Firth stars with world record at Scottish Nationals

July 4, 2016

England’s Bethany Firth was the star of the para-swimming events at the Scottish National Championships 2016 as she set a new S14 world record in the 200m Freestyle.

The Northern Ireland-born swimmer was just 0.09 seconds shy of the world marker with her 2:03.63 PB heat swim, but then smashed the record with a 2:02.09 effort to finish fifth as the only para-swimmer in a top class able-bodied final.

Firth returned to the pool for the MC 200m Individual Medley, winning her second gold of the meet in 2:22.34 with Ellie Simmonds (S6) coming home in 3:06.10 for silver.

Four-time Paralympic gold medallist Simmonds also won silver in the 100m Breast before landing her only gold of the meet with a 5:32.33 effort in the 400m Freestyle.

Nova Centurion’s Ollie Hynd (S8) only swam the men’s 400m Free in Glasgow, touching just 0.33 seconds shy of his world record in 4:24.65.

"Only three tenths outside the world record, a little frustrating but I'm happy with the time" @olliehyndgb #SNSC16 pic.twitter.com/l5GYbkkWbr
— Scottish Swimming (@ScottishSwim) July 1, 2016

In contrast, City of Manchester’s Hannah Russell (S12) swam to a hat-trick of golds as she starred in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, as well as the 100m Backstroke.

The 19-year old, who will aim to win her maiden Paralympic title in Rio this summer, looked in good form at Tollcross, touching in 27.21 for the second fastest 50m Free swim of her career, then 1:06.74 for her third fastest 100m Backstroke effort.

Russell’s Manchester teammate Jon Fox (S7) also topped the podium for a couple of gold medals in the 50m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke while another Manchester Aquatics swimmer, Tom Hamer (S14), finished on top in the 100m Free and 200m IM.

Team Northumbria’s Paralympic bronze medallist Harriet Lee (SB9) continued her signs of resurgence this season with a 1:18.98 effort for gold in the 100m Breaststroke while Northampton teenager Ellie Robinson (S6) topped the podium in the 50m Fly after clocking a PB 5:42.39 for bronze in the 400m Free.

Romford Town’s Amy Marren (S9) scooped a hat-trick of medals with silver in the 50m Free and bronzes in the 100m Free and 100m Back while City of Sheffield’s James Crisp (S9) landed silver in both the 100m Back and 200m IM.

Josef Craig (S8) also claimed a pair of medals with 50m Free silver and 400m Free bronze while Rosie Bancroft (S10) won 400m Free silver and James Hollis (S10) 100m Free bronze.