Lewis-Francis, who was in the sprint relay team disqualified in the heats, recalled after his inspired 60 metres performance that Caines had been a great comfort as he helped him get over the disappointment of his first international experience.The weekend’s occasion in Lisbon proved to be far more productive for a young man whose progress in the last three years has been startling. Lewis-Francis underlined his huge potential with Sunday’s performance in the Pavilhao Atlantico, when he set three successive personal bests, finishing in a world junior record time of 6.51sec to take third place behind America’s two Tims, Harden and Montgomery.In British terms, he is now fourth-fastest ever over 60m, behind Colin Jackson (6.49), Linford Christie (6.47) and Jason Gardener, who recorded 6.46 in earning the same medal at the 1999 World Indoor Championships in Maebashi.Gardener, who has missed this year’s indoor season in order to recover fully from the back injury which undermined his efforts in Olympic year, witnessed Lewis-Francis’s efforts as a commentator for Eurosport “Wasn’t it brilliant?” he said “An unbelievable performance. What surprised me most was that he managed to get a best in every round. I bet he didn’t think he would do that before he arrived.”Without question he’s going to make a massive impact this summer and anyone who ignores him will be foolish There is so much talent around now in British sprinting.

I think we can give the US relay team a real run for their money at this year’s World championships.”Lewis-Francis has already made an impact on some of the most knowledgeable observers of the sport. Last year, when he finished as world junior champion and holder of a 100m world best as a 17-year-old, Canada’s 1996 Olympic champion, Donovan Bailey, described him as “the most phenomenal and exciting athlete” he had ever seen.That evaluation was prompted after Bailey, recovering from a serious Achilles tendon injury, had been given a close race by the young prodigy at a low-key meeting in Bedford. After the stands had emptied, the two stood deep in conversation at track-side, and it was hard not to think in terms of the spectacle being that of Olympic champions past and future.Such ambitions remain distant for Lewis-Francis, however, who said on Sunday that his decision not to run at the Sydney Olympics, in order to concentrate on the World Junior Championships in Chile three weeks later, was the right one “It was the best thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “I learnt so much at those championships, and the experience helped me a lot here.”Lewis-Francis, who is coached and advised at Birchfield by Steve Platt, is continuing to exhibit the same grounded approach to his progress. “I have lots of goals for the future, including the world record. But my main aim this year will be just to get an individual place at the outdoor World championships,” he said.Caines, too, spoke with sensible caution after dominating the 400m final, pointing out that there was so much British talent around at his distance that the only thing he could safely call himself was the No 1 indoors. “Athletics is a changing game,” he said.His own emergence, in a year when the 400m scene has been profoundly altered by the retirement of America’s Olympic and world champion, Michael Johnson, testifies to the truth of that statement He, however, is well aware of the broader picture.

“So many nations are producing top-class athletes now it’s a joke,” he said. True enough, but in Daniel Caines and Mark Lewis-Francis, Britain – and Birmingham – has two athletes of its own to smile about.BRITISH MEDAL WINNERSGOLD 400m: D CainesSILVER Triple Jump: J Edwards 200m: C MalcolmBRONZE 60m: M Lewis-Francis. Perhaps the least surprising development in the Celebrity Big Brother show was the desperate escape bid by comedian Jack Dee It came, after all, before the eviction of Chris Eubank. Perhaps the least surprising development in the Celebrity Big Brother show was the desperate escape bid by comedian Jack Dee. It came, after all, before the eviction of Chris Eubank.
In fact Eubank can be the most priceless of company – once you get to know him. My abiding memory of him is of his stay in Cairo for one of his most meaningless fights against an obscure Argentine. Sceptics said he wouldn’t begin to fill a vast, marbled auditorium But by fight time almost every seat was taken.

The big crowd consisted almost entirely of military cadets ordered there by the government.Later, as he tapped his cane against his jodhpurs in a reception room fit for a modern Pharaoh, he stared down a sportswriter and said, “Did you bring your scaffold, executioner?” I said that the chances were that I would his spell his name correctly. He seemed pleased enough before roaring off with the outriders of his motorcade.. A penalty corner equaliser courtesy of Matt Daly fifty seconds into the second half which to forced a 1-1 draw away at Chichester over the weekend, was enough for Maidenhead to secure the South Regional title and qualify along with Bowdon, Blueharts and Isca for the play-offs for the two National League slots on offer. They will be joined by the winners of the DTZ Midland League, a spot currently occupied by Belper and the team finishing above the automatic relegation place in the Second Division of the EHL, currently Oxford Hawks. A penalty corner equaliser courtesy of Matt Daly fifty seconds into the second half which to forced a 1-1 draw away at Chichester over the weekend, was enough for Maidenhead to secure the South Regional title and qualify along with Bowdon, Blueharts and Isca for the play-offs for the two National League slots on offer.

They will be joined by the winners of the DTZ Midland League, a spot currently occupied by Belper and the team finishing above the automatic relegation place in the Second Division of the EHL, currently Oxford Hawks.
Attention will now switch to the bottom of the South League where it is rumoured that a late rule change could mean that up to four teams are relegated rather than two. With the Oxford Hawks and Oxford University relegated, should Maidenhead fail to win a National League place all three clubs will have to be accommodated in next year’s South League.With High Wycombe and Wokingham already destined for relegation places the shifting of the goalposts at this late stage with just one or two games to go, yesterday brought disbelief from at least one team official. South Chairman Mike Ward was unavailable for comment with his Committee meeting last night.. Cardiff Devils got their Sekonda Superleague play-off campaign off to a perfect start with a 6-5 triumph over the Bracknell Bees on Sunday night.