OXFORDSHIRE’S Lawrence Clarke said he got distracted after failing to reach the final of the 110 metres hurdles at the European Championships in Amsterdam on Saturday.

Clarke, from Christmas Common, near Watlington, was third in his heat but only tenth fastest overall.

The race was won by Dimitri Bascou, Clarke’s training partner in Paris.

Clarke, who has already qualified for this summer’s Olympics, said: “I got distracted by my training partner next to me – it is the cardinal sin.

“I was suddenly catching him, but I hit the last hurdle. I’ve come here and made a mistake and that cannot happen in Rio.”

I got a really good start. One thing I didn’t do was follow my decision in my warm up which was to follow the wind which is in the stadium. I usually practice with the wind and I should have done that. These are all things that are really important.

“My coach will be beating me with a stick for the next four weeks to make sure I don’t get distracted again but there is plenty to learn from.”

“Obviously I am disappointed because I could have made the final, I think I was ahead of him after the last hurdle. I don’t know what it was but I just lost it.”