ROBERT Tobin is hoping to force his way into the reckoning for the European Championships by running a fast time this weekend.

The Old Basing sprinter finished fourth in the 400m at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships – but he has not given up hope of earning a place in the individual event in Barcelona.

The selection panel will meet on Monday, and Tobin wants to give them a difficult decision to make by running inside the qualifying time of 45.55sec at a meeting in Switzerland this weekend.

“It is possible that I might still earn an individual place at the European Championships,” the 26-year-old said.

“I just need to run a quick time and leave it to the selectors to decide who to take.”

Tobin has endured a frustrating year after suffering a series of injuries.

He went to the UK Championships in Birmingham as defending champion but not really knowing what to expect.

He ran well in his heat, winning in 45.89secs, a season’s best – and the Basingstoke and Mid Hants man went quicker again in the final, running 45.84 to finish fourth behind Martyn Rooney, Michael Bingham and Conrad Williams.

“It was not a disaster to come fourth,” Tobin said.

“It was the first time I have run two days consecutively for a long time and I came through without any problems so it was not too bad at all.

“I am still a bit disappointed that I did not run a bit better in the final because the heat felt really good.

“The first 100m were just not very good. I did not drive out of the blocks as well as I needed to.”

Even if he is not selected to run the 400m, Tobin’s result in Birmingham should ensure that he is in the relay squad for the European Championships later this month.

“Making the relay squad was one of my main aims at the trials because I want to be involved in that,” he said.

“Some of the top runners in Europe are British so it is quite tough to make the team, but I have probably done that now.”

Another Basingstoke and Mid Hants athlete hoping to run in a major championship is Andy Blow, who has his sights set on the English team for the Commonwealth Games despite a disappointing run in Birmingham.

The 24-year-old finished second in his 400m hurdles heat in a time of 51.10 to qualify for the final as a fastest loser.

Drawn in lane eight, he was not at his best in the final, finishing seventh in 51.50.

“I was a little bit disappointed with the way it went,” he said.

“The key thing was to make the final, which I did, but I also wanted to take a step towards the Commonwealth Games qualifying time of 50.00.”

Four other Basingstoke and Mid Hants athletes were also in action at the UK Championships.

Anthony Higbee finished third in his heat of the 110m hurdles before coming fifth in the B final, while Richard Fox (400m hurdles), Mark Berridge (800m) and Rob Whittle (1,500m) were all knocked out in the heats after finishing seventh.

Hook distance runner Charlie Purdue took part in her first race of an injury-hit season, finishing seventh in the 10,000m.