CITY of York Athletics Club ace Richard Buck accepted full responsibility for a fumbled relay changeover that cost Great Britain the chance of a podium finish in the Spar European Team Championships.

The 24-year-old, running the anchor leg of the 4x400 metres relay in Stockholm, was involved in a disastrous handover with Michael Bingham, leading to the team’s disqualification.

The last event woe ensured Ukraine pipped Great Britain to third place in the overall competition and there was no buck-passing from the City of York runner.

Buck said: “It was my fault. It was my job to get a good hand on the baton and I didn’t.

“I turned to run because I thought it was in my hand, but it wasn’t and the baton went down.

“It’s tough to always get a clean changeover because it gets crowded out there. It was one of those things and I’m really sorry I did that.

“We certainly won’t make the same mistake again and hopefully we have learned from this and we will move on.”

Buck completed the race in last place, but the GB quartet were then disqualified as Bingham had thrown the baton in a bid to rectify the changeover error.

Great Britain coach Charles van Commenee said yesterday’s relay mix-up was “a total anti-climax” after a series of positive results.

“Richard Buck went too soon, but that comes with relay running, there is just no excuse,” he said.