BLACKBURN Harriers ace Holly Bleasdale proved the star attraction at the UK Indoor Championships yesterday as she defended her national crown with relative east.

The 20-year-old put on a stylish show in front of a close-to-sell out crowd at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport, wrapping up the title with her first jump of the competition at 4.52m.

Chorley’s Bleasdale, who has shot to prominence in the pole vault in recent months, then upped the bar to 4.72m and successfully cleared the height on her second attempt.

The world indoor all-time number three vaulter then set the bar at a would-be UK record and world-leading mark of 4.89m but Bleasdale, who has made some technical changes since her stunning 4.87m personal best in France last month, failed to clear it.

However, it was another superb display from Bleasdale, arguably GB’s athlete of 2012 so far, ahead of next week’s AVIVA Grand Prix in Birmingham, where she will be challenging the likes of Anna Rogowska and Silke Spiegelburg.

“I was really pleased with my performance. I’d be lying if I said I was disappointed,” said Bleasdale. “I’ve said all along that I just want consistency in my competitions, so to jump a 4.70m is really pleasing.

“In my mind I’ve wanted to do 4.70m’s and 4.75m’s every time I go out.

“I’m only really getting used to the 16 step approach.

“I had a long summer of the shorter approach and then just two sessions of 16, and today’s competition, so I’m encouraged.

“Of course I would have loved to have broken the record right at the end there, but I'm just looking forward to Birmingham next weekend now.

“There are some fantastic athletes competing and a packed out stadium so I can’t wait.

“The atmosphere is going to be amazing. I’ve got that and the World Indoor Championships coming up, so I’m saving my big jump for then.”

Bleasdale added: “I’m training harder, lifting heavier weights, doing more sprinting and working on my technique. I love competing in big stadiums, I thrive off it.”

In second place, Bleasdale’s training partner British Junior record holder Katie Byres set a new age group mark clearing 4.37m to continue her own impressive progression in the event.

n Dwain Chambers today ensured he will be able to defend his World Indoor title in Istanbul next month with a hard-fought victory at the Aviva UK Trials and Championships in Sheffield.

But the 33-year-old also admitted he has one eye on the London Olympics ahead of the court case which will decide if he can compete on home soil this summer.

The British Olympic Association will argue before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on March 12 that the BOA's bylaw, which bans convicted drugs cheats from competing in the Olympic Games, does not violate the World Anti-Doping Association code.

“That is in my mind but it's out of my hands,” Chambers said.

“I have to prepare and if the door opens at least I am prepared and I can compete to the best of my ability.”