DERVAL O’ROURKE, in her characteristic championship fashion, launched her European campaign by winning her first-round heat of the 100m hurdles, beating one of the gold medal favourites, Carolin Nytra (Germany), with consummate ease in a seasonal best time of 12.88 secs.

Derval O'Rourke's love affair with Championship racing was evident once again as she blasted through this morning's 100m hurdles heats at the European Championships in Barcelona.