Russia has the honour of winning 50 gold medals at the European Athletics Indoor Championships and this year's event in G teborg, which starts a fortnight on Friday, is likely to see that number increase.

In the wake of Jimmy Vicaut's excellent 6.53 in D sseldorf last Friday, it was easy to miss the man in the outside lane who was also gaining ground in the final metres.

A total of 77 representatives from across Europe took part in the Combined Events Conference held in Tallinn on 30-31 January.

Irish sprinter Brian Gregan is ready to follow a tradition which made his country the dominant force over the 400 metres at the European Athletics Indoor Championships.

As good as his word, Robbie Grabarz delivered in style to win the high jump at the British Athletics European Trials & UK Championships in Sheffield.

It was billed as the duel between the young pretender and the champion, but on Friday evening in D sseldorf Jimmy Vicaut swatted away the double European sprint champion, Christophe Lemaitre, in an impressive display of board sprinting.