Tom misses cut for final

TOM HOLLINGSWORTH failed in his bid to make the 200m butterfly final at the British Championships in Manchester yesterday. The quadruple gold medallist at the 2005 NatWest Island Games, had threatened to make the final after qualifying 12th fastest of more than 40 starters.

But having posted 2-05.24 in the semi-finals, quicker than Jersey hope Simon Le Couilliard, he was second slowest of the 16 semi-finalists in 2-06.13.

Hollingsworth's local coach Alison Frankland, believes her charge will take some time to adjust to his new training regime with the City of Norwich Swimming Club.

'Tom's performance is an unknown quantity,' she said.

'He's changed from training over here in a 25m pool and doing 30,000m to 40,000m a week. He's probably now doing twice that in a 50m pool.

'When an athlete changes his training environment it may take longer for them to produce the times that they want.'

Le Couilliard also failed to make the cut, finishing 13th fastest.

* In Melbourne, USA's Michael Phelps won the equivalent world title in an amazing 1-52.09.