Nocher sets new national record

Melanie Nocher beat her Irish rival Aishling Cooney in Holland

Belfast swimmer Melanie Nocher regained the Irish women's 200m backstroke record on Friday when she took victory in the Dutch National Championships.

Nocher's time of 2:13.84 cut .02secs off Aishling Cooney's previous mark set at the recent Irish Championships.

Cooney was second in Friday's final in 2:13.89. Both swimmers are chasing the Olympic A standard of 2.12.73.

However, there is a possibility both youngsters could be selected for Beijing with their B standards.

Nocher set her previous personal best of 2.14.56 in Thursday's heats in Eindhoven.

There were a number of other good Irish performances in Holland on Friday.

City of Derry swimmer Ryan Harrison took fifth in the men's 400m freestyle in 4:03.30.

Lorna Cummins won the 200m butterfly final in 2.16.27 while another Olympic Games hopeful Barry Murphy took third in the 50m freestyle in 22.84.

Karl Burdis finished third in the men's 200m backstroke in 2:07.69 while Fiona Doyle was fourth in the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:12.00.

The Dutch Championships, which continue in Eindhoven until Sunday, is one of the final opportunities for Irish swimmers to achieve qualification for the Beijing Olympics.