Keith Kelly (Drogheda & District AC) ran a brilliant race to take the Les Jones Memorial 1,500m on what would have been the late British athletics' team manager's 60th birthday at the North Down International Games in Bangor, North Ireland on 1st August. Kelly cut out the pace practically from the gun before being overhauled by Sudan's Ahmed El Radi just after the bell. Showing characteristic determination the Drogheda man fought back to regain the lead on the last bend and although visibly fading in the final straightaway, he held on to break the tape in 3.43.56.

Sonia O'Sullivan claimed a decisive win in the 3,000m despite having the race delayed by 45 minutes after her flight to Belfast arrived late. The race eventually got underway at 9.30pm and the Ballymore Cobh athlete won in a time of 9.00.89.

Tanniesha Scanlon who represented Ireland in last year's Europa Cup won the triple jump setting a new Northern Ireland all-comers' record of 12.79m.

Gareth Turnbull could only manage 5th place in the 800m in a time of 1.48.80, no doubt a bit fatigued after competing in the 1500 metres 24 hours earlier at the Linz Grand Prix meeting. Thanks to Sparta Athletics for this report.

2003 North Down International Games Results
Men
100m - 1. Dwight Thomas (Jamaica) 10.46; 2. Bobby Williams (USA) 10.47; Matthew Quinn (S. Africa) 10.76.
200m - 1. Ramon Clay (USA) 20.98; 2. Paul Brissell (B'mena/Antrim) 21.20; 3. Dwayne Grant (England) 21.49.
400m - 1. Chris Brown (Bahamas) 45.87; 2. Naqmeldin Ali Abubakr (Sudan) 46.02; 3. Tim Benjamin (Wales) 46.19.
800m - 1. Asmel Mohammed (Sudan) 1:46.6; 2. Neil Speight (England) 1:47.1; 3. Roman Oravec (Czech Republic) 1:47.8
800m B - 1. Paul Carron (ETAC) 1:54.6; 2. Michael Dyer (North Down) 1:55.4; 3. Mark Milligan (North Down) 1:55.9.
1500m - 1. Keith Kelly (Ireland) 3:43.56; 2. Ahmed El Radi (Sudan) 3:44.78; 3. James Thie (Wales) 3:45.39
400m H - 1. Ockert Cilliers (S. Africa) 49.74; 2. Fred Sharpe (USA) 49.83; 3. Matt Douglas (England) 50.15.
Shot - 1. Ian McMullan (Trafford) 16.56m.
Javelin - 1. Steve Backley (England) 81.42m; 2. Ainars Kovals (Latvia) 76.40m; 3. Michael Allen (N. Ireland) 74.23m.

Women
100m - Joyce Maduaka (England) 11.62; 2. Geraldine Pillay (S. Africa) 11.63; 3. Fiona O'Friel 12.10.
400m - 1. Antonia Yefremova (Ukraine) 52.37; 2. Estelle Wittstock (S. Africa) 53.47; 3. Catherine Murphy (Wales) 53.87.
3000m - 1. Sonia O'Sullivan (Ballymore-Cobh) 9:00.89; 2. Catherine Berry (England) 9:14.80; 3. Hind Musa (Sudan) 9:44.59.
100m Hurdles (0.2) - 1. Danielle Carruthers (USA) 13.43; 2. Tamsin Stephens (Birchfield) 13.78; 3. Aurore Kassambra (France) 13.86.
Shot - 1. Eva Massey (Belgave) 16.15m; 2. Geraldine Stewart (Tirchonnaill) 12.32m
Triple Jump - 1. Tanniesha Scanlon (England) 12.79m; 2. Sharon Foley (Lifford) 12.39; 3. Mary McLoone (Tirchonnaill) 11.86m