Swimming News  

Tait's title hat-trick

City of Edinburgh's Gregor Tait proved he is bang on form for the Olympic Games in Beijing next month when he completed a title hat-trick in the backstroke events at the ASA National Championships in Liverpool.

In the final session, the 29-year-old double Commonwealth Games Champion won the 200m backstroke, touching in 1:59.30 and almost a second ahead of Welsh teenager, Marco Loughran.

"It's been a hard week, with a busy schedule, but it's about getting the races in at this point of our Olympic preparation," said Tait, who has qualified for the 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley in Beijing.

"The process of tough morning races is what we've focused on recently and that swim is one of my fastest in a morning, so it shows it's paying off."

The other Scottish winners in Liverpool were Hannah Miley, Kirsty Balfour, Kris Gilchrist, Robbie Renwick and Todd Cooper.

In the final session, Warrender's Lewis Smith showed he is a name for the not too distant future by taking the silver medal in the 400m individual medley. He clocked 4:24.41 compared to Joe Roebuck's winning 4:22.21.

Unfortunately, Scots Caitlin McClatchey and Euan Dale missed the Championships due to illness.

But they will be fit to join the GB team heading to Osaka in Japan for the Olympic holding camp on July 25. The swimming in Beijing starts on August 9.