WORLD triple jump record holder Jonathan Edwards, who disappointed North-East fans by refusing to compete on home territory in the European Cup last month, hopes to make amends with a victory in the Norwich Union Classic at Gateshead International Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday.

The adopted Tynesider chose to travel to Israel for special training last month after a dreadful start to the season, leaving Larry Achike to take his place and help Great Britain to a thrilling half-point victory.

But Edwards returned from his break to hit top form in the Norwich Union British Grand Prix at Crystal palace last weekend, proding a summer's best 17.34m with his first jump to record a morale-boosting victory as he steps up his preparations for next month's Olympic Games in Australia.

Now the 34-year-old Gateshead Harrier intends to compete in Zurich on Friday night before returning for the AAA Championships and Olympic Trials at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium.

Edwards said: "I was disappointed not to compete in the European Cup at Gateshead and I was very happy that Larry Achike did well and won the event.

"I just felt that if I had jumped at Gateshead at the time I would not have done myself justice.

"I felt it would be better for me to go to Israel to get my mind right and get my fitness back.

"At Crystal Palace I was a bit apprehensive on the run up and it was a great relief to come up with a winning first jump to show I was back to top form.

"Now I'm looking forward to competing here at the end of the month and I want to try to make amends for the crowd's disappointment about me not being there in the European Cup."

Edwards, meanwhile, claimed his nearest challenger for Olympic glory is jumping "like a donkey".

He has been less than impressed with the form of the current world champion, German Charles Friedek.

"It's been a funny season and nobody's jumping very well," he said.

"Friedek has jumped 17.41m this year, but now he's jumping like a donkey.

"Kapustin is also jumping awfully. The Italian Fabrizio Donato has reached 17.60m this year and he's just jumped 16.50m.

"But the triple jump is such a fickle event - I've shown that in the last four years.

"We've all been training with one goal in mind and we're on a knife's edge.

"You just can't take anything for granted."

"There will be another World Championship and another European Championship for me, but there will not be another Olympics.

l New Marske Harrier Sharon Gayter, the UK 24-hour champion, has been chosen to represent Great Britain in the IAU 100K World Challenge at Winschoten, Holland, on September 9.