DALE GARLAND won his second 4x400m relay medal in successive European Indoor Championships with a gold in Birmingham yesterday which confirmed Britain as table-toppers in the three-day event at the National Indoor Arena. Garland ran the second leg as GB crossed the line in second place behind Germany who were later disqualified.

Although the Guernseyman was fractionally the slowest of the home quartet, he had the excuse of being elbowed by a Polish rival and then chopped by a Russian.

He had been handed the baton in the lead after a superb first leg by the squad’s fastest man, individual bronze medallist Rob Tobin.

As the Channel Islands’ most celebrated athlete handed over to Phil Taylor, Britain were lying joint second.

Taylor ran a storming third and Steve Green, who is a training parter of Garland’s and who ran at last summer’s Blue Islands British Challenge Cup at Foote’s Lane, dodged a falling medal challenger to finish just behind the German.

Garland was not surprised by the judges’ decision to disqualify the Germans.

‘I saw what happened and when I did I immediately thought he [Bastian Swillims] may well go,’ said the island’s elite performance director from his hotel prior to heading to a banquet where the medals would be presented.

The medal, which will be on show at Foote’s Lane tomorrow evening when he returns for a fortnight break to coach local youngsters, made up for his below-par run in the individual event on Friday.

‘I was disappointed with my individual run. A lack of fitness [after injury] caught up with me.

‘It wasn’t the quickest relay run I’ve ever done either.

‘But I got hit twice. The Polish runner nearly knocked the baton out of my hand and then a Russian hit me and cut me up.’

Garland is proving something of a lucky omen for British indoor relay squads who benefit from disqualifications.

A year earlier, in Italy, Britain were heading for fourth spot in the corresponding event, but Poland interfered with a Spanish runner who fell and Britain were elevated to silver medal position.