WHOEVER WRITES Linford Christie's scripts came up with a real cracker for his farewell appearance in a British vest in the European Cup final at the Olympiastadion, Munich, yesterday.
The team captain's disappointment at losing his unbeaten record in the European Cup lasted only a few seconds before he was reinstated as the joint-winner of the 200 metres. Relief then turned to ecstasy as Roger Black, Christie's successor as team-captain, helped the 4x400 metres relay team to the victory which stretched the British men's team lead to 13 points as they lifted the trophy for the first time since 1989.
The success was all the sweeter because, not only was it achieved in the defending champions' backyard, it ended a run of five consecutive second places in the competition and put to rest the theory that British athletics is in decline.
While Christie deserved every second of the standing ovation he was accorded on Saturday by the 20,000 crowd after winning the 100 metres - his 17th European Cup victory - every athlete in a red, white and blue vest, from unknowns to superstars, played their part.
The moment Britain really began to believe they could win came when Sheffield's Robert Hough, on his international debut pounced off the last barrier to win the 3,000 metres steeplechase in 8 minutes 35.03 seconds, beating the European champion Alcssandro Lambruschini.
That performance came minutes after Mark Sesay of Leeds, another dipping his toe at this level for the first time, had finished third in the 800 metres, behind Olympic champion Vebjoern Rodal of Norway.
It was Andrew Pearson, another Yorkshireman, in the penultimate event, the 5,000 metres, who ensured Germany could not catch Britain. He had interrupted his honeymoon to run and set a personal best of 13 minutes 40.1 seconds to finish fourth.
The only blip occured when Colin Jackson finished second in the 110 metres hurdles to Florian Schwarthoff. But any damage that might have done to Britain's chances was softened when former professional American footballer Bob Weir came second in the discus.
The momentum had been started on the second day by Jonathan Edwards and Steve Backley. The two Olympic silver medallists won the triple jump and javelin with efforts of 17.74 and 86.86 metres, respectively. "The atmosphere here has been so good," said Edwards, whose jump was the best in the world this year. "It's exactly what I need to produce my best.
This, though, was Christie's day, on what he claims will be his final appearance for Britain before retiring. Twenty-four hours after he had equalled his European Cup record of 10.04 seconds in the 100 metres, he returned to complete his fourth consecutive sprint double - but only after an anxious few moments when he thought he had been beaten.
Running from lane seven, it looked like he had judged his race against Norway's European champion Geir Moen to perfection until Georgios Panayiotopolous appeared from nowhere to catch him on the line. The Greek was initially given the verdict but, after studying the photo-finish, the judges amended it to a dead-heat in 20.56 seconds.
It was an amazing way to bring down the curtain on a reign which began at the European Cup in Gateshead eight years ago when Christie was nominated as captain after the team-management realised they were going to win and had no-one to collect the trophy.
There was no doubt who was going to receive it this year.
