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Page last updated at 20:30 GMT, Wednesday, 9 March 2011

Ellen Gandy wins British 200m butterfly swimming crown

British Gas Swimming Championships
Dates: 5-12 March Venue: Manchester Aquatics Centre
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra; daily video highlights on the BBC Sport website

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Goddard holds off Roebuck for medley gold

Ellen Gandy successfully retained her British Championships 200m butterfly crown, adding to her 100m title, following a fine swim in Manchester.

The 19-year-old clocked two minutes 6.13 seconds and has qualified for the World Championships in Shanghai.

Swansea's Jemma Lowe, who came second with a time of 2:06.64, also qualifies.

There were golds for Adam Brown in the 100m freestyle, James Goddard in the 200m individual medley and Georgia Davies in the 50m backstroke.

Fran Halsall, who finished with a silver medal in the 100m butterfly on Sunday a month after undergoing ankle surgery, qualified second fastest for Friday's women's 100m freestyle final behind Amy Smith, who clocked 55.40 secs.

Australia-based Gandy maintained her superb form from the 100m butterfly final on Sunday into the 200m, taking control of the final on the second length and powering home ahead of Lowe.

Ellen Gandy in action
Gandy won the 100m butterfly title in Sunday's final

Although Gandy, 19, admitted to tiredness, she was delighted to book her place in the discipline for China in August.

"I'm just glad I could finish that. I'm really happy - that's my second fastest time in this suit," she told BBC Sport.

Lowe said she was "really pleased" to join Gandy on the plane to China in the summer.

"Last night the last 10m really hurt and I didn't think I would have any more in the tank," said the 20-year-old.

"It was the final and I'd missed out on the 100 so I just gave it everything I had and just put my head down."

Double Commonwealth 200m individual medley champion Goddard had to hold off a stern challenge from Joe Roebuck to touch first in one minute 58.22 secs, just 0.06 secs ahead of his opponent.

I think I can win a medal in both so it's going to be a really difficult decision whether to do both or do one

James Goddard on his event dilemma

And less than an hour later the 27-year-old was back in the pool for the 200m backstroke semi-finals, where he qualified fastest for tomorrow's decider.

However, Goddard faces a dilemma which could force him to drop one of his two events at the World Championships as well as the 2012 Olympics.

The Manchester schedule replicates the Shanghai order this summer, which means the Stockport ITC swimmer faces the same programme - only up against the world's best swimmers like Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.

He said: "Michael Phelps obviously did it eight times in Beijing. But it's something I've got to do: I love both events.

"I don't really want to miss out on one. Backstroke is my main stroke but I really love the medley.

"I think I can win a medal in both so it's going to be a really difficult decision whether to do both or do one but right now I am just focusing on qualifying and after that I'll see what happens."

Brown retained his 100m freestyle title when he clocked 49.41secs, but his time was outside the automatic qualification time for the World Championships.

Grant Turner took silver, with Craig Gibbon claiming the final podium place.

And Davies produced a powerful second 50m to beat Emma Saunders to the 50m backstroke title.



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see also
Second British gold for Adlington
08 Mar 11 |  Swimming
Spofforth battles back to victory
08 Mar 11 |  Swimming
Halsall earns comeback fly silver
07 Mar 11 |  Swimming
Adlington swims to British gold
05 Mar 11 |  Swimming
Gandy takes butterfly bronze
18 Jan 11 |  Commonwealth Games
Gandy grabs 200m butterfly bronze
15 Aug 10 |  Swimming
Swimming & Diving on the BBC
29 Jun 11 |  Swimming
Swimming calendar
17 Oct 00 |  Swimming


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