Athlete Adrian Haines targets gold at European Indoor Championships

The highly successful runner, whose parents still live in Slinfold where he grew up, enjoyed the best possible preparations by winning the British M45s Indoors at the weekend.

And he won the 800m in style with a time of 2m 2.77secs, nearly eight seconds clear of his nearest rival in second place.

“I was really pleased to win it so comfortably, I was quite lucky really because it was run with the 35 year olds so they dragged me along a bit,” said Adrian, who has recently moved nearby to Gossops Green in Crawley.

“That was rather fortunate because I wanted to run close to my personal best because I’ll need to do that at the Europeans to stand any chance.”

The win saw Adrian add another British title to his collection. And having won 800m Silver at last year’s Europeans in Zittau, Germany, and taken Bronze medals in both the 800m and 1,500m at the World Indoors in Canada in 2010, he would dearly love to claim the one colour really missing from his collection in San Sebastian.

He said: “I ran the 800m in a personal best of 2m 1.4s to win Silver in Zittau last year which I was delighted with.

“And I think I’ll have to run there or there abouts to have a chance of winning in Spain.

“I’m in better shape than I was last year, where I had a shin injury so could only train two weeks before.

“I’m confident I can do well and be in the mix, but you never know how any race will go and it’s about performing on the day. Last year I messed up the 1,500m which does make you doubt yourself, but then I went and got a silver in the 800m which was a real bonus.”

Adrian flies out today (Sunday) with the championships beginning on Tuesday (March 19).