Eilidh Child found being part of the Great Britain team that finished third at the European Team Championships in Portugal yesterday a good learning experience.

“At first I was a bit start struck being around the likes of Dwain Chambers, Christine and Marlon Devonish,” said the Kinross 22 year old.  “But everyone was friendly and helpful and I really enjoyed the experience of being in a team, with everyone getting behind each other.  Normally you are out for yourself.”

On Sunday the Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport supported athlete helped the GB women’s 4x400 relay team to third place.

“I would have liked to have been a place up and I should have gone out a bit harder because I was strong coming in the home straight and I had a bit too much left,” admitted Eilidh.

“But that was my first one and Christine (Ohuruogu) said to me afterwards it’s all about learning how to do it and getting the experience.”

On the previous day Eilidh finished fourth in the 400m hurdles. Her time, 55.48, was just outside her PB of 55.46 seconds set earlier this month but it is inside the A qualifying for this summer’s World Championships. 

The weekend was another confidence boost for her more immediate aims of competing in the European under 23 Championships.  She has already achieved a qualifying time.  The final fence is a top two finish in this weekend’s trials at the AAAs event in Bedford.

“I’ve got the qualifying times, now I need to make sure I’m in the first two at the AAAs next weekend,” she said.

“It all depends who’s running, and there’s one girls who has done a 56 this year and will give me a good race, but hopefully I should come away with first or second...hopefully first obviously.”