Swimming: Victory hat-tricks for Carlin and Roebuck

By LIZ BYRNES
Published on 11/03/2013 01:54

THE British Gas International Meet 2013 ended last night with Jaz Carlin and Joe Roebuck both wrapping up a hat-trick of victories at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds.

Carlin added the 400 metres freestyle to the 800m and 1,500m she had already won, while Roebuck took the 200m individual medley title to complement his 100m and 200m butterfly double.

It was the event’s debut and a legacy of former national performance director Michael Scott, who wanted GB swimmers to face more intense competition.

Carlin has battled illness over a difficult couple of years which culminated in missing out on the Olympic team. Still only 23, she has enjoyed her time in Leeds as she explained: “I’m really happy with that. It was always going to be tough after the 1500m yesterday but to come away with gold is fantastic.”

Roebuck has also had a successful few days with victory in the 200m individual medley following gold in the 100m and 200m butterfly.

He said: “It was a really tough race but I enjoyed being up against such a high-calibre field.

His Bath ITC team-mate Lizzie Simmonds won the 200m backstroke in 2:10.25 while Liam Tancock finished second behind Dutchman Bastiaan Lijesen in the 50m backstroke, in which Loughborough swimmer Tancock is both world champion and world record holder.

Grant Turner was the first domestic swimmer home in the 100m freestyle in 50.33, a race won by American Anthony Ervin. Alys Thomas finished second behind Dane Jeanette Ottesen Gray in the 100m butterfly while Kathryn Johnstone was the first Briton home in the 50m breaststroke .