Image source, Reuters

Benjamin Compaore closes his eyes nods his head once he realises he's become the European triple jump champion. The 27-year-old Frenchman killed off the competition with a first-time leap of 17.46m. A second gold of the evening for France. Allez!

Russia's Lyukman Adams (17.09m) was some distance behind in second, while his team-mate Aleksey Fyodorov (17.04m) takes bronze.

Image source, AFP

Russia's Anzhelika Sidorova becomes the European pole vault champion thanks to a 4.65m vault with her final attempt. Greece's Ekaterini Stefanidi, Europe's leading pole vaulter ahead of this competition, takes silver with Russia's Angelina Zhuk-Krasnova third.

Britain's Goldie Sayers moves up to eighth with a 58.33m third throw. Germany's Linda Stahl remains in the lead, her first throw of 63.91m proving to be enough for now at least. Czech Republic's Barbaora Spotakova has been unable to improve on her first throw of 62.86m.

British 200m sprinter James Ellington: , externalGreat seeing Brits in the crowd supporting tonight. Schoolboy error giving up at line cost me a place in the final. On to the relay.

British triple jumper Nathan Douglas: , externalSeems that Compaore has killed everyone with that first round leap which can happen, makes others start forcing it.

France's Benjamin Compaore has set the standard in the men's triple jump final with a leap of 17.46m. He has three attempts remaining. Russia's Lyukman Adams is second with a 17.09m jump.

Three-time European 3000m steeplechase champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad has previous, of course: punching a team-mate and attacking a mascot. He's one of life's characters.

BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce: , externalTo be fair to Mekhissi-Benabbad, who can honestly hold their hand up and say they've never attacked a mascot/punched team-mate/won topless?

Image source, StatmanJon

Jon Mulkeen: , externalMahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad's highlight reel

Steve Backley
Four-time European champion and BBC Sport athletics expert

"That's now what we want to see. She looked committed on the floor and it looked good from the back. She said she's in great shape but it's a disappointing start for Goldie Sayers.

"The javelin throwers are struggling tonight."

A groan from Goldie Sayers as she lets the javelin fly, but she steps over the white line and the red flag is waved. It wasn't one of the British champion's better throws. Rip it up and start again.

A first throw of 55.81m for Britain's Goldie Sayers in the women's javelin final, which puts her in 12th place. Germany's Linda Stahl leads the way with a 63.91m first attempt.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Patterson:, external I don't know why people are annoyed? That's hilarious from the French steeplechaser to bring attention to the sport.

It's bad news for James Ellington as he doesn't make the cut as fastest loser for the men's 200m final. The Briton and Karol Zalewski both clocked 20.52sec in the semi-finals so it needed a thousandths of a second to separate the pair and it's the Pole who gets the nod.

Paula Radcliffe
Marathon world record holder and BBC Sport athletics expert

"Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad has done crazy things before and we know he's got into fights with mascots and had a full-on fist-fight with his team-mate. He's been awarded a yellow card, he's got away with a warning and he's lucky."

Steve Cram suggests Mekhissi-Benabbad could be disqualified for removing his vest while 40m from the line but it turns out to be just a yellow card. Lucky boy. The Frenchman has his national flag draped over his shoulders and is embarking on a lap of honour without a care in the world.

Brendan Foster
European 5,000m champion in 1974 and BBC Sport athletics expert

"It's a yellow card in football and let's hope it's the same here for Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad. He was being silly and exuberant. He's a controversial figure but he's a great runner."

Image source, AFP

The final bell rings and pre-race favourite Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad comfortably leads but, hey, what's going on? He removes his vest down the home straight and places it in his mouth, waving at the crowd in the process.

The Frenchman wins at a canter - and also tugs his shorts as he crosses the finishing line. Oh, please, no, not the Full Monty on live television. No-one's ready for this...

Officials are still deliberating over whether James Ellington has reached the men's 200m final so, in the meantime, I shall just tell you that the men's 3000m steeplechase is under way. There are no Brits competing. The man to keep an eye on is two-time European champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad whose best is over 10 seconds faster than anyone else in the field.

Steve Backley
Four-time European champion and BBC Sport athletics expert

"It's a world-class field in the final of the women's javelin. Barbora Spotakova is the Olympic champion. She's had a baby but she's back and throwing well and Linda Stahl is also very strong.

"There are four 66m-plus throwers. Goldie is that at her best but that was two years ago and she's had a lot of injures since. She's got to let rip tonight and hopefully give it her very best."

Sayers reached the final with her first and only throw, but faces a tough task this evening against big-hitting big-throwers. The 2010 European champion Linda Stahl is number one in Europe this season with a best throw of 67.32m. Two-time Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova will also fancy her chances as she has recorded three of the five best five distances this year.

The women's javelin final starts soon and will feature Britain's captain Goldie Sayers. The last two years has been one of surgery and misfortune for the 31-year-old, whose London 2012 was ruined because of injury. Will it be a dream return for the Briton in her comeback year?