BAILEY DOES IT AGAIN AS BRITONS SHOW BULLDOG SPIRIT

By Nick Davies

It may have been cold and windy in Sheffield but at least it wasn’t raining. After all, bets were being taken to determine which European GP meeting of 1997 would not be drowned under inches of rainfall. But although the sun did not shine in Sheffield, the athletes did, to the delight of 16,000 enthusiastic spectators in the Don Valley Stadium.

The withdrawal of Michael Johnson from Sheffield after his pitiful performance in Paris turned out to be a wise move after "The Battle of Britain", as the men’s 400m had been billed, produced a superb victory for Iwan Thomas in 44.49, the second fastest time in the world this year and the third fastest ever by a Briton. Thomas, better known as part of Britain’s 4x400m Olympic silver medal winning relay team, shocked British record holder Roger Black, Indoor sensation Jamie Baulch and Mark Richardson, who had clocked 44.9 already this season. The tall Welshman ran a tactically perfect race with a fast first 200m, a controlled second bend, and a gutsy last 100m. Thomas raised his arms in metres before the line, perhaps spoiling the chance of taking Roger Black’s national record of 44.36. Thomas’ performance, in absolutely freezing conditions, showed Britain’s excellent depth in this event, with second placed Richardson clocking 44.88.

With 50,000 pounds on offer to the winner, the Sheffield organisers were anxious to create their own "head to head" excitement by setting Olympic 100m champion Donovan Bailey against former Olympic champion Linford Christie in a 150m. But, unlike the fiasco in Toronto, there were eight excellent sprinters in the race, including Britain’s John Regis and Ian Mackie and Canada’s Bruny Surin. Yet whether against one man or seven, Bailey is impossible to beat at the moment. He came off the bend ahead and surged into a two metre lead which he held until the finish. Christie battled hard but ended up being just out-dipped at the finish by his training partner and protégé Ian Mackie. The Scot has learnt a lot from his 37 year-old mentor who confirmed he will not be in Athens. "The trouble is that I have become too nice with age," joked Christie. "It was easier to compete when I hated my rivals but I don’t anymore…" Bailey was magnanimous in victory: "I love running in Britain. I have respect for the public here", and plans to contest a top-class 100m in Lausanne and try his hand at some 200m races as well.

Kelly Holmes smashed the 4 minute barrier to set a new British and Commonwealth record of 3:58.07in the women’s 1500m. "I had no real plan. But I felt really strong and I went for it. I’M BACK!!" screamed a delighted Holmes after the race. Holmes had a disastrous 1996 after suffering a stress fracture, but has now resigned from the army and devoting all her time to athletics. Holmes left Paris GP winner Suzy Favor-Hamilton over five seconds adrift at the finish, with Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan clocking 4:11.52 in tenth place.

Olympic champion Deon Hemmings put on an exhibition of excellence to dominate the 400m hurdles. The Jamaican poured on the pressure from 150 metres and had over a second to spare over Tonja Buford-Bailey at the finish - 53.82 to 54.83. Britain’s darling Sally Gunnell struggled to match her rivals but said afterwards: "The crowd here is fantastic. I wish I could have done better but I still have time before Athens."

The women’s 5000m offered the prospect of a great track runner, Olympic 5000m champion Fernanda Ribeiro, battling it out with two great cross country specialists: Gete Wami (World Cross country champion in 1996) and Paula Radcliffe (World Cross silver medallist in 1997). Ribeiro controlled the race from the front after passing 1600 metres in 4:47.7 with Wami and Ratcliffe hanging on doggedly. The Portuguese runner, always comfortable as the pacemaker, passed 4km in 11:59, but still only a few metres covered all three runners. Ribeiro then surged from the bell , covering the last lap in 67 seconds, for a comfortable win in 14:53.26. " My speed is very good at the moment. I always knew that Geta Wami was close behind."

Home favourite Steve Backley, a former world record holder, confirmed the form that saw him recently defeat Jan Zelezny, by hurling the javelin out to 86.90. Russia’s Sergey Makarov impressed with 85.74 but he failed to improve on that. "I’ve got another win under my belt. I feel I’ve got something to prove this year to myself, the crowds and the Media too," said Backley.

One of the oldest fixtures in world athletics, the Elmsley Carr Mile, was won by Burundi’s Olympic 5000m champion Venuste Niyongabo in 3:53.28, an impressive time in the difficult conditions. "I am still confused about whether my best distance is the 1500m or the 5000m. I will decide which distance to run in Athens soon …"

Mark Crear was unlucky to lose out in a photo-finish to Olympic champion Allen Johnson in Paris but made sure he got the verdict in Sheffield with a superb display of power hurdling. The big American, who failed to make the US team for the World Championships, is determined to make his mark on the circuit.

US Trial winner Mark Everett dominated an 800m field that included Olympic champion Vebjorn Rodahl to confirm his excellent recent form. Everett led through the bell in a modest 53.36 and waited until the final bend before opening up a decisive lead to finish in 1:46.55. "Most people think I’ve had my day (his pb of 1:43.40 was set in 1992) said Everett, "but I’ll finish in front every time…" Rodahl had the indignity of being passed by Rich Kenah and clocking a mediocre 1:47.13. The Norwegian has just a few weeks to sort out his form before facing the rampant Wilson Kipketer at the World Championships in Athens.

With a legend like Linford Christie finally ready to hang up his spikes, the pressure is on the new generation of British athletes. Yet Ashia Hansen, who was a silver medallist in the World Indoors in Paris, showed she was ready for the challenge by breaking the Commonwealth record twice - with 14.92 and 14.94 - in the triple jump. "I am just so surprised. Nothing had really clicked in training recently and now this. I can’t believe it!"

Kasparkova recorded 14.76 as did Gundea Sproge to claim a new Latvian record.