Guy powers to 200m Butterfly gold on day three

James Guy set an explosive time in the men’s 200m Butterfly on day three of the Swim England National Winter Championships.

The Bath National Centre swimmer touched in an impressive 1:56.66, with Poole’s Jacob Peters chasing him home in 1:57.16.

Both swimmers were well within the 1:58.29 consideration time for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, for which Guy had already been selected for 100m Fly, as well as 200m and 400m Free.

“For me, 1.56 is an okay time,” said Guy, who won the British title in 1:55.91 in April. “We’re in December now, so that’s an okay swim.

“It feels weird racing long course in December as usually it would be the European or World Short Course.

“So to race long course now and prepare for the Commonwealth Games gives a good benchmark for where you are.

“Jacob had a great swim. It’s about making the time here and then preparing for the Games. It’s about here this week now and then back to work next week.”

Peters breaks British Age Group record to close in on Commonwealths

Peters took second place with 1:57.16, smashing his own British Age Group record 1:58.40 from this year’s World Junior Championships.

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Peters. “That’s what I’ve been working towards this season.

“I’m still shocked from when I looked up and saw that time and knew I’d done it. I’m so pleased.

“After World Juniors, I was feeling pretty confident. I knew I had a big shot so I gritted my teeth, trained really hard.”

Mount Kelly’s Italian teenager Federico Burdisso was third home in 1:58.61 while Sheffield’s 400m IM champion Joe Litchfield won national bronze in a PB 1:59.10.

Thomas Payne of City of Manchester Swim Team took the B final, finishing ahead of Leatherhead’s James Wilks and Loughborugh Uni’s Craig Munden. Payne took the touch in 2:02.05.

Cross victorious in 50m backstroke

Dan Cross emerged victorious in the men’s 50m Backstroke. He was battling it out against Newcastle’s Nicholas Pyle and his Loughborough University teammate James Oxborrow in the final few strokes.

All three swam new personal best times.

Cross touched in 25.54 for gold. Pyle lowered his own British 16 Yrs Age Group record for silver in 25.62 while Oxborrow secured the bronze in 25.86.

• Click here to see full results from the Swim England National Winter Championships 2017.