Birchfield Harrier Tom Parsons is relishing the challenge of the competition he is due to face at this summer's Aviva National Championships and Olympic Trials, which take place between July 11-13 at the Alexander Stadium.

The Hall Green-based high jumper, who bases his training out of the Birmingham High Performance Centre, is excited by the prospect of competing at his home venue against top athletes trying to secure their ticket to Beijing.

In particular he faces competition from fellow jumpers Germaine Mason - Britain's highest jumper last year - Martyn Bernard the Commonwealth silver medallist and Samson Oni the reigning indoor champion but is not fazed by the threat of his fellow countrymen.

"The competition in this country is very healthy which can only be a good thing," Parsons said.

"It's good to have an environment with everyone pushing each other on. I performed well at the World Championships last year so the competition doesn't faze me, I think I will get to the standard required. This year the likes of Oni and Mason are jumping well but I just have to concentrate on myself and not worry about what anyone else is doing."

Parsons has to improve his lifetime best, set at the World Championships in Osaka last summer, by one centimetre to stand a chance of going to Beijing and hopes home field advantage will help him.

"It's good for me having the trials in my backyard, the home crowd will help and I tend to jump well there. I have jumped four personal bests there so that gives me great confidence.

"I need to jump 2.30m to qualify for Beijing and am confident in my own ability to achieve this. There will of course be a bit of tension but I know I can jump well in the big competitions, I have belief and the home crowd will play their part too.

"Everything about the Olympics is huge, they are why I am competing in sport. To get to Beijing I have got to give myself the best chance of getting the standard by jumping a lot between now and then."

To book tickets for the trials visit www. ukathletics.net or call 08000 556 056.