Swimming: Webb disappointed at European Championships (From Gazette Series)

Richard Webb knocked out in qualifying round at European Championships in Budapest

9:00am Thursday 19th August 2010 in Sport

CHIPPING Sodbury swimmer Richard Webb cut a frustrated figure in Budapest after crashing out at the first hurdle on his European Championship debut.

Webb claimed breaststroke silver and bronze at the British Gas Swimming Trials in March but couldn’t cling to the coattails of the continent’s finest on Margaret Island.

The former Southwold SC flyer completed the 200m breaststroke in 2:15.72minutes to finish 31st overall - five places and just under a second short of a semi-final spot.

And despite ploughing most of his energy into preparing for October’s Commonwealth Games, Webb admitted he was hoping for more from his European bow.

"It is about right for where I am and I am not rested at all but I am still disappointed," said Webb.

"It wasn’t too bad for a morning swim but it is just not good enough for an international competition.

"I’ve come out here and done the best I can and I have still swam for Great Britain.

"I’m disappointed in myself that I couldn’t make more of it but I just have to move on and focus on the Commonwealths now.

"It’s not the end of the world by any means but it is just really disappointing."

Only two of the three British entrants would have been allowed to progress to the final but Webb and team-mate Kris Gilchrist never looked like troubling the rule makers by following Michael Jamieson into the top 16.

But with the Commonwealth Games to come, Webb insisted the British Gas Swimming Team always faced an uphill struggle to fill their quota.

"When you haven’t rested you just don’t feel fresh and you don’t feel sharp and I like to describe it to my coach as feeling a bit rough and fuzzy," added Webb.

"You don’t feel the edges of the stroke you don’t feel like you carry any speed with you.

"I felt a bit lost in that race as well because the guy next to me pulled out and the guy the other side of me was going really slow.

"It shouldn’t have affected me but it did and for where I am it was probably about right but it is just not good enough for this level.

"I’ll probably take two weeks to taper for the Commonwealths so I will put in a few more weeks hard training and then I’ll bring it down."

The nation’s leading energy supplier British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, and have pledged £15m to support the sport at all levels -from paddling pool to podium. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming