Live text commentary from day three of the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield

From Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat, in Sheffield

IN THE BAG? World silver medallist Fran Halsall will be tough to beat in the women's 100m freestyle final on Wednesday night (Getty Images)

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20:00: What a cracking day we've had here.

The Gemma Spofforth v Lizzie Simmonds race lived up the billing in the women's 100m backstroke final.

And the men's 100m breaststroke final was one to remember with the top five finishing with 0.44 seconds.

Read about tonight's action in our MEN'S ROUND UP and WOMEN'S ROUND UP.

19:25: We've just had the women's MD 100m freestyle final and it was European S6 champion Nyree Lewis who took gold ahead of European S9 champion Stephanie Millward and European S10 silver medallist Emma Cattle.

19:17: Sorry for the mini-break folks. There's a couple of relays. The 4x200m freestyle relays. Loughborough University took the men's competition. Obviously no big names in it.

Still some good MD races left so don't go anywhere! And some more reaction from the names.

19:01: Kris Gilchrist admits he didn't even taper for this meet! A risky move but he's made the GB team for the European Championships!

"I didn't really expect it. I felt awful the whole of yesterday. That's just something that happens when you don't taper. One day you'll feel awful and the next you'll be okay so it paid off in the end." - Scottish swimmer Kris Gilchrist playing it cool at the British Gas Swimming Championships.

18:57: What a finish! Kris Gilchrist wins it. He finishes in 1:01.22 minutes ahead of Scottish compatriot Micchael Jamieson who was 0.02 back!

Richard Webb came third another 0.13 back and Daniel Sliwinski was down in fifth, but only 0.44 behind Gilchrist - great race.

18:56: The men's 100m breast is the final Commonwealth qualification event of the night.

Daniel Sliwinski failed to qualify for last season's World Championships but set a British record of 59.55 seconds at the ASA Championships in Sheffield which were held in the same week.

He was the fastest qualifier from the semi finals with a time of 1:01.45 minutes but will have plenty of challengers in this final.

30-year old Darren Mew has been at the top of British breaststroke for an eternity and will be desperate to reach the Commonwealth Games, having won 50m breaststroke silver in Melbourne four years ago.

Then you've got a couple of Scots looking to impress - defending silver medallist Kris Gilchrist and 21-year old Michael Jamieson. They qualified fifth and third respectively for this one.

18:52: Gold to LIZZIE SIMMONDS. She wins in a personal best 59.43 seconds.

Gemma Spofforth pushed all the way but lost out by 0.03 seconds. Steph Proud third in 1:01.3 minutes.

18:50: Here we go then! The main event of the night for most - the women's 100m backstroke final - is next in the schedule.

Like Jo Jackson and Rebecca Adlington, Gemma Spofforth and Lizzie Simmonds are friends out of the pool but fierce rivals in.

The two have battled it out for supremacy in backstroke for the past two years and look set to continue to do so this season.

Simmonds set a season's best 59.84 seconds in the semis, Spofforth a season's best 1:00.62 minutes.

Of the other competitors, 19-year old Georgia Davies has a shot at bronze, having set a Welsh record 1:01.08 mins at the duel meet against Germany in Swansea last month.  

She also came second behind Simmonds in both the 100m and 200m last season.

18 :48: Gold for Ian Hulme. Sorry for no preview there! But Ian Hulme has just won the 50m butterfly in 24.22 seconds.

He finishes ahead of James Doolan and James Thorpe.

18:46: That's the surprise of the competition so far. Great win and very humble as well!

STACEY TADD after winning the women's 200m breaststroke: "I knew I was in great form but I wans't expecting to win. Hannah can go a lot faster than that but I'm just really pleased with the time and setting another personal best."

18:42: That is a big upset. Stacey Tadd sets a personal best of 2:29.66 minutes to win the 200m breaststroke and book her place in Budapest and Delhi.

Hannah Miley second in 2:30.27 and Kate Hutchinson third in 2:31.09 minutes.

18:41: The women's 200m breaststroke final is up next - the winner seals their European/Commonwealth place.

Hannah Miley has already booked her place in the British squad for the European Championships, courtesy of her victory in the 200m individual medley.

Can she double up with the defence of her 200m breaststroke title? 21-year old Stacey Tadd qualified fastest and will be out to improve on her bronze from 12 months ago.

Last season's silver medallist Charlotte Barnes should also be in contention despite qualifying in seventh.

Sophie Pyatt and Chloe Bean, both 14-years old, may not compete for medals here but they're chasing the automatic qualification time of 2:31.59 minutes for the European Juniors Championships.

18:36: Sportsbeat's Ben Endley has been catching up Rebecca Turner after the women's 100m freestyle final.

She's already qualified for the Commonwealth 4x100m relay team but finished seventh in 56.62: "The time wasn't a personal best but I was still reasonably happy with it. I know I can do more and there's a lot more to come from me."

18:34: Matthew Walker (S7) has just won the multi-disability  men's 50m freestyle. He edges out S7 world record holder David Roberts with Jonathan Fox (S7) claiming bronze.

18:30: Fran Halsall with a phenomenal effort there to come from winning the 100m title, then six minutes later qualifying third fastest for tomorrow night's 100m butterfly final - shows how dearly she holds it!

"I've practiced back to back swims at the World Cups recently but that was a bit frantic. There was a bit of pressure on my 100m and that showed in my time. I've gone faster than that already this season." - Fran Halsall

18:27: I'm back! Couple of very competitive finals there.

Gandy really turned on the gas in that one and she goes through to the semis as the quickest - 58.91 seconds isn't a season's best but it is an improvement on her qualifying time.

Jemma Lowe second and a phenomenal swim from Rachael Kelly - she does duck under a minute for the first time and qualifies third fastest in 59.86 seconds.

18:21: I'm popping out for quotes! I'll be back shortly though with the results from these semi finals!

18:20: More semi finals now - the women's 100m butterfly.

Ellen Gandy had a breakthrough meet her last season, clinching the 100m and 200m butterfly double with a national record in the 100 and a European record in the 200.

But Gandy could only qualify third fastest for the final with Welsh record holder Jemma Lowe winning in 58.96 seconds.

Fran Halsall, fresh from her win in the 100m freestyle, should be in and amongst the medals having struck silver last season.

Also, 16-year old Rachael Kelly set a big personal best of 1:00.68 minutes to qualify for July's European Junior Championships in Helsinki. She could duck under the minute mark for the first time here.

Top ten go through to tomorrow night's final.

18:19: British record holder Simon Burnett wins the second semi in the fastest qualifying time of 49.46 seconds! Much better from him.

Ross Davenport also under 50 secs in that semi - he finished in 49.97 secs.

18:18: The first semi is won by Craig Gibbons in 50.36 seconds. But defending champion Adam Brown looked very comfortable and finished 50.36.

Not a scratch on Tancock's time though.

18:16: Well after those frantic finals, we've got a couple of semi finals - in the blue riband event of the men's 100m freestyle.

Liam Tancock was fastest qualifier but has withdrawn from the evening session to focus on tomorrow's 100m backstroke.

So the usual suspects of Ross Davenport, 400m champion Robbie Renwick, 200m champion Robert Bale and Commonwealth champion Simon Burnett take favouritism.

Burnett's British record of 48.20 seconds has stood since Beijing 2008.

The ten fastest go through to tomorrow's final.

18:12: Francesca Halsall wins but it's soooo close.

Amy Smith pushed all the way and finished in 54.86 - ANOTHER personal best. But Halsall finished in 54.71 seconds.

Lucy Ellis scored bronze in 54.76 so the 17-year old will go to the Europeans in the relay team.

Jess Sylvester and Katherine Wyld finished fourth and fifth and will go to the Commonwealths in the English team (Ellis is Scottish).

Sylvester will also go to the Europeans! Well done her.

18:11: Women's 100m next - Fran Halsall's to lose you might think?

Personally, I agree - Halsall admitted herself she wasn't in full flow in Sheffield but still comfortably qualified fastest from last night's semi finals.

The 19-year old swam 54.42 seconds at the duel meet against Germany in March and 54.98 to qualify yesterday.

Any challenge could come from Amy Smith who is having a bit of a breakthrough meet. The 22-year old swept to the 50m butterfly title yesterday as well as clocking a personal best 55.13 secs to qualify second for this race.

She says her target is the Commonwealth 4x100m relay quartet which would mean finishing in the top four English finishers here.

Scotland's double Commonwealth champion Caitlin McClatchey could figure and expect the crowd to raise the roof if 17-year old Rebecca Turner is in the race in the last 25m.