Swimming: Renwick out to join Miley on gold trail

Robbie Renwick is primed and ready to follow fellow Scottish swimmer Hannah Miley onto the podium at the European Aquatic Championships having qualified for tonight's 200m freestyle final as the fourth fastest.

The 22-year-old hasn't stopped since touching down in Budapest, swimming the heats and final of the 400m freestyle on the opening night and finishing a credible sixth.

Renwick was straight back in the pool in Hungary yesterday morning for the 200m freestyle, qualifying for the evening's semi-finals as the fourth fastest in 1:48.15 minutes.

The Scot again lowered his best Budapest showing to 1:47.94 to qualify for the final as fourth fastest swimmer, with German double world champion Paul Biedermann the quickest, over a second ahead of Renwick.

"I finished fourth fastest again like I did in the semi-final but it is a good result for me and I'll expect to go faster again in the final," said Renwick.

"I know I am up there with one of the best in the world so I am really proud of myself so far and that has given me a lot of confidence."

Meanwhile, David Carry was the unfortunate victim to the new-found strength of British Swimming after he was barred from the 200m freestyle semi-finals on a technicality.

Carry clocked 1.50.29 to finish fifth in the sixth and final heat and 17th overall, before the withdrawal of Hungary's Dominik Kozma opened up the 16th and final qualifying spot.

Any hopes the Aberdeen Dolphin had of taking his place among Europe's elite were frustrated though as Renwick and team-mate Ross Davenport had already filled Great Britain's allotted quota of two semi-final spots.

Carry's absence from the semi-finals marked a disappointing end to a tough week for the Beijing Olympian, whose main focus for the year is the Commonwealth Games in October.

"It is frustrating, the two per country ruling, but we knew what it was before we came over here so you have to deal with that."

• The nation's leading energy supplier British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, and have pledged 15m to support the sport at all levels, from paddling pool to podium. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming