Golden boy David Gillick capped off what Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle described as "a crazy day" by becoming the first man to retain the European Indoor 400 metres title since Britain's Du'aine Ladejo did so in 1996.

Ireland's David Gillick stayed on course to retain his European Indoor 400 metres title in Birmingham this evening by battling past British sprinter Robert Tobin to win his semi-final.