Sufolk race walker Callum Wilkinson suffered a disappointing day at the European Championships in Berlin as he received a disqualification in the 20km race.

Wilkinson is just 21 and already Britain’s No.2 male in the sport, but couldn’t put his form onto the course in the centre of Berlin.

The former world junior 10km champion started fast and took the lead just after the six kilometre mark but was shown a red card just before seven kilometres.

The championships marked the latest stage in the development of a rapidly-progressing young athlete, but Wilkinson’s coach – Andi Drake – was disappointed with the outcome.

“I’ve not spoken to him yet, I’m sure he’s very disappointed,” said Drake.

“He’s clearly gifted, the world’s best athletes turn that gift into talent and then they learn discipline and all of those things.

“Those things are coachable and things that he can develop, that’s all I can say.”

The Moulton athlete represented Great Britain at last summer’s World Championships and made a breakthrough in April of this year when he ran close to a personal best to finish seventh at the Commonwealth Games.

A former pupil at King Edward VI College in Bury St Edmunds, Wilkinson was competing in a team of four British race walkers in Berlin.

Heather Lewis was also disqualified, Bethan Davies finished 22nd and Tom Bosworth claimed seventh position in the men’s race – won by Spain’s Alvaro Martin.

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