Sheffield set for unmissable Sunday drama at British Champs

9 Apr 2023

An unmissable set of finals will bring the curtain down on the British Swimming Championships, with some fast-paced morning heats - including a genuinely world-class field in the Men's 200m Freestyle - whetting the appetite for what is to come in Sheffield today (Sunday 9th April).

Kara Hanlon and Imogen Clark could serve up a brilliant breaststroke tussle to round out their programmes after solid morning swims in the Women's 100m Breaststroke. 

Both have already shown good racing form this season, and it was Hanlon (Edinburgh University) who made the early statement with her back-end speed taking her to the wall as the fastest qualifier, ahead of Derventio's Clark, whose race plan saw her take things out fast and ease back ahead of the final. 

West Suffolk's Angharad Evans rounded out the top three after the morning. 

Oliver Morgan's British Championships form showed no signs of abating in the Men's 200m Backstroke, as the Birmingham University man - who has already done the 50m-100m double this week - led the way in qualifying, showing that speed to finish his four laps well.

Behind him after the morning session, Luke Greenbank (Loughborough Performance Centre) did what he needed to do to secure a provisional lane five, with the Olympic medallist in this event looking to move things on in defence of his British title. Fellow Loughborough Performance Centre man Charlie Brown was next in the qualifying. 

A thrilling Women's 100m Butterfly is on the cards to round out the women's programme in Sheffield, with all eight A finalists separated by a single second after the heats. 

Leading the way is Keanna MacInnes (University of Stirling), the European finalist clocking the only sub-59-second time for the morning - but behind her are a slew of rivals for the British title, with Olympian Harriet Jones (City of Cardiff) and Laura Stephens - who was already confirmed her place on the Worlds team for this summer with a stunning 200m swim - completing the provisional top three.

The annual Men's 200m Freestyle blockbuster will again close this year's event - and if the morning heats are anything to go by, it will be another unmissable contest.

Tom Dean wingspan on the blocks 200m IM BSC 2023 MH
Tom Dean led qualifying in the Men's 200m Freestyle

Olympic champion Tom Dean leads the way into the final after taking his heat out fast down the opening 100m, backing up his 200m Individual Medley victory from the night before. James Guy and Matt Richards were tied behind him as the next best qualifiers after pacey efforts of their own, with the field as a whole containing seven Olympians. Four of them - Dean, Guy, Richards and Duncan Scott - powered Team GB to Tokyo 2020 gold in the Men's 4x200m Freestyle.

Lewis Fraser looks set to take lane four for the Men's 50m Butterfly final after a rapid morning swim from the Swansea University athlete.

Fraser powered clear in his heat to qualify fastest ahead of the afternoon heats, with 100m Butterfly champion Jacob Peters the next fastest at this stage. Ben Proud, fresh from a splash-and-dash 50m Freestyle victory on Saturday night, is ranked third. 

The Women's 1500m Freestyle fastest heat will open up proceedings on Sunday night. Heading into that one, Cait Cotter (Chelmsford) edged out Mount Kelly's Ruby Griffiths to take the top seed berth after pacing herself well across 30 laps of the Ponds Forge pool.

For the full results, as well as info on how to watch tonight's finals from the stands or the comfort of your own home, check out our “What’s On?” page.