Scotland came out on top in the battle at the Celtic Cup.
The team with home advantage came out ahead with 43 points to Ireland's 32 and Wales’ 25.
But the big news of the day came when Darren Campbell of Sale Harriers Manchester announced his retirement from athletics after winning the 100m race in 10.66sec. While the time might not sound up to his standards the head wind was 3.3m/s and having an impact on all the events. Behind Campbell was Nick Smith of Scotland and Shaftesbury Barnet with 10.84sec.
Scotland scored well in the track events. Lee McConnell won the 200m in 23.95sec into that headwind and Gemma Nicol of Dunfermline & West Fife took the 400m in 54.37sec. Jo Ross took won the 800min from the front in 2min 08.24sec.
The 4 x 1500m relay had seen Ireland setting their sights high in the pre-race build up. While the weather hampered the times the Irish came home in 17min 29.88sec ahead of the Scots (17min 34.58sec). A BMC junior team was taking part in the race and Sarah Hopkinson (Gloucester), Emily Pidgeon (Gloucester), Jessica Sparke (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) and Emma Pallant (Aldershot Farnham & District) recorded new world junior best figures of 18min 17.4sec.
Merlene Ottey, who has enjoyed a phenomenal career both in terms of quality and longevity, won the 100m in 11.92sec and US favourite Alan Webb took the mile. Webb has Scottish blood in his families past and had run the Scottish 800m Champs earlier in the week took the mile in 4min 02.73sec.
The 600m also saw a retirement announcement. US 400m runner Tyree Washington came home a distant last in 88.53sec before announcing his retirement.
