Bale springs surprise to clinch 200m freestyle title in Sheffield

From Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat, in Sheffield

ROBERT Bale sprung the biggest surprise of the British Gas Swimming Championships so far to win the men's 200m freestyle title in Sheffield.

STRETCH FOR THE LINE: Robert Bale edges out 400m champion Robbie Renwick to scoop the 200m title at the British Swimming Championships (Getty Images / British Gas Swimming Championships)

The 19-year old was fifth-fastest on paper for the final on Tuesday night but powered home in the final 50m to touch home first in a personal best 1:47.82 minutes.

Fastest qualifier Ross Davenport led for most of the race but was squeezed into third with British record holder and 400m champion Robert Renwick claiming silver.

But neither could keep up with the Loughborough-based teenager in the final length, as Bale finished with 0.14 seconds in hand, sealing his 200m spot for August's European Championships in Budapest and October's Commmonwealth Games in Delhi.

And Bale, who clinched 400m freestyle silver behind Renwick on Monday, admitted it was the hunger to reach his debut Commonwealth Games which drove him to victory in Sheffield.

"The Commonwealths have been my target all year," said Bale. "It's what I've been working towards since the World Championships last year really and it feels so good now I've made it.

"The pressure is really off now and I can just enjoy the rest of the meet and come out with what I wanted.

"My mindset has been solidly set on the goal of making the team and I've just worked so hard to make it.

"We'll see what happens out there - I'd love to win it of course but we'll just have to wait and see."

While Bale sealed his place in the individual 200m, Renwick, Davenport and Scotland's David Carry will join him in Budapest in the men's 4x200m quartet.

And Carry, who is likely to join Renwick in the 400m freestyle in Budapest,after clinching silver in Sheffield, admitted the strength in depth of the British 200m swimmers bode well for the future.

"It was just another great race today," said Carry. "All I could see was Ross keeping up with me on one side the whole way so I just kept pushing.

"We are all so close and pushing each other to the next level which is great.

"And we all know it's a long time until October so I'm sure we can get faster in that period."

FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENS FROM DAY TWO OF THE BRITISH GAS SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

IN PICTURES: Day two 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