ST NEOTS high jumper Robbie Grabarz left the European Indoor Championships in Paris somewhat red-faced but he’s convinced he’ll be in the pink by the time the summer rolls around.

ST NEOTS high jumper Robbie Grabarz left the European Indoor Championships in Paris somewhat red-faced but he’s convinced he’ll be in the pink by the time the summer rolls around.

In his first major senior international competition, the 23-year-old cleared 2.12m but then fluffed his lines with all three attempts at 2.17m.

The 2009 English under-23 champion would have needed another 10 centimetres to advance to the final and his best effort was a full 16cm down on his personal best, set last year in Cardiff.

As a result, Grabarz struggled to find positives from his Parisian outing, although with the European U23 Championships and the senior World Championships on the horizon this summer, he remains convinced his disappointment will be the exception, not the rule.

“It was really disappointing, it was my first major senior international competition and to be honest it’s a bit disheartening and embarrassing to perform like that,” admitted Grabarz.

“There are no excuses really, my run-up just wasn’t right all day and so I just didn’t perform anywhere near as well as I know I can.

“I’m in great physical shape at the moment and know that I’m capable of a lot better. There aren’t really that many positives to take other than the fact that this is my first competition and things will have to get better.

“Looking ahead it’s a very exciting summer. I feel great and in the best shape I’ve ever been in so if I go away and do plenty of work on my run-up and get things right then I think the future is very bright.”

In competing in his first senior GB vest, Grabarz could be forgiven for a few butterflies on the eve of his international bow where he was competing against the likes of world and European indoor champion Ivan Ukhov of Russia.

But the Loughborough University athlete revealed he was too relaxed at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy and admitted that is something he will have to rectify.

“I expected to be nervous and that was playing on my mind beforehand but to be honest I think that I relaxed too much,” added Grabarz.

“I think you need a certain amount of nerves and I just didn’t really have any, You need to get the adrenalin pumping but I wasn’t at that stage and so that’s something I’ll have to work on at major competitions.”

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