Ellen Walshe Claims Golden Double In Edinburgh; Ben Proud Fires Off 50 Free Rankings-Topper
Ellen Walshe claimed a golden double and Ben Proud fired off a 21.73 rankings-topper in the 50 free on day two of the Edinburgh International Swim Meet.
Up first for Walshe was the 100 fly where she came back on the second 50 to pull away for victory in 58.26, 0.30 off her Irish record of 57.96 that she’d rattled last month in 58.00 at the McCullagh International. Just 0.01 separated Lucy Grieve and Ciara Schlosshan with the former taking second in 58.98 to 58.99.
Walshe returned for the 400IM in which the Swim Ireland athlete finished eighth at Paris 2024. She led by 1.22 after the opening leg which she extended to 1.45 at halfway before stamping her mark on proceedings in the breaststroke to turn into the freestyle 5.83secs ahead. The two-time Olympian put even more water between her and the rest of the field as she came home in 4:41.14 with Beatrice Varley 8.15secs adrift in 4:49.29 followed by Suzie McNair (4:51.10).
Ben Proud: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Proud produced a super start in the 50 free to rise with a clear lead over the field as the Olympic silver medallist took the title in 21.73. It was his second-swiftest of 2025 following 21.99 at the Dubai Open Swimming Championships.
With that, he went top of the rankings ahead of Doha world champion Vladyslav Bukhov who’d led the way with his 21.97 from the Euro Meet in February.
Swim Ireland’s Tom Fannon was second in 22.05 with Bjørnar Grytnes Laskerud third in 22.29. It was a PB for the Norwegian who went second in the national rankings headed by Nicholas Lia in 21.94.
Morgan Clinches Backstroke Double; Titles For Cox, Colbert & Scott
Ollie Morgan has been on fine form in 2025. The University of Birmingham swimmer swept the backstroke events at the BUCS Championships where he was just 0.01 off his British 100 record.
He got his Edinburgh campaign underway with victory in the 100 in 52.97 and returned to the Royal Commonwealth Pool for the 50 where he stopped the clock at 24.83 for his second meet mark in as many events and 0.10secs off his PB of 24.73 from 2023. It was his second-fastest time of the year following his 24.77 at BUCS. Matthew Ward replicated his second place in the 100 in 25.15 with Israel’s Tomer Schuster third in 25.51.
Lauren Cox: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Lauren Cox set a meet record of 27.67 en-route to victory in the women’s 50 back, 0.31 ahead of Roos Vanotterdijk who clocked 27.98 as the pair reversed the result of Friday’s outing over 100m. Maaike de Waard was third home in 28.05.
The women’s 200 free promised to be a tussle and so it proved. Freya Colbert led through the 50 and 100 as she reached halfway ahead of Abbie Wood and Freya Anderson before pushing on the third 50. Wood though came back on the last length but Colbert took the win in a meet record 1:57.82 ahead of Wood (1:58.03) and Anderson (1:58.87).
The men’s 200 fly featured Olympic relay champions James Guy and Duncan Scott as well as British champion Josh Gammon. Guy led through halfway with Scott moving into a 0.28 lead at 150 with the University of Stirling swimmer pulling clear to win in 1:58.53 for his second title of the Edinburgh meet following victory in the 200IM on the opening evening. Ed Mildred came past Guy to claim second in 1:59.05 with the 2022 Commonwealth bronze medallist third in 1:59.19.
Wiffen Dominates 800 For Second Distance Title
Daniel Wiffen, amid heavy training, completed the distance double with victory in the 800 free. The Olympic champion dominated to take the title in 7:56.90, a day after he won the 1500. Tyler Melbourne-Smith was second in 8:00.95 with Nathan Wiffen third in 8:04.86 as the twins shared the podium for the second time in Edinburgh.
Daniel Wiffen: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Max Litchfield won the 400IM after a proper tussle with Charlie Hutchison who held a 1.20secs lead at halfway. Litchfield – fourth at the last three Olympics – set about eating into the deficit on breaststroke and inched ahead at the 300 by 0.08.
The pair went stroke for stroke down the penultimate 50 with Litchfield leading by just 0.02 at the final turn before pulling away for victory in 4:16.15 to add to his second place in the 200IM. Hutchison was second in 4:16.76 with Jakub Bursa third in 4:22.78.
Florine Gaspard won the women’s 50m breaststroke in 30.77 ahead of 100br winner Angharad Evans (30.94) and Anna Morgan (30.96).
A fine second 50 propelled Greg Butler to the men’s 100m breaststroke title in 1:01.16 ahead of Rory Dickson (1:02.05) and Koen de Groot (1:02.21).
Leah Crisp led throughout to win the 800 free in 8:39.25 to make it two wins in as many days following 400 victory. Alisee Pisane (8:40.92) and Imani de Jong (8:48.90) followed the Briton home.
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