On the final night of action at the London Aquatics Centre Jazz Carlin brought the curtains down on the British Swimming Championship 2015 in style completing her hat-trick of golds.
Setting a new Welsh record on her way to victory, Carlin posted a 1:56.88 to beat defending champion and National Centre, Bath team-mate Siobhan Marie O’Conner (1:57.24).
Commenting on her performance, Carlin said: “I was pretty nervous beforehand I knew it was going to be a tough race. It’s so good to get on the podium with Siobhan because we train together day in day out so it’s really nice for us to share that moment.
“It been an up and down five days and there’s been a lot of emotions, but obviously I’m really happy to end it with a best time and I get to enjoy a few days off now.”
City of Sheffield’s Eleanor Faulkner secured the third podium spot in 1:58.29.
National records were the order of the day as James Guy set a new English benchmark on his way to gold in the Men’s Open 200m Freestyle.
The 19-year old led from start to finish to take his second gold of the week in 1:46.32.
Guy said: “I had a fantastic year last year with Commonwealths but equally I knew I made some mistakes there so I knew there were bits I could improve on and I’ll definitely be working really hard between now and the summer to get everything right.
“For me this meet was all about qualifying for the World Championships and that’s exactly what I’ve managed to do.”
University of Stirling’s Robbie Renwick made an impressive comeback down the final length to finish within 0.3 of the winner in a time of 1:46.64 ahead of National Centre, Bath swimmer Calum Jarvis (1:46.65).
With just 0.34 seconds separating the medals in the Men’s Open 100m Butterfly, Loughborough University’s Thomas Laxton fought off stiff competition to take his first British title.
The Welshman, who is on a comeback from injury, showed he is well on the road to recovery clocking a new national record of 52.40.
Laxton said: “This win means everything to me and to get the Welsh record as well is great. I glided and looked across at the finish and I thought I’d lost it but when I looked at the scoreboard and saw the confirmation I was over the moon.
“I’ve changed coach in the last year, I now train with Ian Hulme and we’ve really been working on the last 20 metres of my race. So to be able to put that into practice today and hold on until the end is great.”
Fastest seed from the heats, City of Sheffield swimmer Braxston Timm (52.72) settled the silver with Loughborough University’s Adam Barrett (52.74) completing the podium for bronze.
After a tough 12 months, Elizabeth Simmonds swam to victory in the Women’s Open 200m Backstroke.
The National Centre, Bath swimmer hit home in 2:08.38 for the win.
Simmonds said: “To have done the time in my own right on the 200m tonight is great, I would like to have gone a little quicker but it was all about getting myself in a good position this week and building from there.
“Knowing that I’m capable of going faster is a great sign for the summer. I’m looking forward to a few days of resting now and then I can keep training and regroup.”
Georgia Hohmann swam just shy of her heat time for silver in 2:11.78 with City of Manchester Aquatics swimmer Jessica Fullalove winning bronze with 2:12.36.
Fresh off the back of her 200m Individual Medley silver on Thursday, Hannah Miley showed no sign of fatigue as she paced her way to the win in the Women’s Open 400m Individual Medley.
The Commonwealth and nine time British champion clocked 4:32.16, pushing the race out from the start to carve a dominant lead over London Aquatics Centre Performance swimmer Aimee Willmott (4:33.66).
Miley said: “I’m really happy to come away with that time tonight, that was my main target coming into this meet and I was successful in that so it’s really good.
“I don’t really like to pressure on myself going into races by focussing on times but I knew that I had to go pretty fast for that. I swam my own race and just went for it and came away with the time that I needed.”
Nova Centurian’s Rosie Rudin set the bronze medal pace in 4:41.76.
In the Girl’s Junior 400m Individual Medley, Bridgend City’s Rebecca Sutton collected her fourth gold of the Championships as she stormed home to a huge personal best of 4:51.58.
Emily Large (Newcastle Swim Team) clocked 4:56.65 for second place ahead of Newcastle Guildford’s Sophia Wilson (4:56.66).
Sutton (2:05.00) took to the pool again later in the session in the Girl’s Junior 200m Freestyle showing strength in depth to beat Thanet Swim’s Maisie Macartney (2:07.56) and Hillingdon’s Jemima Hall (2:07.79).
Derventio’s Abbie Wood took the Women’s Junior 400m Individual Medley title in 4:50.58 from Ellesmere College’s Tazmin Pugh (4:53.24) and City of Birmingham’s Isobel Griffiths (4:53.72).
Medallist from last night Jamie O’Connor (Thanet Swim) stroked a convincing lead in the Boy’s Junior 200m Freestyle final, swimming to victory in 1:52.58.
Millfield’s Brodie Williams (1:53.34) and Soundwell SC’s William Cole (1:54.18) decided second and third place.
Top three in the Men’s Junior 200m Freestyle went to Millfield swimmer Cameron Kurle (1:49.54) from Borough of Kirkless’ Kyle Chisholm (1:49.90) and Hatfield’s Martyn Walton (1:50.09).
With a one and a half second advantage from the heats, Sophie Hobbah (City of Leeds) looked strong once again in the final of the Girl’s Junior 200m Backstroke, sealing the title in 2:15.74.
Nova Centurion’s Lily Boseley (2:19.41) held off Ellesmere College’s Ellinor Southward (2:19.53) for second place.
The Women’s Junior 200m Backstroke saw a tousle between the middles lanes as City of Derby’s Eleanor Baldwin came out on top in 2:15.32, ahead of Team Ipswich’s Rebecca Sherwin (2:16.29) and Millfield’s Isabel Jones (2:17.47).
Daniel Savage (Northampton SC) came through strongly to take the Boy’s Junior 100m Butterfly final in a new personal best time of 56.93 – his first time sub-57.
Second and third positions were claimed by Aberdeen SC’s Thomas Beeley (57.30) and Stockport Metro’s Harrison Coulter (57.68).
Following his silver in the Men’s Open 200m Backstroke Luke Greenbank went one better in the Men’s Junior 100m Butterfly taking the win in 54.92, from Borough of Kirkless’ Kyle Chisholm (54.97) and Team Ipswich swimmer Jake Tyson (55.04).
Stockport Metro pair of Holly Hibbott (2:01.09) and Madelaine Crompton (2:02.13) shared the spearhead lanes in the Women’s Junior 200m Freestyle final, bringing the curtains down on the championships with first and second place respectively.
Third went to Sedgefield and District’s Hannah Featherstone in 2:02.34.