And the Union flags fluttered again in an evening session delayed by high winds and rain as Jo Pavey was presented with her 10,000m gold medal from last night.

Farah had to work very hard for his win in the finishing straight, and there was no mistaking his joy and relief as he crossed the line, both arms punching the air, to regain the European title he last earned in his track breakthrough year of 2010.

Shortly afterwards the Londoner now based in Eugene, Oregon, made his way up into the stand to jest with Usain Bolt, who is in town to do promotional work for Puma and was here in conditions as close to incognito as possible, clad in a black hoody and headphones, and wearing dark glasses.

Still rather obviously Bolt however, and he later appeared on the infield to say a few words to the crowd.

Mo Farah shows his joy and relief as he regains the European 10,000m title in Zurich ©AFP/Getty Images

Britain's world and Olympic champion has had what he describes as "a bumpy ride" this year, starting with a marathon debut in London which was respectable but not sensational, and taking in a heart scare and brief period of hospitalisation last month with abdominal pains, which dissuaded him from risking a run on home territory at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

And having run only one low key track race this season, the 31-year-old's state of fitness remained to be proven.

A cagey final, where Turkey's defending champion, Polat Kemboi Arikan, attempted to break away with 20 laps remaining and was inevitably reeled back in, appeared to play into the Briton's hands as the pace slackened in the second half.

But Farah still had to show he had not lost any of the sprinting speed which took him to a European 1500m record of 3min 28.81sec in 2013, and as he took off at the bell, the Turkish pair of Ali Kaya, the 20-year-old European junior champion, and Arikan were right behind him.

British team-mate Steve Vernon too, after having to run the long way round a back marker at the bell, was in pursuit.

The grimace on Farah's face as they rounded the final bend told its own story.

But as has been his custom in the last few years, he prevailed to cross in 28:08.11, more than a minute slower than his 2011 European record of 26:47.57.

Vernon excelled himself to take silver just ahead of Kaya.

"It meant a lot to me," said Farah.

"I was really ill a few weeks ago but training has gone well.

"Winning the European Championships again really does mean a lot to me.

"I didn't want to let people down after missing the Commonwealth Games - it hasn't been easy.

"I won the 5,000m and 10,000m double in Barcelona in 2010 and I won one title in Helsinki two years ago.

"Now I'm excited for the 5,000m and I hope to run well again."

James Dasaolu wins the 100m at the European Championships in Zurich ©Getty Images

Dasaolu's ambitions had been assisted by the late withdrawal from the semi-finals of France's Jimmy Vicaut, fastest qualifier in 10.06sec, with a muscle strain.

But, having missed the World Indoors and Commonwealth Games through a muscle tear, he took his chance decisively to finish well clear of a frustrated Christophe Lemaitre, France's defending champion, who had to settle for silver in 10.13 to the Briton's 10.06.

"I'm still trying to take it all in," said Dasaolu.

"I didn't have a great start but I battled through so I'm happy.

"Track and field always has lots of ups and downs - I've had my hamstring injury but fast forward to Zurich in August and I'm the European champion."

Porter's performance in the 100m hurdles was equally dominant as she finished in 12.76, reducing France's silver medallist in 12.79, Cindy Billaud, to tears of frustration.

France's spirits were lifted in the women's long jump, however, where defending champion Eloyse Leueur earned another gold with a fourth round effort of 6.85 metres which took her past the early leader and eventual silver medallist on 6.81, Serbia's Ivana Spanovic.

Dafne Schippers began the season as a heptathlete, and will start next season as a heptathlete - but the 22-year-old Dutch athlete is finishing this year as a sprinter, and after winning the European title in 11.12, despite a headwind of 1.7 miles per second, she is halfway to emulating the 100 and 200m double of her illustrious fellow countrywoman Fanny Blankers-Koen at the European Championships of 1950.

A late surge took her past France's Myriam Soumare, who took silver in 11.16. Both are due to renew their rivalry over the longer sprint tomorrow.

Dafne Schippers (left) beats Myriam Soumare (right) to the European 100m title in the wind and rain of Zurich ©AFP/Getty Images

Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus took the decathlon title after a second day in which he won the penultimate event, the javelin, following an outstanding high jump effort on the opening day when he added six centimetres to his personal best with 2.22m.

He finished on 8,616 points, ahead of France's Kevin Mayer with 8,521 and Russia's Ilya Shkurenyov 8,498.

Germany's world and Olympic discus champion Robert Harting added another fully anticipated gold to his collection with a best throw of 66.07m.

He appeared to fail in effort to rip shirt into shreds a la London 2012, and settled for taking it off and briefly cuddling it on the ground for some reason.

Strange behaviour.

But who would argue with him?

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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