Anna Hopkin lands double gold at BUCS Short Course 2016

Anna Hopkin impressed to land double gold at the BUCS Short Course Championships 2016 in Sheffield.

The Bath University swimmer was the only female English swimmer to land double gold at the meet, touching first over 50m and 100m Freestyle at Ponds Forge.

Hopkin came into the competition as defending champion in the 50m Free, having also won gold at last year’s ASA National Winter Meet, and silver behind triple Olympian Francesca Halsall at this year’s British Championships.

And the 20-year old’s retention of her crown never looked in doubt, as she clocked the second fastest time of her career to take the touch in 24.54.

Hopkin also caught the eye as she doubled up to land the 100m Free crown for the first time.

She clocked 53.53 in the final, smashing 0.98 seconds off her personal best and moving to sixth in the British all-time rankings.

Aitchison breaches British top 10 for 50m Breast

Beth Aitchison also entered the top 10 of the British historic rankings with her effort in the 50m Breaststroke.

The Loughborough University swimmer clocked a PB 30.49 to claim gold and move into eighth in the British all-time list.

Beth Aitchison swimming at the BUCS SC Champs 2016

She was also on lifetime best form in the 100m Breast as she claimed bronze on 1:07.38, with Georgie Evans touching for silver in a PB 1:06.99.

Aimee Willmott and Maya Westlake were the other individual English gold medallist in the women’s events.

Rio 2016 Olympian Willmott topped the podium to defend her 400m IM crown in 4:36.06.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Hallam swimmer Westlake took her PB down to 1:57.09 to finish first in the 200m Freestyle.

Max and Joe Litchfield one-two in both medleys

Also swimming for Sheffield Hallam, brothers Max and Joe Litchfield finished first and second in both the 200m and 400m Individual Medley.

Max, who finished fourth over 400m IM on his Olympic debut in Rio this summer, took the touch in the shorter event in a PB 1:57.62. Joe also clocked a PB as he came home second in 2:00.40.

In the 400m IM, British champion Max won gold with a PB 4:08.76 while his younger brother took silver on 4:14.06.

Jay Lelliott and Tim Shuttleworth were the other English gold medallists in the individual men’s events.

Bath University’s Lelliott clocked a 1:56.29 effort for victory in the 200m Butterfly. Meanwhile, Rio 2016 Olympian Shuttleworth took the 1500m Freestyle crown in 14:46.21.

Image credit: Bath University Swimming Twitter / BUCS Sport Twitter

Top