HOLLY Bleasdale may not compete again until August’s World Championships following a disapointing performance in the European Team Championships in Gateshead on Saturday.

But it was better news for Sophie Hitchon who broke her own British record in the hammer on Sunday to secure her place in the Worlds in Russia.

Hitchon threw 72.97m as she extended her record by 99 centimetres off her previous best.

The throw was enough for third place with German Betty Heidler winning the event with a throw of 74.31m.

Hitchon said: “I can’t believe it, I’m so pleased.”

It was not such good news for Bleasdale who failed who entered the pole vault competition at the 4.25m stage but failed three times in wet and windy conditions – something that also troubled her during last year’s Olympics.

Blackburn Harrier Bleasdale said she had been struggling with both a back and an Achilles problem and had been close to pulling out of the competition.

She said: “I’ve come back from America with two little injuries and I’ve been in Loughborough trying to get it sorted out.

“I had a really good training week last week when I had no pain in my Achilles or my back, but my Achilles flared up again out there. It is really upsetting.

“But I’m still confident I can get this right for the World Championships (in August). I just need to be sensible, if that means I don’t do any competitions leading up to it that’s what I’ll have to do.”