jumping begins.

“It is always nice to come to your own national championships and win and especially to jump over eight metres it really brings a smile to my face.

“The aim now for the rest of the summer is to keep jumping well first and foremost and also to move on my own British record.”

Tomlinson is refusing to set himself any targets in the coming weeks as he looks to avoid yet more disappointment at a major championship when he arrives in Berlin next month.

The 28-year-old, who dismissed claims the absence of great rival Rutherford had meant he faced no world class competition in Birmingham, is desperate not to set himself up for a fall in the coming weeks.

“I am feeling really good and really confident about the worlds but I am not setting myself any targets – I just want to go there and have a good time,” added Tomlinson.

“I don’t want to heap unnecessary pressure on myself.

“It is a shame that Greg Rutherford (out with a grade one hamstring tear) wasn’t competing because we always have a good battle but you can only beat who is in front of you.

“I am just going to go away now and train really hard before the worlds and hope the standard there will make me raise my game even more – I don’t want to make predictions about Berlin though.”

Meanwhile, Jess Ennis and Philips Idowu both announced their world title intentions with confident victories at the Aviva UK Athletics Championships.

Heptathlon hopeful Ennis jumped a season’s best 1.91 metres to win the women’s high jump, while Olympic silver medallist Idowu needed just one attempt to win a fifth national triple jump title with a leap of 17.05m.

“I’m really pleased,” said Ennis, who missed last year’s Beijing Olympics due to an ankle injury. I had three good attempts at 1.94m. I’m a bit disappointed not to get it but next time I think I can have it, hopefully in Berlin.”

Elsewhere, sprinter Dwain Chambers, who was expected to go for a sprint double, withdrew from the 200m.

Chambers, ranked second in the 200m, was beaten by Simeon Williamson in the 100 but is still likely to run both sprints at the Worlds next month having clocked the Astandard qualification time four times.

“Just because I had a glitch, I’m not going to stop,” said Chambers.

“I haven’t had to fight for anything domestically but now I do.

“I have had to deal with worse. The loss will give me that extra buzz to get back.

I’ve got to work and I’ll bounce back.”

■ As Principal Partner of UKA, McCain has a long term commitment to athletics that will have a significant impact on the development of athletic talent in the UK and will increase opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in the sport. For more information, go to www.mccaintrackandfield.co.uk