Lightning quick times were the theme for the 2012 BUCS Long Course Swimming Championships as the very best in student swimming lined up next to global superstars in a test of speed and stamina.

Excitement was high, and the cameras were there to see some of the world’s best swimmers compete at the BUCS event. Double Olympic Gold Medallist Rebecca Adlington, Commonwealth Gold medallist Fran Halsall, Olympic Bronze Medallist Jo Jackson and World Champion and multiple times BUCS Champion Liam Tancock all took the opportunity to swim as guests and use the BUCS Champs as part of their preparation for London 2012.

Adlington set the tone for the weekend on the first evening setting an incredible time of 8:22.35 to win the women's 800 free, a time which puts her at the top of the world rankings this year. This feat was quickly follwed by Fran Halsall who caped a very successful weekend by setting the fastest time in the world in the 100m Butterfly.

The London 2012 medal hopefuls participation in the BUCS event attracted significant media interest. British Swimming reviewed the women’ s success here and Fran Halsall and Liam Tancock, who still holds 3 BUCS Long Course Swimming records, were featured by Sky Sports News in this special report.

 

In similar fashion to the BUCS Short Course Swimming Championships the records tumbled as BUCS athletes shined as strongly as the internationally renowned swimmers on display.

Emma Hollis followed on from her double world record by setting new European Records in the S8 800 Free 11.22.80 and SM8 200 IM 3.03.16, as did Liz Johnson (SB6 200 Breast 3.40.33) and Eleni Papadopolous (S10 200 Fly 2.45.64) all of whom could be representing Team GBR at the London 2012 Paralympics.

There were also six BUCS Long Course Swimming Records broken by swimmers from four different universities; Craig McNally (Heriot Watt 200 Back), Rebecca Guy (Manchester 50 Free), Hannah Miley (Robert Gordon, 200 IM) and the Loughborough pair of Laurent Carnol (200 Breast) and Rachel Lefley (100 Back, 200 Breast) who were awarded top performing male and female respectively.

And the awards didn’t end there for Loughborough, the team from swept home with the most points in the overall mens, womens and team categories, a fantastic and fitting way to bring Loughborough coach Ian Armiger's final appearance at a BUCS Championship to an end. After 15 years at Loughborough Ian will become the new Technical Director for Swimming in the Cayman Islands after the London 2012 Olympic Games. Ian departs with an incredible record; leading Loughborough to victory in all but one of approximately 30 BUCS Swimming Championships. 

For full results from this weekends Long Course Swimming please click here.