For the second time in one day, Britain’s Alice Tai broke the World record in the Women’s S8 100m Backstroke to take World Series gold on the penultimate night of racing in Sheffield.
Tai, who broke the record in the morning heats session on day three of the Para-Swimming International Meet, lowering it to 1:09.43 returned to the Ponds Forge pool and stepped up her performance to stop the clock at 1:08.26 and a total of 1220 points.
“I think there are lots of things in my race I want to keep working on like my turns. I am always looking at ways to improve,” explained Tai.
“But it’s always nice to compete close to home so your friends and family can come to watch.”
Teammate and fellow British swimmer Bethany Firth’s (S14) finals time of 1:04.74 and 968 points secured her the silver medal and her time is well inside the European Championship consideration standard.
Bronze went to Shokhsan Toshpulatova of Uzbekistan with an 897 points total.
In the national event Women’s MC Backstroke, Brock Whiston (S10) of Barking and Dagenham took the title with a points total of 611.
It was another British victory in the Men’s MC 100m Backstroke final as S14 swimmer Jordan Catchpole pulled away early and lead all the way to the touch to claim the gold medal with a total of 878 points and his time of 1:01.88 puts him just shy of a second inside the Dublin 2018 qualification standard.
Brazil’s Italo Pereira (S7) amassed a point’s total of 856, just 22 behind Catchpole to claim the silver medal. Oliver Hynd (S9) completed the podium line up as his 829 points sealed the bronze medal.
After collecting his medal Catchpole said: “It’s what you train for and I couldn’t be on the podium with two better people, so I wanted to say congratulations to them.
“My plan was to go out fairly quickly and unleash the beast as my coaches say, after the turn.”
S14 swimmer Rhys Davies of Pembrokeshire County was the man on top in the national final of the Men’s MC 100m Backstroke with 808 points.
It was a title successfully defended for Eleanor Robinson (S6) in the Women’s MC 50m Butterfly, her time of 35.93 inside the all-important Dublin 2018 qualification standard.
Ellie Robinson “I’m really pleased that I’m still swimming well after commies.
“Right now I think it’s about making targets and working towards them. I’m working towards Europeans and I’m looking ahead to that now,” explained Robinson
Silver went to Germany’s Verena Schott (S6) finished with 750 points just ahead of the bronze medallist from Canada, Tess Routliffe (S7) with 734 points.
Leah O’Connel (S7) of Camden Swiss swimming club claimed the victory in the National Women’s MC 50m Butterfly final, her touch clinched 550 points
Colombia did one-two in the Men’s MC 50m Butterfly as Carlos Serrano Zarate (S7) took the gold medal with 819 and just ten points ahead of compatriot Nelson Crispin.
Britain’s Andrew Mullen picked up his first medal of the meet, he joined the Colombians on the podium in the bronze medal position.
Mout Kelly’s William Perry posted a final score of 427 which gave him the victory in the Men’s MC 50m Butterfly national final.
With a time of 1:04.80, Jessica-Jane Applegate (S14) went under the World Para Swimming European qualifying time and sealed her first gold of week in Sheffield with a final score of 984 points.
“I was 1/10th off my PB so I am a little bit gutted but I was inside the European qualifying time so am pleased with that,” said Applegate after her medal ceremony.
“Tomorrow is a big day for me and I’m really looking forward to racing.”
New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe (S10) picked up another medal at these championships, this time silver behind Britain’s Applegate and a points total of 903.
Bethany Firth concluded the podium positions, she took bronze with 898 points, her time 1:06.80 at the touch.
Megan Neave (S14) of the City of Derby swimming club topped the pile in the Women’s MC 100m Butterfly final.
In the final event of the evening, the Men’s MC 100m Butterfly final, it was Japan who were the dominant force as their swimmers Dai Tokairin (S14) and Keichi Nakajima (S14) took gold and silver respectively.
Marc Evers (S14) of the Netherlands rounded off the medal finishers with 944.
Rhys Davies claimed his second win of the night in the British final of the 100m Butterfly.
You can see a full list of the results here.
You can tune into this evening’s finals action here.