2003 Bedford International Games

The Welsh sprint hurdle duo Rachel King and Paul Gray took the honours at the 2003 Bedford International Games. King opened her season with a clear cut victory in 13.38 the fastest legal clocking by a British athlete in 2003 [although some hours later Natasha Danvers ran an impressive wind assisted 12.98 in Los Angeles]. The Welsh champion defeated Australian 13.21 performer Fiona Cullen, with Northern Irish number one Tamsin Stephens 3rd in 13.83.

In the first race Symone Belle just missed out on a European u20 A standard qualifier clocking, the Tower Hamlets athlete stooped the race clock at 13.75 the exact A stanadard, however, the offical result was rounded up to 13.77. Never the less her new pb leaves Belle well placed to make the trip to Finland later in the season.

Paul Gray overcame a clutch of the up coming u23 110m hurdles to claim a narrow victory. Gray's 13.97 led home a close finish with Rob Newton, Andy Turner and Dominic Girdler all within 12/100ths of the Welshman. In the other race Rich Alleyne followed up his pb set the previous week at the Inter Counties, with another fine performance, 14.36, in front of leading Junior Will Sharman whose 14.52 shaved another 2/100ths off his recently set personal best.

The 400m Hurdles races largely failed to live up to their competitive line ups.The winners were clear cut with British based Frenchman Oliver Jean Theodore comfortably taking the top race in 51.60, whist Liz Fairs winning the women's event in 59.55, comfortably clear of Ireland's Michelle Carey. A strong finish from Jennifer Culley had won her the first race in 60.34 infront of a season's best from Louise Alywin 61.87.

There were also season's best from the top two returning male juniors form 2002, with Rhys Williams winning the first race in 52.77 and English Schools champion Rupert Gardner coming 6th in the top race with 53.18

Women's 100m Hurdles A
1	Rachel King	13.38
2	Fiona Cullen [AUS]	13.63
3	Tamsin Stephens	13.83
4	Gemma Fergusson	13.89
5	Julie Pratt	13.99
6	Claire Harmon	14.07
7	Kate Brewington	14.23
8	Sarah Claxton	DNS
	wind	-0.6

 

Women's 100m Hurdles B
1	Symone Belle	13.77
2	Sara McGreavey	14.25
3	Caroline Pearce	14.39
4	Gemma Bennett	14.43
5	Emma Duck	14.45
6	Vicky Williams	14.65
7	Jenni Malloy	14.90
8
	wind	-0.6

 

Men's 110m Hurdles A
1	Paul Gray	13.97
2	Rob Newton	14.00
3	Andy Turner	14.04
4	Dominic Girdler	14.09
5	Duncan Malins	14.21
6	Mensah Elliott	14.33
7	Rafael Askras [SWE]	14.59
8	Tristan Anthon	DNF
	wind	-0.5

Men's 110m Hurdles B
1	Rich Alleyene	14.36
2	William Sharman	14.52
3	Kris Jones	14.60
4	Doavid Hughes	14.70
5	Matt Rhys Butler	14.74
6	John Heaney	15.17
7	Nicholas Gayle	15.10
8	Mark Winship	DNS
	wind	-1.0

 

Women's 400m Hurdles A
1	Liz Fairs	59.55
2	Michelle Carey [IRE]	60.75
3	Hannan Stares	61.19
4	Hannah Wood	62.23
5	Faye Harding	62.91
6	Nicola Sanders	DNF
7	Gemma Dooney	DNF
8

 

Women's 400m Hurdles B
1	Jennifer Culley	60.34
2	Louise Aylwin	61.67
3	Shona MacPhereson	61.84
4	Justine Roach	62.16
5	Ruth Brereton	62.46
6	Claire Heafford	62.58
7	Kate Norman	65.71
8

 

 

Men's 400m Hurdles A
1	Oliver Theodore [FRA]	51.60
2	Result not posted	.
3	Jeff Christie	52.82
4	Richard Scott	53.17
5	Rupert Gardner	53.18
6	Brian Liddy [IRE]	53.61
7	Steve Green	56.61
8	Wilby Williamson	56.75

 

Men's 400m Hurdles B
1	Rhys Williams	52.77
2	Nomura Zazuhiro [JAP]	52.99
3	Dan Bray	53.86
4	Tom Carey	53.92
5	Mark Winship	56.55
6	Richard Holt	57.12
7	Rob Gascoyne	DQ
8		.

 

 

6 May 2003