Nocher breaks De Bruin Irish mark

Nocher also set a new Irish 200m freestyle short course record

Belfast swimmer Melanie Nocher has broken one of Michelle De Bruin's Irish short course records.

Nocher clocked 2:08.52 when winning the 200m backstroke title at the Canadian Western Championships in Victoria.

The Belfast woman's time cut 2.24 seconds off De Bruin's time set in Sheffield in March 1994.

Nocher also set a new Irish short course mark of 1:59.31 when taking second in the 200m freestyle final at the Canadian meeting.

The Northern Ireland woman's time improved Chantal Gibney's previous mark set in 2002 by .19secs.

Nocher's time left her in second behind Canadian Erica Morningstar who won in 1:56.20.

Andrew Bree is the only Irish swimmer to have qualified so far for this year's Olympics in Beijing but Nocher, if she maintains her current rate of progress, could join the Helen's Bay man on the plane to China.

Nocher will chase Olympic qualifying times at the European Championships in Eindhoven in March.