By Tom Degun

GBR_Disability_Swimming_team_11-07-11July 9 - Britain rounded off a fine display at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) European Swimming Championships in Berlin with victory in the women's 34 point 4x100 metre medley relay to claim a total of 27 gold medals and finish second on the overall medal table.


Ukraine topped the medal table as they claimed 41 golds, 37 silvers and 28 bronze medals to finish well clear of Britain, while Spain came just behind with 26 gold medals to claim overall third spot.

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However, the British team ended the event, which is the last major international gathering ahead of the London 2012 Paralympics next year, in style as the quartet of Heather Frederiksen, Claire Cashmore, Stephanie Millward and Louise Watkin (pictured), dominated their final to secure a world record in 4:52.40 and Britain's final gold medal.

"It is absolutely excellent," Cashmore said.

"I think it will really spur the team on and is a really good way to end the meet.

"It looks really good for 2012 where we will try to come back even stronger."

Russia came second after touching in 5:06.82 and Spain won bronze in 5:08.70.

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Elsewhere Susie Rodgers claimed her fifth gold and sixth medal on the final day of the Championships, winning the S7 100m Freestyle to round off a memorable international debut.

Rodgers was one of the stand-out performers for the Britain in the competition and the 27-year-old has dominated the S7 category in Germany, winning the 100m backstroke, 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly, as well as helping the 34 point 4x100m freestyle relay quartet to gold.

And while Rodgers' only silver came in the 50m Freestyle, she dug deep to clinch one more gold over twice the distance, touching in a British record of 1:12.10.

"The turn was really crucial and I knew that it was somewhere that I could pick up some speed," Rodgers said.

"As long as I kept down and fast and with everyone for the first 50 I knew that I would have a good chance at staying ahead on the way back.

"It has been a great week.

"I have to go straight back into training for another meet but after that I can go out with some friends and celebrate."

Kirsten Bruhn of Germany won the silver in 1:12.65 and bronze went to Ani Palian of Ukraine in 1:13.66.

Youngster Oliver Hynd rounded off his major championship debut with a comprehensive victory in the SM8 200m individual medley, breaking older brother Sam's European record in the process, while Jonathan Fox lifted his third individual gold medal of the Championships with victory in the S7 100m freestyle.

Rhiannon Henry finished off her competition with gold in the women's S13 100m freestyle with a well-timed race.

Eleanor Simmonds, who has claimed two world records this week, took silver in the women's S6 100m freestyle while Natalie Jones followed Simmonds home to collect bronze in 1:21.54.

Emma Hollis won her fifth medal of the Championships, ducking under three minutes for the first time to clinch the SM8 200m individual medley silver, while Anthony Stephens secured his fourth medal of the competition in the men's S5 200m freestyle as he also took silver.

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James Anderson won his third bronze of the Championships, touching home in 1:06.83 in the S2 50m backstroke final, while the men's 34 point 4x100m medley relay won bronze in a time of 4:25.17 in a team that featured James Crisp, Sam Hynd, James Hollis and Fox (pictured).

National performance Director John Atkinson admitted the performance of his swimmers was testament to their hard work in training.

"This has been a great all round team performance," Atkinson said.

"We have achieved 27 gold medals with four of our world champions missing, which is a good achievement.

"To finish the competition with a world record ahead of the Paralympics next year is promising and I have been pleased with how well our debutantes stepped up to the plate with many of them medalling.

"They all now need to go back to training and get the foundations of training in place ready for the Trials next year."

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