Scottish National Short Course Championships Begin

GLASGOW, Scotland, January 13. THE Scottish National Short Course Championships began today at Tollcross Park Leisure Centre in Glasgow with over 650 athletes from 60 clubs competing for medals and the title Scottish National Short Course Open Champion.

Prior to the finals, a one minute silence was held in memory of two members of Scotland's swimming community who had recently lost their lives: Alex Michalski (Banchory Beavers SC/South Aberdeenshire) and Eian Prentice (Fauldhouse Penguins).

The first race of the night, the women's 800m Freestyle, was a battle between City of Edinburgh team-mates, Robyn Matthews and Megan Gilchrist. After swimming shoulder to shoulder for the majority of the race, it was only in the final 25m that 15-year old Matthews edged a narrow lead, which she managed to hold onto touching home in 8:42.31, a new Scottish National Junior Record. Gilchrist won silver in 8:42.43 ahead of Rebecca Hillis (City of Glasgow Swim Team) who finished third in 8:55.40.

Robbie Renwick (City of Aberdeen Swim Team) showed his excellent form winning the final of the men's 400m Freestyle in a new Scottish National Senior Record time of 3:44.63. City of Edinburgh Swimming's John Owen and Robert Lang took silver and bronze respectively (3:45.24 and 3:48.21).

Renwick also took the title in the Men's 50m Freestyle winning in a time of 22.91. Craig Houston (Stirling Swimming) was second in 23.03 while Kris Gilchrist of City of Edinburgh Swimming was third in 23.40.

Kerry Buchan (South Aberdeenshire) enjoyed a good night in the pool taking top honors in the Women's 100m Breaststroke final as well as breaking the Scottish National Senior Record on her way to Gold in the final of the 200m IM.

Buchan led from the start in the Breaststroke final holding off a late challenge from Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh Swimming) to take Gold in a time of 1:08.93. Balfour finished in 1:09.60 taking Silver ahead of Rebecca Hillis (City of Glasgow Swim Team) who was third in 1:10.93.

And it was during the Breaststroke leg that Buchan really pulled away from the rest of the field in the final of the 200m IM. She took Gold in a new Scottish National Record time of 2:15.02 beating Hannah Miley's existing record from 2005 of 2:15.16. Robyn Matthews (City of Edinburgh Swimming) was second in 2:19.26 and Louise Pate from Heart of Midlothian took Bronze in 2:19.47.

Later on during the evening, Louise Pate was back in the pool, winning the Women's 200m Butterfly time in a new Scottish National Senior Record time of 2:15.14. The Heart of Midlothian swimmer ended the race a full two and a half seconds ahead of nearest rival, Laura Chase (Stirling Swimming), who took Silver in 2:17.45. Megan Gilchrist (City of Edinburgh Swimming) was third in 2:17.68.

The final race of the night was the Men's 200m Medley Relay which saw the team from City of Edinburgh achieve another Scottish National Record as they took Gold in a time of 1:39.74. The team consisting of Gregor Tait, Kris Gilchrist, David Leith and Robert Lang went ahead from the off and came home almost three seconds ahead of Stirling Swimming. The squad from Stirling (Scott Houston, Craig Houston, Todd Cooper and Andy Hunter) finished in 1:42.63 with Warrender Baths Club (Billy Purnell, Ross Johnston, Lewis Smith and Ewan Johnston) in third in 1:44.94.

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