Adlington completes golden hat-trick at the British Gas Swimming Championships
Double Olympic Champion Rebecca Adlington put in a commanding performance in the final of the 800m Freestyle on the penultimate day of competition at the British Gas Swimming Championships in Manchester.
Adlington - who also won the 200m and 400m Freestyle titles this week - moved into the lead early on and the race appeared to be on for second place with Keri-anne Payne and Jazmin Carlin.
Adlington ultimately won the gold in a time of 8:20.23 and commented: "It is nice that I've qualified. I can go back now and concentrate on getting ready for World Championships. I want to go out and race well.
"I relaxed this week, I wasn't worried about times. I wanted to race well and race strong and it has been a great meet. The crowds were fantastic, the music, the atmosphere - I've loved it."
Carlin eventually took silver in a Welsh record 8:25.67 while Payne clinched bronze in a personal best 8:29.98.
Florida-based Stephanie Proud took on European Champion Elizabeth Simmonds and European silver medallist Gemma Spofforth in women's 200m Backstroke final.
Commonwealth silver medallist Simmonds went out hard for the first 100m and established a good lead over the field.
But Proud timed her race to perfection and turned for the final 50m in the lead, going on to win the race in 2:09.41 - a time which will put her in contention for selection for the World Championships in Shanghai.
"There were four or five of us capable of getting that time for Shanghai so I am really pleased that I got my hand on the wall first," Proud said.
"I was quite nervous with Gemma and Lizzie around me but I just tried to swim my own race and it worked out for me."
Simmonds won the silver in 2:11.67 and European Junior Champion Karley Mann took the bronze in 2:12.54.
The women's 50m Butterfly went down to the wire with Jessica Sylvester, Rachael Kelly and Lucy Worrall all swimming stroke for stroke for the final 25m.
It was Sylvester that stole the win after reaching for the wall in 27.37. Kelly was given the silver after clocking 27.44 and Worrall won the bronze in 27.70.
Kathryn Johnstone and Lowri Tynan were the stand-out performers in the 50m Breaststroke semi finals, progressing to tomorrow's final in first and second after winning their respective heats in 32.32 and 32.63.
Amy Smith will go into the final of the 50m Freestyle ranked number one after securing a time of 25.75. Fran Halsall is second fastest with a time of 25.88.
