In an explosive first night of action at the British Swimming Championships 2015 in London, Adam Peaty thrilled the crowd as he stormed to victory in the Men’s Open 200m Breaststroke.
Peaty over-powered an all-star line up of Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth medallists in arguably the most anticipated final of the night to touch home in 2:08.34 – a second inside his lifetime best.
The City of Derby swimmer, who specialises in the sprint events, said: “During the back end of that race, I thought to myself I’ve done this a thousand times in training, I’ve done it a thousand times with that level of lactic acid, so I just kept going and it paid off.
“I came away strong at the end of last season but this year you have to start again. I want to hold on this season and hopefully that 200m was a good foundation for the 100m.
“I’m living the dream at the moment, I’m going out there and enjoying it and just enjoying the home crowd.”
With just over half a second separating the medals, the 50m World record holder proved the depth of his talent as he out-paced Commonwealth bronze medallist Andrew Willis (2.08.59) and Commonwealth champion Ross Murdoch (2:08.90) on his way to the top of the podium.
Another Commonwealth medallist took to the waters on day one as James Guy powered home in the Men’s Open 400m Freestyle final, dipping under his own British record to claim his second consecutive title.
In an impressive display of endurance, Guy switched on the after-burners down the final straight to put two body lengths between himself and the rest of the field in 3:44.16
The 18 year old said: “Winning the race today was fantastic and going beneath the qualification standard for the World Championships as well – what more can I ask for.
“Nick Grainger and Dan Wallace are great friends of mine and it was great to have them pushing me the whole way. I’m constantly being pushed in training at the moment and also on the British camps we have so it all helps.”
City of Sheffield’s Nick Grainger took silver in a personal best time of 3:45.89, ahead of Warrender Bath’s swimmer Dan Wallance (3:46.15).
After a stunning comeback in the final 15 metres, Siobhan Marie O’Conner wowed the spectators as she flew to victory in the Women’s Open 100m Freestyle final.
Holding off National Centre, Loughborough sprint specialist and six-time consecutive champion, Francesca Halsall (54.10), O’Conner found the wall in 53.83 - just shy of the lifetime best she set earlier in the day.
The National Centre, Bath swimmer said: “I was up against some really quick girls in that event and, although I’ve been focussing more on my 200m Free in training, I seem to be coming down in the sprints as well. I’m really happy with that.
“Racing against Fran [Halsall] is great and she’s held the title in this race for a long time and she’s one of the best sprinters in the world, so it’s amazing to be able to go head to head like that.”
Backstroke specialist Lauren Quigley (Stockport Metro) earned her first medal of the Championships with bronze in a new best time of 55.17.
The National Centre, Bath didn’t have to wait long for more success as Chris Walker-Hebborn claimed his hat-trick of British Swimming Championship golds in the Men’s Open 100m Backstroke final.
The Commonwealth champion posted a sub-53 second performance for the first time in his career to take the title in 52.88.
Walker-Hebborn said: “I’m tired but I’m overjoyed to have won three titles here at the British Championships.
“I saw Liam [Tancock] coming back at me and I just wanted to hold on so I was happy to dip under 53 seconds and make the time.
“I’ve been racing Liam since I was a little kid and he’s an absolute role model for me – he’s always professional and it’s great to talk to him and race against him.”
Commonwealth bronze medallist and National Centre, Loughborough athlete Liam Tancock swam a second shy of victory in 53.98, with Craig McNally (Warrender Baths) swimming 0.4 off his best in 54.80 to complete the podium.
Hannah Miley led the charge in the final of the Women’s Open 200m Butterfly, fighting tooth and nail down the final 50m to secure the title in 2:08.63.
The 400 Individual Medley specialist swam stroke-for-stroke to the finish with National Centre, Bath swimmer Jemma Lowe in a self-confessed ‘surprise’ performance.
“I haven’t been on the podium for the 200m Fly since 2009, so that was a real shock for me today. It’s really nice to see that I’ve been able to progress in this event; I was a lot quicker than I swam at Commonwealths.
“Over the years I’ve always been told that Butterfly is the weakest stroke of my individual medley so it’s great to be up there with such a strong field of girls today and come away with the win.”
Lowe, who returns to the fray at the British Swimming Championship after an injury in 2014, swam 0.4 of a second inside her heat time for silver in 2:09.36, with Commonwealth silver medallist Aimee Willmott (London Aquatics Centre Performance) taking bronze in 2:09.66.
In the Boy’s Junior 400m Freestyle final, Millfield swimmer Brodie Williams fought off a late challenge from Jamie O’Conner (3:58.77 PB) to take the spoils in a new personal best time of 3:58.05.
Kieran Bird (Bicester) smashes through his heat time by over three seconds to take third in 4:00.62.
Williams was also also on golden form in the Boys Junior 100m Backstroke, clocking another best of 57.45 to take the win over City of Sheffield’s Elliot Clogg (58.45) and St Ives swimmer Oliver Fitt (58.53).
Millfield struck gold again in the Men’s Junior 400m Freestyle final as Cameron Kurle stormed home in 3:51.00 – a two and a half second best time.
Hot on his heels was Kyle Chisholm (3:52.32) who swam a lifetime best to finish four seconds clear of Hatfield rival Martyn Walton (3:56.66) in third.
The Girl’s Junior 100m Freestyle final saw a shake up from the heats as Bridgend City swimmer Rebecca Sutton powered to victory from lane two, finishing two seconds clear of her heat time in 57.89.
Freya Anderson (Wirral Metro) and Athena Clayson (Co Liverpool) took second and third place respectively in 58.71 and 58.75.
After a dead heat in the morning, Georgia Coates and Darcy Deakin went head to head once again in the final of the Women’s Junior 100m Freestyle.
Clocking a 56.70, Coates (Co Leeds) touched out her City of Sheffield rival to take the win, with Deakin coming home in 56.87.
Hannah Featherstone (Sedgefield) took third in 57.18.
Off the back of his personal best performance in the heats, Luke Greenback (Cockermouth) went quicker still in the final of the Men’s Junior 100m Backstroke.
Fighting to the finish with Plymouth Leander’s Joseph Hulme (55.79) Greenback found the wall in 55.33; the pair finishing ahead of Carnegie’s Craig McLean (56.63) in third.
In the Girl’s Junior 200m Butterfly final, Emily Large (Newcastle Swim Team) smashed through her heat standard by over three seconds for the win in a lifetime best of 2:15.59.
Second and third place went to Caitlin Hubbard (2:16.89) and Keanna Maccines (2:20.77).
In a blanket finish, Holly Hibbott (Stockport Mo), Tazmin Pugh (Ellesmere Co) and Amelia Clynes (Co Leeds) left the crowd guessing as they ploughed home in the final of the Women’s Junior 200m Butterfly.
Hibbott stole the touch in 2:12.98, with Pugh and Clynes clocking 2:13.14 and 2:13.19 respectively.
The Boy’s Junior 200m Breaststroke title went to South Ayrshire swimmer Cameron Muir (2:22.35) who secured the win over Millfield’s Joshua Lawson (2:22.75) and City of Leeds swimmer Harry Devlin (2:24.33).
The same event for the Men’s Junior age group saw Taunton Deane’s Charlie Attwood take the top spot in 2:14.60, ahead of City of Birmingham’s Luke Davies (2:15.12 PB) and Cockermouth’s Edward Baxter (2:16.14).