Dennison up for pole vault rivalry

Kate Dennison during last year's World Championships in Daegu (Getty Images)

Kate Dennison claims losing her British pole-vault record to 20-year-old Holly Bleasdale has provided all the motivation she needs going into the Olympics.

Dennison broke the national record 10 times in 2009, netting a bonus of about £5,000 each time, before Bleasdale blew it out of the water with a clearance of 4.70 metres last summer.

Bleasdale extended the mark to 4.87m during the indoor season this year, while Dennison's best is 4.61m from last year.

But the 28-year-old believes that domestic rivalry is just what she needs.

"In the past maybe I have (rested on my laurels)," Dennison said. "I need to step it up and hopefully competing with Holly will help me do that."