Andrew Bree continues to fly the flag for Ireland at the European Short Couse Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown in Dublin. The 23 year old currently based in the University of Tennesse broke the Irish record in the heats of the men's 50 metres breastroke in 27.91 to get into the top 16 and a place in this afternoon's semi final which is due off just before 4 o'clock.
Michael Williamson swam in Bree's heat but his interest in the 50 ended there. Bree and Williamson will be hoping to make the men's 200 Breastroke final tomorrow, thus making the last 16 of the 50 sprint is a bonus for the Ards swimmer.
There was major disappointment for Emma Robinson in the women's 100 Breastroke. A semi finalist in Riesa last year, indeed just one place off the final, Robinson put in a swim she will not be happy at all with at all and missed out on a place in the afternoon semi finals.
Stephen Manley broke his own Irish senior record in the heats of the men's 100 registering 56.79 seconds which cut .06 of a second off his old time, but after a series of fast heats it wasn't enough to make the semis.
The Irish women's medley relay squad also broke the Irish record and were just one place short of making the final 8. Claire Hogan and Lee Kelleher put in personal bests in the 50 back and 100 fly, but there their interest ended, while Sinead Tyrell (100 Fly), Chantal Gibney (400 Free) together with Muiris O'Riada and Donal O'Neill (200 Fly) all failed to progress beyond the morning heats
Filed by Johnny Proby
