Records tumble at BUCS swimming champs

The University of Stirling swimming team enjoyed another successful trip to Ponds Forge as they broke 12 records and won 36 medals at the BUCS Short Course Championships in Sheffield.

Duncan Scott led the impressive haul, winning eight medals in total, with gold in the 50m, 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle, 200m and 400m medleys and 200m butterfly and silver in the 100m butterfly.

The Business Studies and Sport Studies student's titles contributed to the team finishing second in the overall standings, with the men’s team winning their category whilst the women claimed third place.

Scott also broke the Scottish records in the 200m butterfly and 50m freestyle events and was part of the 4 x 50m freestyle relay team, alongside Scott McLay, Calum Bain and Martyn Walton, that delivered a new national club record. Walton, McLay and Scott continued their record-breaking with Craig Benson as they recorded another fastest ever time in the 4 x 50m medley relay. Jon Law and Ollie Carter also set new national bests in the S13 100m butterfly and S10 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke respectively.

Benson also claimed a hat-trick of golds in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke whilst there were also titles for Law (S13 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke), Keanna MacInnes (200m butterfly), Carter (S10 200m individual medley) and Walton also claimed individual gold in the 50m backstroke.

Cassie Wild, Craig McLean and Calum Bain also secured individual podium finishes whilst there were further relay medals for the men’s 4 x 50m medley B, women’s 4 x 50m medley and mixed 4 x 50m medley teams.

Commenting on the weekend’s successes, University of Stirling Head Performance Swimming Coach, Steven Tigg, said: “We’re really pleased for the team and there were a few standout performances across the weekend.

“However, this group is always striving to get better and we’ve identified certain areas that we’ll be working on as we build towards the European and Scottish championships next month.”

The University of Stirling has been Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence since 2008 and is The Times / Sunday Times Good University Guide’s UK Sports University of the Year 2020. The University offers an unrivalled all-round environment for excellence in sport: education, research, participation, and performance.