NATHAN Douglas put up a superb performance in the triple jump final at the European Championships in Berlin last night – but had to be satisfied with sixth place, writes STUART WEIR.

The Oxford City AC member opened with a season’s best leap of 16.71m which put him in second place.

He followed that with a foul and a 16.69, which left him fifth as the top eight took a final three jumps.

Douglas produced 16.59, foul and then a second 16.71, with all four of his legal jumps further than his season’s best coming into the competition.

The winner was the 2008 Olympic champion, Nelson Evora of Portugal.

“It was a good competition and I did enjoy it but I can’t help being a little disappointed and frustrated,” he said.

“But I gave it my all. The frustration is that I had a couple of fouls and perhaps they could have got me a medal.”

“The good thing is that I am out there jumping again.

“I have been jumping against Nelson Evora for years and to still be in the mix with guys like him is encouraging. It is just a shame that I did not quite nab a medal.”

He added: “Tonight has been a long time coming.

“I know I am in shape to jump 17 metres – and the fouls tonight showed that.

“It is just unfortunate that it did not work on the day and sometimes it doesn’t. That is the nature of sport and you have to take it.

“It just would have been amazing to get a medal.”