Turnbull takes title in style

Athletics Irish Indoor Championships: Several Irish athletes were still looking to run into their best form ahead of the European Indoor championships in Birmingham - in two weeks - and the weekend's National Indoor championships in Belfast was clearly the place to do it.

The championships acted as the final trial for the Irish team and local athlete Gareth Turnbull was among those to confirm his selection in style. Turnbull took the 1,500 metres crown in 3:44.28, comfortably holding off Jose Brondbo, a guest athlete from Norway, who clocked 3:46.21, but Turnbull then returned to the track an hour later for the final of the 800 metres, and ended up with the bronze medal.

That title went to another guest athlete, Kenya's Justin Koech, who ran 1:51.02 to hold off Limerick's Liam Reale, who like Turnbull, is set to target the 1,500 metres in Birmingham. James Nolan was a notable absentee with a hamstring injury.

"Naturally with James Nolan, Liam Reale and myself there I would expect three Irish men in the final. With that representation you would have to believe one of us would get a medal and to preserve my place at the top of the domestic tree I would want it to be me," said Turnbull.

The highlight of yesterday's finals, however, was surely Paul Hession's Irish record of 6.63 in the 60 metres, improving the 6.66 he set in Vienna a few weeks ago.

Hession, a 200-metre specialist which unfortunately for him, has been scrapped from indoor championship running, will target the short sprint in Birmingham and in this sort of form could make the final. "I was very pleased with my run but there are three very good Britons who are among the best in Europe. To get among them I would need to get down to the 6.50s and even that might not be enough," said the Athenry man.

Another local athlete, Paul McKee, a former Irish record holder in the 400 metres, took that title in 47.56, although that was well off the 45.91 that David Gillick clocked to take his record a fortnight ago. Gillick missed the championships with flu but is obviously still a real medal contender for Birmingham.

Other title winners included Anna Boyle, who took the women's 60 metres in 7.38, while Deirdre Ryan defended her high jump title with a clearance of 1.85 metres. Kelly Reid showed the form that took her to a Commonwealth final a few years ago with an impressive middle-distance double. The Lisburn athlete outpaced AAA bronze-medallist Orla Drumm to take the women's 1,500m in a fast 4:21.01. Later Reid was equally impressive in running away from the opposition in the 800m to win in 2:08.73.

One athlete deserving to be picked for Birmingham is Mark Christie, who ran a personal best of 7.58.12 to win the 3,000 metres. This is just outside the official standard laid down by Athletics Ireland but at 20, Christie is still likely to make it, as the final selection is at the discretion of the selectors.