ATHLETICS:Qualification was a little bumpy and several definite contenders emerged in the process - and it's also clear both David Gillick and Alistair Cragg have a real battle on their hands to retain their European Indoor crowns.

Later the British team lodged a protest against Gillick over an alleged infringement with Robert Tobin but the jury promptly dismissed it.

At least they've given themselves every chance to repeat that golden double of two years ago. Gillick was in the Birmingham arena twice yesterday, starting with round one of the 400 metres, which he handily won in 46.70 seconds. He returned in the evening for the semi-finals, when things got a little more interesting.

Going in the second semi-final, Gillick embarked on a surprisingly hectic battle for the victory with Britain's Robert Tobin. While the top three were assured of qualifying, Gillick wanted more, and fought hard to get past Tobin in the closing strides - taking the win in 46.16 seconds, to Tobin's 46.19. Aren't you supposed to qualify with the minimum of fuss?

"No, I think that was a necessary," said Gillick. "I didn't push it too hard over the first 200, running off Tobin. I went to get just in front before the last bend, and it did get bumpy. But that's indoor running. There's nothing wrong with a little argy-bargy now and again. And you can learn from that. It does give you a slight psychological edge. And it was important to win to get a good lane draw for the final."

He now gets the all-important lane five for this afternoon's final, and judging by the first semi-final, the man he'll be chasing down is Germany's Bastian Swillims, who won in a lifetime best of 45.92 seconds. Tobin and Sweden's Johan Wissman will also be thinking about gold.

"Well that's end of day one, and I'm smiling," added Gillick. "If you're not in you can't win. I'll come out and give it a real go. The German is obviously a threat. I beat him earlier on but in fairness he has come on a bit. But there are six guys in there and we're all a threat to each other."

Two years ago, en route to his gold medal in Madrid, Gillick won his semi-final in 46.17, but he's a stronger athlete this time, and if it is a true-run race he'll be hard to beat.

Earlier, in the morning sessions unloved by distance runners, Cragg had to work and concentrate hard to book his place in today's 3,000-metre final - taking a close third behind the big Spanish threat Jesús España. While Cragg always looked safe, his 7:53.18 quicker than the 7:54.91 he ran to qualify two years ago, this time there are clearly several more athletes capable of beating him.

In fact Cragg admitted he was running a little scared, perhaps still haunted a little by his traumas of last summer: "I'm pretty scared to go against these guys again after what happened outdoors. I'm not scared of them; I'm just scared of failing. I don't really care about anyone else in the race. If I go out there and give 100 per cent and run the race of my life, and finish fifth, then I'll be happy. But I want to go out there now and give it all I've got. I suppose I'm more scared of myself than the others."

The dangers of qualifying rounds were highlighted when the local favourite Mo Farah tripped and fell around the halfway mark, looking positively dazed as he jumped back to his feet, and briefly running in the wrong direction. Incredibly, despite losing some 80 metres, Farah regained contact with the leaders and qualified in sixth place as a fastest loser in 7:55.36.

Cragg still had to deal with some bumping and chopping, but once he made his first decisive move to the front with 800 metres remaining it was clear he would qualify. España exploded past him at the bell, and Cragg went with him, before easing up in the final few metres to allow the Austrian Günther Weidlinger sneak through for second.

"When España came past me I knew I was still in the top four," said Cragg. "I knew he was going to be a competitor tomorrow, so it was just one of those things. But I felt fine. I'm not going to say it was a walk in the park . . . I never quite get into a rhythm until I hit the lead."

España, Farah and the Frenchman Bouabdellah Tahri, who took third in his heat in 7:55.04, are all capable of beating him, but just like Gillick, Cragg is still primed to defend his title - provided he gets his tactics right.

"I don't see myself rabbiting these guys. There's no need to help someone else. It's not going to be the last 50 metres either, but I'm confident in my speed and I don't think any of these guys are quicker than me. As long as I still have my legs underneath me going into the last 600 metres then it'll be a good race."

Just as in Madrid two years ago, today's finals take place within the hour - Cragg off at 3.40, followed by Gillick at 4.20. Whether or not they manage to repeat the double, these are two races not to be missed.