ROBERT Tobin was “delighted” to claim his first UK outdoor title – and now he can begin preparing for next month’s World Championships.

The Old Basing athlete raced away to a comfortable victory in the final of the 400m at the UK Championships, which doubled as the world trials, last Sunday – leading the race from start to finish to claim gold in a time of 45.84sec.

The British team for the World Championships will not be announced until after the London Grand Prix, which takes place next weekend, but Tobin should be assured of a place in both the individual and relay events, having won the trials and previously achieved the qualifying time of 45.50sec.

“I am delighted to have got my first British title outdoors,” he said. “It was good to win and hopefully earn a place at the World Championships.”

Tobin has not competed at a major championships as an individual since 2006 and is looking forward to returning to the big time in Berlin.

“It will be good to compete on the biggest stage again and qualifying has been my aim for the season,” he said. “I am really looking forward to it but it is going to be tough just to make the semi-finals. The heats will be very competitive so my aim is to get through to the semis and then see what happens once I am there.”

Tobin reached the final at the Alexander Stadium, in Birmingham, after winning both his heat and semi-final.

He was drawn in lane five, in between major threats Michael Bingham and Conrad Williams, but when Bingham, the fastest Briton over the distance this season, withdrew due to a hamstring problem, Tobin found himself with an empty lane outside him, making it harder for him to get his pace right.

This did not prove to be much of a problem, though, as the 25-year-old ran a solid race, leading throughout and running away from Williams in the home straight.

“It was a tough lane draw but I coped well,” he said. “The plan was to be in contention at 250 metres and come home strongly and I did that. I was pleased to run away in the home straight because that is what I do at my best.”

Bingham joined Martyn Rooney, who finished sixth at last year’s Olympics, and Tim Benjamin, a former world finalist, on the sidelines. While Tobin would have preferred to run against the trio, he does not feel that their absence detracts from his victory.

“Obviously, I would have liked to have everyone there running because that can make you run a bit quicker,” Tobin said. “You can only beat the people there, though, and that is what I concentrated on.”

Tobin is not in action this weekend but is hoping to race at the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace as part of his build-up to the world event.