IWAN Thomas, the European and Commonwealth 400 metres champion, says his chances of retaining his dual titles are unrealistic after struggling to sixth in Cardiff last night.

The 28-year-old capped a glorious year in 1998 by taking both crowns. But, after enduring a nightmare three years, the champion says he has it all to do. The Lansing Linde International Welsh Games featured teams from Australia, South Africa and England.

Thomas was beaten by former national Australian champion Patrick Dyer, who won the 400m in a time of 46.34 seconds, with fellow Aussie Clinton Hill in second and England's Duane Ladejo third.

Thomas has vowed to do better at this weekend's AAA Championships in Birmingham, as, along with Risca's Jamie Baulch and Tim Benjamin, he looks to put Welsh one-lap running back on the map.

Having struggled recently with minor injuries, which has hampered his form, Thomas said he would love to clinch one of the three 400m places in the British squad for Munich's European Championships later this summer.

But his first priority is to make the AAA Championships final and added: "I just need more races. I've had to take a month off with injury. I have run 46.4 secs this season, so I can do it."

Baulch was missing from the 400m line-up at Leckwith Stadium, last night as he is receiving treatment in London.

Hurdler Colin Jackson, sprinter Catherine Murphy and middle-distance athlete Hayley Tullett were also missing from a weakened Welsh team.

Few of the expected top athletes turned up, with only long jumper Jade Johnson, high jumper Susan Jones, plus Ladejo and sprinter Julian Golding being the stars in a disappointing English team.

After Newport's Christian Malcolm came second in the 100 'A' race, cousin Kevin Williams also took second place in the 100m 'B' final behind Welsh triple jump record holder Steve Shalders.

Williams crossed the line in 10.92 secs behind Shalders' 10.73 secs, but admitted he was hoping for better.

He said: "I haven't really run as well as I'd hoped here, but I ran 10.7 secs last weekend. "The main aim for this weekend is just to get more experience of running through the rounds in Manchester (at the Commonwealth Games)."

Shalders only ran in the 100m after the triple jump was cancelled mainly due to the poor weather conditions, but he described his showdown with Phillips Iduwo and Jonathan Edwards at the AAAs this weekend as 'massive'.

In the women's 400m race, Newport's Kath Sage put in a good performance as she ran 55.65 secs behind winner Emma Davies' time of 55.03 secs.

Fellow Newport Harrier James Nasrat said he was very disappointed to have run one min 59.5 secs to finish eighth behind Australian winner Chris McCarthy over two laps of the 800m.

Nasrat, at 19 a very promising young middle-distance prospect, has had a difficult few weeks after missing out on a place in the World Junior Championships in Jamaica after just missing the qualifying mark.

Newport-based Tim Thomas put in a great performance in difficult conditions by winning the pole vault after clearing 5.25m, but Caerphilly's Sonia Lawrence could only manage fifth in the women's competition.

In the relays, Iwan Thomas brought Wales home in second behind the Australian team in the 4x400m team.

And a poor hand over between first leg runner Williams and Shalders cost Wales the chance of really having a go at the Australians in the 4x100m relay.

By the time Christian Malcolm ran the anchor leg, the race was all but over with the Antipodeans romping home.

A disappointing end to a disappointing night.