Robbie Renwick’s happy to be home and raring to go

It’s good to be back. So said ­Olympian Robbie Renwick as he looked forward to returning to his home for some serious ­racing at today’s Scottish Gas ­National Open Championships at ­Tollcross.

The venue in the east end of Glasgow has been refurbished in preparation for next year’s Commonwealth Games and Renwick, who won the 200 metres freestyle at the 2010 Games in Delhi, said: “The pool is really good and I’m pleased to be back training here all the time.

“I’m already thinking a lot about the Games – you can’t get away from it – but these championships are also about getting ready for the World Championship trials in Sheffield in two weeks’ time. I want to qualify for the 100m, 200m and 400m ­freestyle at the Worlds in ­Barcelona next month. I had a couple of solid swims at the East District Championships last month and I always enjoy the Scottish ­Championships.”

London 2012 Silver medallist Michael Jamieson is missing from the line-up, but two of Renwick’s ­fellow Olympians – ­Hannah Miley and Craig ­Benson – are in the Tollcross line-up. Warrender’s Benson, 19, will also be competing in the 100m breaststroke as he prepares for a real battle for World Championship places.

Ross Murdoch is another breaststroke Scot and the West Dunbartonshire 19-year-old has his sights set on a Team GB debut in Barcelona. But he is likely to limit his programme this weekend to the 50m event.

In today’s opening sessions, Benson is favourite to win the 200m breaststroke and Miley should easily defend the 400m individual medley.

With the Commonwealth Games now just 13 months away, the younger set will also be out to prove a point.

Mark Szaranek is in Team GB for this summer’s European ­junior Championships in ­Poland, while 17-year-old ­Charlotte McKenzie has already made Games’ qualifying times in the backstroke.