A TRIO of local high-jumpers will all be in action this week as they go for gold at the European Championships in Berlin.

The European Championships, the first multi-sport event of its kind, kicked off in Glasgow last week with cycling, swimming and gymnastics medals all up for grabs.

But the athletics events all take place in the Olympic Stadium in the German capital with Barrhead’s Nikki Manson first up tonight in the women’s qualifiers.

Barrhead News:

Paisley's Allan Smith finished fifth at the Commonwealth Games 

Manson, 24, has enjoyed a successful season and qualified to represent Great Britain last month with a third place finish at the British Athletic Championships.

The men’s qualifying, which will see both Paisley’s Allan Smith and Barrhead’s David Smith compete, begins this Friday at 19.45.

David qualified with a personal best clearance of 2.26m at the British Athletics Championships in July while Allan had to wait for selection after finishing third at the same event. 

Barrhead News:

Barrhead's David Smith in action

But Allan knows that he has the quality, and the personal best height, to challenge for medals this weekend. 

The confident 25-year-old said: “Big championships like this always bring out the best in people and I’m no different. I know that when the time comes I’ll be ready. 

“My personal best is 2.29m and it’s always around that height that the medals are decided so I just need to get the finger out this week and be at my best. I know I can jump those heights.”