Brits eighth after first Olympic Pool swim

Performing for the first time at London Aquatics Centre, the Brits scored 86.6 for their routine to place just 2.2 points short of the top five ahead of Saturday’s Free Routine.

While the British women have already been guaranteed their spot at London 2012 as hosts, they were performing their newly choreographed routines for only the second time in competition.

But despite missing captain Jenna Randall through injury, the Brits impressed in front of the sold out 2,500 crowd, receiving 43.2 for execution and 43.4 for overall impression.

And while team member Katie Dawkins admits the routine has scope for improvement, she insisted their performance was one they wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

“The swim itself went really well,” said Dawkins. “There are obviously a few things we can improve on as always but overall it was really good.

“The crowd were amazing as well. It was so loud and the pool isn’t even a third full really so we can’t imagine how good it will be Games-time.”

Dawkins' teammate Katie Skelton added: “Walking out and seeing the big crowd and knowing a lot of them are there to support us obviously makes you a bit more nervous.

“But we didn’t let that affect us. We kept our focus throughout, treated it like a normal competition and got on with our job.”

World and Olympic champions Russia led the way on 97.7 ahead of Spain on 96.1 while the battle for the third qualification spot looks set to be between Ukraine and Japan who finished the Team Technical equal third on 93.5.

Italy (91.4) were fifth overall while Great Britain will have half an eye on overhauling sixth-placed USA (88.8) or seventh-placed France (87.4) in Saturday’s Team Free event.