European Youth Silver Medallist To Lead Ulster At Celtic Games Omagh Harriers Steeplechase star Noel Collins will be firm favourite to take the Celtic Games title at the Antrim Forum this Saturday, in association with Antrim Borough Council (Opening Ceremony 10.50am). The talented Irish Schools Champion proved in Belgrade last week that he could compete with the best in Europe when he just missed out on the Gold medal to Belgian Andreas Van Dam in the European Youth Olympic Steeplechase. Collins time of 5.52.06 was a new PB and places him at the top of the UK list. Collins leads a team of talented Ulster athletes who will be competing in the 31st Celtic International Games at Antrim against Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The 80 strong Ulster team which includes the best Under 18 and Under 16 athletes in the province, will be competing in some 41 track and 26 field events. Many of the promising young athletes will go on to major international success in their later years. Another firm favourite to win at least one title in her main event, the Long Jump, is North Down’s Hannah Lewis who set a new PB of 5.76m last weekend in the ESB League which places her in the UK top dozen. Hannah recently took the Home Countries International Schools Title at Newport with a jump of 5.74m and also finished 4th in the 200m- an event in which she also is competing at Antrim. This all means a busy afternoon for the Bangor based athlete as she is included in the sprint relay team. Another Newport winner who will be one of the shot putt favourites is Mid-Ulster’s Jenny Brown. Jenny won last week with a throw of 12.08m head of team-mate Aoife Hickey who has been confirmed to compete in Antrim. In the Boys U18 event all eyes ill be on Ballymena’s Gary Coulter who set a new PB of 2.04 metres in the High Jump final at the European Youth Olympics last weekend- a performance which places him in the UK’s top 6. In the 800m Willowfield’s Andrew Gourley should do well following an earlier PB of 1.55.3 in the NI Championships. Finally in the Sprints Regent House’s Scott Hamilton will be competing in both the 100m and relay while Shercock’s Claire Lynch goes in the 200m. Further information from: Clare McCoy: PRO NIAF- 02890 602707 / 07841804032 Brian Hill: Mob: 07815069697 Athletics Ireland TeamCompetition Timetable