Alice Tai wins clash of world record holders in Sheffield

Alice Tai emerged victorious in a MC clash between GB’s top backstroke stars on day two of the British Summer Championships 2017.

British Para-Swimming has a strong hand in women’s backstroke heading into September’s World Championships in Mexico City, with the reigning world record holders in S8, S9, S12 and S14 classifications.

And it was Tai, who set her S9 world record of 1:07.66 at the British Para-Swimming International Meet this year, who swam closest to it in Sheffield.

Great swim from BCS swimmer Alice Tai this evening in the MC 100 backstroke taking home a GOLD medal in a super fast 1:08.3 ?@BCSsport

— BCS Swimming (@SwimBCS) July 26, 2017

The 18-year old Bournemouth Collegiate School swimmer clocked 1:08.30 for 1016 points to win the MC final.

S14 Paralympic champion and world record holder Bethany Firth touched in 1:05.54 for silver while 20-year old S12 Paralympic champion Hannah Russell won bronze in 1:07.85.

S8 world record holder and Paralympic champion Stephanie Millward was fourth after a time of 1:14.99 in the final.

Jonathan Fox and Ellie Robinson land MC golds

City of Manchester Aquatics’ Jonathan Fox (S7) won the men’s equivalent, picking up 943 points for his 1:10.51 effort in the MC final.

UEA Norwich swimmer Jordan Catchpole joined him on the podium with silver after an S14 British record 1:02.24.

There was also a British record in the S10 classification as James Hollis clocked 1:03.01.

Another of GB’s Paralympic champions from Rio, Eleanor Robinson, set a season’s best as she won the MC 50m Butterfly.

The S6 swimmer strengthened her position at the top of this year’s world rankings with a 35.99 swim in the MC final.

Robinson touched ahead of Northampton teammate and fellow S6 swimmer Maisie Summers-Newton, who clocked 41.68 in the final.

• Click here to view full results from the British Summer Championships 2017.