NEWHAM & ESSEX BEAGLES Mo Farah once again showed he is the best 5,000m runner in Europe after his victory at the European team championships in Leira, Portugal at the weekend, writes MATT DINER. The British team, captained by Stratford s Olympic champio

NEWHAM & ESSEX BEAGLES' Mo Farah once again showed he is the best 5,000m runner in Europe after his victory at the European team championships in Leira, Portugal at the weekend, writes MATT DINER.

The British team, captained by Stratford's Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, finished a creditable third behind winners Germany and second-placed Russia, but without Farah's winning contribution would have finished behind France.

The 26-year-old was always in control of the race and he out-sprinted Spaniard Carces Castillejo to win by six seconds in a time of 13 minutes 43.01 seconds.

"I was cautious but it was exciting at the same time and the pace was not fast at all. It picked up on the sixth lap though," Farah said, before turning his attention to the major competition of the summer in Berlin.

"I am looking to the world champs, which is where I want to peak. It was good to run here, it was a tactical race and that is what it will be like at the world championships, so it was a good learning pratice."

"I've moved on from last year and I feel a lot stronger and a lot better athlete than last year. I have to stay injury-free, but things are going well and I must not over-cook it and keep doing what I'm doing, I have a good team around me and I have to just keep doing what I am doing."

Ohuruogu, competing in the 200m instead of the 400m came third in a time of 23.40 behind Pole Marta Jeschke (23.34) and winner, Russian Yuliya Gushchira (23.01).

There was further sprint success for a Beagles athlete in the 4x100m relay, with sprinter Tyrone Edgar part of the winning GB team.

He took up the second leg as he and compatriots Craig Pickering, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Simeon Williamson were too strong for the rest, coming home in a winning time of 39.26.

Steve Lewis set a season's best in the pole vault, clearing 5.55m for sixth, but there was not such good news for Beagles compatriot Chris Tomlinson in the long jump.

The Olympian leapt 8.15m last week in the European Clubs Championships and would have been brimming with confidence heading into the event.

A repeat of his previous performance would have led to a comfortable first place, but sadly he could only muster 7.78m, finishing fifth behind Eusebio Caceres of Spain who managed 8m.