Anna Hopkin (Photo: Matchtight)

MJ Church ambassador Hopkin, who is also supported by a Thompson Education Trust sporting scholarship, was the first English swimmer home in both the 50m and 100m freestyle, clocking rapid times of 25.33 and 54.76 – a personal best – respectively.

Hopkin, who represented GB at the World University Games this summer, is the reigning British champion over 50m but was particularly pleased with her improvement in the longer event.

“I’ve definitely been focusing on the 100m free and I am happy it has paid off,” she said. “I learnt a lot at the World University Games, it was my first international competition and I really enjoyed the experience.”

Sport & Exercise Science student Hopkin, coached by Mark Skimming at the University’s London 2012 Legacy Pool, also set a new best of 27.24 as she won bronze in the 50m butterfly.

Olympic and World medallist James Guy, a member of the highly-successful British Swimming National Centre Bath led by coaches Dave McNulty and Jol Finck, eased to victory in the 200m butterfly with a Commonwealth Games qualification time of 1:56.66.

Jess Fullalove also set the Gold Coast 2018 standard as she claimed the national 100m backstroke title in 1:00.65, while fellow National Centre Bath swimmer Cameron Kurle struck 200m freestyle gold in 1:48.86.

Fullalove also won silver in the 200m backstroke in 2:11.70 and there were two runner-up places for double Olympian Andrew Willis, who has already been named in the Team England squad for the Commonwealth Games, as he clocked 1:01.16 and 2:11.10 in the 100m and 200m breaststroke respectively.

Rio 2016 medallist Chris Walker-Hebborn was edged into second place by just three-hundredths of a second in the 100m backstroke, touching the wall in 54.61, and Sport & Exercise Science student Tom Derbyshire – supported by a British Swimming National Training Centre scholarship – took 1,500m freestyle silver in 15:13.21.

Santander Sporting Scholar Jacob Greenow, who studies Natural Sciences, missed out on a medal in the 400m IM by 0.17secs and Calum Jarvis was also fourth in the 100m freestyle.

The Olympic-sized London 2012 Legacy Pool at the University of Bath Sports Training Village is not just open to elite swimmers but members of the public can also use it. Visit www.teambath.com/swimming for more information.

Report courtesy of Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight 

The Nationals, which have been held annually since 1964, will head to High Wycombe for the first time in its history, offering sports fans and families the chance to experience top class badminton in an intimate venue that puts spectators in the heart of the action.

High Wycombe will be the 20^th venue to have hosted the Nationals in its 53-year history, extending Badminton England’s commitment to tour the Nationals around the country.

Traditionally, the English National Badminton Championships have been staged in February however the move to a new date in September fulfils a tremendous appetite from the sporting public to put badminton on the sporting calendar all year round.

The move has also been made to assist England’s elite squad preparations for the 2017 YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships (Mar) and busy conclusion to the AJ Bell National Badminton League season  – both of which offer significant opportunity to build on profile and momentum generated by the Olympic bronze medal win in Rio by reigning national champions Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis.

Staged a week after the BWF World Championships in Glasgow, the Nationals provides the English badminton community the opportunity to celebrate the latest generation of badminton talent.

Adrian Christy, Chief Executive of Badminton England, said: “Following the bronze medal success in Rio – GB’s first Olympic badminton medal in 12 years – English badminton is on the rise and the Nationals provide another fantastic opportunity to inspire new fans who were captivated by badminton during the summer.  “The Wycombe Leisure Centre is a superb badminton facility in Buckinghamshire and I am delighted we are able to continue our approach of recent years of taking the Nationals to new audiences in new venues around the country.

“The 2017 Championships will serve as a great opening event for the new season.”

Tickets will go on sale in early 2017.

You can find more information on the English National Badminton Championships, here.

 Report courtesy of Badminton England

Lane, who is studying Sports Performance and is supported by a Trendell Sports Scholarship, beat fellow Bath-based player Henley Ngan 21-10 21-8 in the quarter-finals.

He then recorded an excellent 21-9 21-14 victory over number-two seed Toby Penty – ranked in the world’s top 100 – to set up a title showdown with Rajiv Ouseph.

Experience came to the fore as Ouseph won 21-10 21-9 to clinch an eighth national title but Lane could take great credit from his run.

Pete Bush, Head Badminton Coach at the University of Bath, said: “It is a fantastic achievement for Alex to reach a national final. His win in the semi-final against Toby was particularly impressive and a really emotional moment for him.”

Heather Olver & Lauren Smith (Photo: Badminton England)

By reaching the final Lane emulated his mother, Sue Louis, who won two consecutive English National singles titles in 1993 and 1994.

Coach Education and Sports Development graduate Heather Olver retained her women’s doubles title with Lauren Smith, coming from behind to beat Sophie Brown and Kate Robertshaw 19-21 21-18 21-7.

Former Team Bath badminton player Chris Coles reached the mixed doubles final with Brown, where they were beaten 21-11 21-11 by Commonwealth champions Chris and Gabby Adcock.

Several members of Bush’s training group also took part in the Welsh National Championships over the weekend, with Mathematics student Matt Pritchard reaching the final of the men’s doubles and semi-final of the singles.

“It was great to see so many of our players gaining national experience and performing so well,” Bush added.

“It really provides a positive reflection on the badminton programme here at the University.”

There is a busy month ahead for the badminton squad, with Kirby Ngan – who trains at the University ­– set to make her England senior debut after being selected for next week’s European Team Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Ngan and Mathematics student Devon Minnis are among several players who will also be in action at the National U19 Championships in Milton Keynes.

And Lane, who is a non-travelling reserve for the European Team Championships, will be competing alongside his fellow students at the BUCS Individual Championships in Sheffield.

Report courtesy of the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd