Tancock's patience pays off as he romps to 100m backstroke gold

From Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat, in Sheffield

LIAM Tancock proved good things come to those who wait as he powered to 100m backstroke gold at the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

BACKSTROKE KING: A slick and shaven Liam Tancock powers through the 100m backstroke final to seal his Commonwealth Games spot (Getty Images)

The 24-year old pulled out of his previous two evening sessions at Ponds Forge, despite setting fastest qualifying times in both the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle.

He insisted the 100m backstroke was the only race that appeared on his radar and a world leading time of 52.85 seconds underlined his status as a definite British medal prospect at both the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games this season.

Having struck silver behind James Goddard in the 200m backstroke, 19-year old Chris Walker-Hebborn was the best of the rest again but finished 1.93 secs down on Tancock, with Scottish youngster Ryan Bennett another 1.15 secs back in bronze.

But while Tancock came within two tenths of his personal best, he insisted the time was less important than the ultimate goal of reaching October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

"The 100m back is what I came here to do and it was the fastest anyone has swum this year so I'm really happy," said Tancock, who set his personal best 52.73 secs in a now-banned textile swimsuit.

"But it's not really about the time. My coach and I will sit down and look at the way I have swam it, do all the video analysis and take it from there."

Meanwhile, Michael Rock completed the defence of his butterfly double in the Steel City, adding the 100m title to his 200m crown.

He wasn't as dominant as in the 200m final, with defending silver medallist Antony James and Ian Hulme both finishing within a second of the 23-year old.

But Rock held on in the last 10m to take victory in 52.66 secs and admitted he had to fight through the pain barrier in his last race of the week.

"At the end I was just trying to get a long stroke and really feel the water on my way out. I had to do that because I was dying for oxygen," said Rock.

"But there will be a lot to come off I hope when I finally get to the Commonwealth Games.

"I finish my studies at university in May and I'm really looking forward to getting my head down and getting in shape for that."

James Goddard successfully defended his 200m individual medley title for the second consecutive year to add to his 200m backstroke gold from earlier in the week.

The 27-year old cruised through the heats as the fastest qualifier and dominated from the gun in the final, eventually touching home in a world leading 1:57.76 minutes.

Joe Roebuck finished second in Thursday's semi final and settled for second best again in the shorter distance, finishing 1.95 secs behind Goddard while 400m medley champion Roberto Pavoni finished another 2.22 secs back in third.

Finally, Welsh teenager Robert Holderness captured his first British Championship gold with victory in the 50m breaststroke.

The 19-year old set a Welsh record 28.43 secs in qualifying but only needed a time of 28.73 secs for gold in the final ahead of veteran Darren Mew and Scottish swimmer Christopher Tidey.

IN PICTURES: Day five from the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield

AS IT HAPPENS: Day five from the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield

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