West runner Robinson targets a place in Barcelona

With his status as Britain's No 1 marathon runner re-enforced after a stunning personal best in Amsterdam, Dan Robinson will ask the UK Athletics selectors for the freedom to prepare for a medal bid at the 2010 European Championships.

Robinson ran 2hrs 12mins 14secs in the Dutch capital and now hopes to be allowed to prepare properly for next year's championships in Barcelona.

The Nailsworth Olympian is too modest to shout aloud that ambition but his time has convinced him that he can be a genuine contender.

"If I can get into the shape that I had last weekend in Amsterdam or even better then there is no reason why I shouldn't aim for a top six finish and maybe something better on the day, who knows," said Robinson.

"I know I can be competitive at both the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, although you don't know which Africans will turn up for that."

The key to Robinson's ambitions will be whether the UKA selectors require him to run the official trial, incorporated into the London marathon next spring.

Should the Stroud & District AC man be told he must run the trials then that would mean tackling three major marathons in seven months which physically and mentally would be a huge, if not impossible, demand.

"In an ideal world the UK selectors would tell me I'm selected for both championships and then I can concentrate on them," added Robinson.

"They have already said that the first three British men in London will be picked for the Europeans, as long as they reach the qualifying standard of 2hrs 18mins.

"That means they could still pick me as they can take five to Barcelona but at the moment I don't know what they will do."