SWIMMING: Bancroft bags Simmonds scalp (From Oxford Mail)

SWIMMING: Bancroft bags Simmonds scalp

10:00am Saturday 16th March 2013 in Sport

City of Oxford swimmer Rosie Bancroft defeated Paralympics gold medallist Ellie Simmonds when competing in the prestigious Bri-tish Gas International Championships at Le-eds.

The event doubles up as national juniors trials, with the stars of the future competing for places in international teams.

Bancroft came third – ahead of Simmonds – in the 400m freestyle event, winning the bronze medal in a time of 4mins 47.68secs – six seconds faster than her previous best.

Her time is the second best in the world this year for an S10 swimmer.

She is now only two seconds outside of the 400m freestyle B qualifying time and she will be aiming to achieve that at the Disability World Trials next month.

Clubmate Chris Currie came seventh in the 200m freestyle in 2.16.71.

He also finished 13th in the 50m free-style and 15th in both the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke. Another City of Oxford swimmer, Emily Wood, qua-lified fr this event for the first time.

She came 16th in the 16 & under 200m breaststroke and 19th in the 100m breaststroke, even though she is only 13.

Alex Murphy, of Abingdon Vale, set an English age-group record when winning the 18 and under 50m breaststroke title at Leeds.

The outstanding prospect, who smashed the 17 and under national record, is a strong candidate to compete for a place in the European Junior Championships and the European Youth Olympic Festival.

Murphy, one of six Vale swimmers competing in this event, also came second in the 100m breaststroke final.

In this race, he was up against club colleagues Harry James, 17, and Michael Esnouf, 16, who finished sixth and tenth respectively.

Other Vale members taking part were Niall O’Leary, who was seventh in the 18 & under 200m backstroke, and 15-year-old Caitlin Wheatley.

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