• European Athletics Championships

Ennis secures dramatic Euro gold, Farah does the double

Jessica Ennis threw a personal best in the javelin © Getty Images

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Day five gallery

Jessica Ennis added a European Championship gold to her medal collection after triumphing ahead of Nataliya Dobrynska in the heptathlon at the European Championships, while Mo Farah completed a hugely successful tournament by snatching the 5,000 metres title.

The 24-year-old held a narrow lead over Dobrynska heading into the final event - the 800m - but she betrayed no signs of nerves as she stormed to victory.

Ennis was passed by her main rival with 200m to go, but then she found an extra gear to leave the rest of the field trailing in her wake over the home straight.

After triumphing in the dramatic late showdown in a time of 2:010.18 - enough to give her a championship record of 6823 points - Ennis can now add the European gold to the World Championship title she sealed in 2009.

The gap between Ennis and Dobrynska was cut to a mere 18 points - the lowest it had been since day one - after the javelin competition. Both produced new personal bests in the event, with the Ukrainian's 49.25m outstripping 46.71m from the Brit, before Ennis proved her class in the two-lap battle.

"It's been a completely different experience this year," Ennis said. "Having people so close on my heels, pushing me all the way, has been nerve-wracking. But it's been brilliant, it's just the greatest feeling to have won again - unbelievable.

"I had to raise my game at every level today and yesterday, and I feel I have. I'm so proud of the year I've had and I'm just happy to have finished now."

Farah sealed an unprecedented long-distance double - he also took the 10,000m title - by destroying the competition to breeze to victory in 13:31.18 and complete the best week of his career to date, while Chris Thompson finished in eighth.

"It wasn't easy, I worked so hard for it and I can't believe I'm double champion - if you'd have said this to me three months ago then I would have settled for that," Farah said.

Dai Greene justified his status as the red-hot favourite for the 400m hurdles as he led a British one-two, with Rhys Williams second. Greene sealed a comfortable victory - GB's first gold in the event since 1990 - in 48.12 seconds, crossing the line around ten metres ahead of training partner Williams. Ukraine's Stanislav Melnykov grabbed the bronze medal after finishing a distant third.

Dai Greene starred in the 400m hurdles © Getty Images

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"I know I can go under that 48 barrier, I hit some of those hurdles high tonight," Greene said. "I expected a gold medal performance."

Michael Rimmer came agonisingly close to triumphing in the 800m, but he was forced to settle for second place behind Marcin Lewandowski. Rimmer lurked with intent in the early stages after attaching himself to the shoulder of the pacesetter, before surging into the lead with 300m remaining.

He was overtaken by a burst from Lewandowski on the home straight before battling back to ensure a tight finish. Ultimately his efforts were in vain as he completed 0.1 seconds behind the Polish victor, with Adam Kszczot in the bronze position.

"I'm quite disappointed," Rimmer said. "Fair play to Marcin, he put me under pressure - which caught me by surprise, but I still thought I'd have enough. Maybe I just tightened up a little bit and let him squeeze ahead."

There was huge disappointment for Carl Myerscough in the shot put - he never threatened eventual winner Andrei Mikhnevich, and finished well down in 12th spot.

Elsewhere, the women's 200m gold went to Myriam Soumare in 22.32 seconds - the fastest time in Europe this year, while Nevin Yanit beat Ireland's second-placed Derval O'Rourke, who set a national record, to glory in the 100m hurdles.

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