Swimming: Sarah Eaglesham four-gold haul denies Olympian Payne a hat trick

SARAH Eaglesham had an outstanding junior career for Scotland and she indicated she is more than ready to step up to the senior ranks with a haul of four gold medals at the Scottish Gas National Open Short Course Championships at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.

Originally with the City of Chester, the 20-year-old is studying and training with Edinburgh University and her victories in the 50m and 100m freestyle, plus the 50m butterfly, was added to last night with a win in the 200m freestyle, which ended the hat-trick hopes of world open water champion Keri-anne Payne.

Payne, winner of the 800m and 400m freestyle, had declined her invitation to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards – “competing in Scotland was much more important” – but the two-time Olympian could only finish fifth in the 200m final and was over three seconds behind Eaglesham’s 1:58.69.

While Payne has joined Warrender following her recent move to Edinburgh, Eaglesham has found a famous new training partner in Scotland’s three-time Olympian, Caitlin McClatchey, who did miss the final day of the championships in favour of the BBC bash.

McClatchey is a freestyle specialist and Eaglesham has welcomed her with open arms. “It is great for the university and great for me,” said the youngster. “Aside from the fact that Caitlin will really push me in training she is also a lovely person and her experience will really add to our programme.

“I came to Edinburgh because I am sure it is the best place to combine academic and swimming excellence. I’m in my second year of a degree in cognitive science and my swimming goal is to make the 2014 Commonwealth Games team. It would be fantastic to swim for Scotland in Glasgow.”

Charlotte McKenzie is just 16, but she underlined her talent by claiming all three backstroke titles. And, having already set one in the 50m, she collected her second Scottish record with a time of 1:00.20 over the 100m.

McKenzie’s goal for 2013 is to make it into the British team for the World Junior Championships and then she hopes it will be onwards and upwards to the Commonwealth Games the following year. Coached by Steve Tigg, the Falkirk youngster heads to Arizona next month for a warm-weather camp.

Dan Wallace won two events on the final day – the 400m individual medley (4:10.35) and the 200m freestyle (1:47.42) – with South Aberdeenshire’s Kerry Buchan, the 25-year-old Commonwealth Games competitor, taking the 200m breaststroke in 2:25.89.

Suleman Butt (Aberdeen) was one of the championships’ stand-out youngsters. He set British junior records in the 60m and 100m freestyle and the 100m individual medley and collected a bundle of Scottish junior titles.

Coached by Alison Low, the 15-year-old Aberdeen Grammar school boy has yet to decide on his favourite distance.

Edinburgh University’s Andrew Rodgie, whose younger brother, Craig, competed in this year Paralympics, claimed the final individual medal of the championships with a 2:11.19 in the 200m breaststroke.