Scotland Short Course Championships Ends With Exciting Night

GLASGOW, Scotland, January 14. THE final day of competition at the Scottish National Short Course Championships demonstrated that British men's 200m freestyle swimming is in very good shape.

The race of the night saw Robbie Renwick (City of Aberdeen Swim Team) take the 200m freestyle title by a fingertip from four other finalists. Commonwealth Games Champion, Ross Davenport (Bath University), led until the final 25m when Renwick, John Owen, Andrew Hunter and Robert Lang all moved alongside him. Going into the final 10m the race could have gone any of five ways, but it was Renwick who surged forward to take the title in 1:47.16, just ahead of City of Edinburgh's John Owen who finished in 1:47.17. Andy Hunter (Stirling Swimming) won bronze in 1:47.23 just edging City of Edinburgh's Robert Lang out of the medals (1:47.24). Despite leading for much of the race, Davenport had to settle for fifth place.

In the Women's 200m freestyle Megan Gilchrist finally got some revenge on City of Edinburgh Swimming team mate, Robyn Matthews, by taking the title. Gilchrist came from behind to take the lead during the final 50m and won in 2:02.02, over a second faster than Matthews who won Silver in 2:03.29. Lucy Ellis of Dunedin Swim Team won Bronze in 2:04.54.

Gregor Tait (City of Edinburgh Swimming) continued his successful weekend by taking another two titles. He eased to victory in the final of the 100m Backstroke despite a valiant fight back from second placed Billy Purnell (Warrender Baths Club). Tait won in 54.16 a full second and a half faster than Purnell who finished in 55.50. Scott Houston (Stirling Swimming) was third in 56.17.

Tait was soon back in action in the final of the Men's 100m IM where he edged out Edinburgh team mate Kris Gilchrist winning in a time of 55.67. Gilchrist won Silver in 56.15 and Andy Hunter of Stirling was third in 56.74.

Gilchrist earlier enjoyed a run away victory in the Men's 200m Breaststroke final winning the title in 2:09.93. Gilchrist's Commonwealth Games team mate, Chris Jones (Swindon Dolphins) was second in 2:14.30 and Jamie Griffiths of Stirling Swimming was third in 2:14.57.

In the Women's 200m Breaststroke final, Kerry Buchan continued her good form by taking the title in 2:26.35. She led from the start and finished well ahead of of Kirsty Balfour (City of Edinburgh Swimming) who was second in 2:30.11. City of Glasgow Swim Team's Rebecca Hillis won Bronze in 2:32.33.

In the 200m Freestyle Relay the Women's team from Warrender Baths Club and the Men's team from Stirling Swimming both broke the Scottish National Team Record on the way to their respective titles. The Warrender team of Helen McRoberts, Sally Wood, Katelyn Stewart and Fiona Booth shaved over a second off the existing record winning in 1:46.67, ahead of City of Edinburgh who won Silver in 1:47.51. The Bronze medal went to Heart of Midlothian in 1:50.18.

Scott Houston, Todd Cooper, Craig Houston and Andy Hunter made up the Stirling team who won their race in a new record time in 1:30.39. City of Edinburgh Swimming were second in 1:31.26 and Swindon Dolphins swam a great final leg to take bronze in 1:35.88.

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