This is Devon -- ENGLISH swimmer Fran Halsall believes the Duel in the Pool in Glasgow over the weekend has provided the perfect preparation for the Commonwealth Games next summer. The World Championships bronze-medal winner was one of the success stories for a European All-stars team who lost out to Team USA following a tense tie-breaker. Glasgow's Tollcross Swimming Centre, which hosted the event, will also be the venue for the 2014 Games, and Southport's Halsall hopes she will be back in the Scottish city and competing for medals. Halsall won the women's 50 metres freestyle on Saturday and then helped Europe to win a 4x100m freestyle relay. Reflecting on her Duel efforts, she said: "It was a pretty good day, winning the 50 metres freestyle and winning the freestyle relay. "It's great to just race fast and race the best nation in the world at swimming, because America obviously are the best nation. It has been a great experience, especially to get the experience of a pool where the Commonwealth Games are going to be next year. It's good to have this experience before we hopefully come back here again next summer." Asked if she will be looking for more of the same, she added: "Fingers crossed. I've got to qualify first so, if that all goes to plan, then hopefully." The Americans had never lost previous Duels against either Australia or the Europeans but they were pushed all the way this time in the two-day event, which saw Europe lead by 68-54 points after day one. Both teams then found themselves locked on 131 points after 30 events, before Team USA triumphed in a mixed relay tie-breaker, with Halsall part of the European relay team who just missed out. Halsall said: "We knew it would probably come down to the wire. We gave it our best and it was close at the end. "The Americans always step up for relays, they are a fantastic team and they really get behind each other. "I think we've done the same at this meet. It has been great and I've really enjoyed it." This clash proved to be a far closer affair than previous Duels, which saw Europe slump to more comprehensive losses in Manchester in 2009 and Atlanta in 2011. Halsall added: "I think it's good that we have got closer and closer to them every year. "It shows the strength we have in Europe now. Most of us have come off the back of the European Short Course to race here, so it's a back-to-back racing situation. "The more nations who buy into it in Europe, the better and stronger the team will be. Hopefully we can keep adding different people into the mix then, come 2015, I think it will be close again." Scotland's Robbie Renwick, who was third in the men's 200m freestyle on Saturday, said: "It was very intense and very exciting, and it seems that's the way every Duel meet should be. If only the balance had swung the other way. "It was such a close finish in the end, but it's sport and these things happen. That's what makes it so exciting. "It was such a close battle to the end. It was a fantastic experience and I loved every minute of it. It's so exciting, leading into 2014." Plymouth Leander's Ben Proud was another of the British members of the European All-Stars team. He touched for fifth in the men's 50m freestyle on Saturday, after a sixth-place finish in the men's 100m freestyle the previous evening with a personal-best time of 47.59 seconds. Proud took to Twitter to write: "Can't believe how close it all came down to! Proud of Team Europe for putting up an awesome fight but well done to Team USA! Chuffed with my 100 free PB but even better to get to race alongside some of the greats!"
Reported by This is 2 days ago.
This is Devon -- ENGLISH swimmer Fran Halsall believes the Duel in the Pool in Glasgow over the weekend has provided the perfect preparation for the Commonwealth Games next summer. The World Championships bronze-medal winner was one of the success stories for a European All-stars team who lost out to Team USA following a tense tie-breaker. Glasgow's Tollcross Swimming Centre, which hosted the event, will also be the venue for the 2014 Games, and Southport's Halsall hopes she will be back in the Scottish city and competing for medals. Halsall won the women's 50 metres freestyle on Saturday and then helped Europe to win a 4x100m freestyle relay. Reflecting on her Duel efforts, she said: "It was a pretty good day, winning the 50 metres freestyle and winning the freestyle relay. "It's great to just race fast and race the best nation in the world at swimming, because America obviously are the best nation. It has been a great experience, especially to get the experience of a pool where the Commonwealth Games are going to be next year. It's good to have this experience before we hopefully come back here again next summer." Asked if she will be looking for more of the same, she added: "Fingers crossed. I've got to qualify first so, if that all goes to plan, then hopefully." The Americans had never lost previous Duels against either Australia or the Europeans but they were pushed all the way this time in the two-day event, which saw Europe lead by 68-54 points after day one. Both teams then found themselves locked on 131 points after 30 events, before Team USA triumphed in a mixed relay tie-breaker, with Halsall part of the European relay team who just missed out. Halsall said: "We knew it would probably come down to the wire. We gave it our best and it was close at the end. "The Americans always step up for relays, they are a fantastic team and they really get behind each other. "I think we've done the same at this meet. It has been great and I've really enjoyed it." This clash proved to be a far closer affair than previous Duels, which saw Europe slump to more comprehensive losses in Manchester in 2009 and Atlanta in 2011. Halsall added: "I think it's good that we have got closer and closer to them every year. "It shows the strength we have in Europe now. Most of us have come off the back of the European Short Course to race here, so it's a back-to-back racing situation. "The more nations who buy into it in Europe, the better and stronger the team will be. Hopefully we can keep adding different people into the mix then, come 2015, I think it will be close again." Scotland's Robbie Renwick, who was third in the men's 200m freestyle on Saturday, said: "It was very intense and very exciting, and it seems that's the way every Duel meet should be. If only the balance had swung the other way. "It was such a close finish in the end, but it's sport and these things happen. That's what makes it so exciting. "It was such a close battle to the end. It was a fantastic experience and I loved every minute of it. It's so exciting, leading into 2014." Plymouth Leander's Ben Proud was another of the British members of the European All-Stars team. He touched for fifth in the men's 50m freestyle on Saturday, after a sixth-place finish in the men's 100m freestyle the previous evening with a personal-best time of 47.59 seconds. Proud took to Twitter to write: "Can't believe how close it all came down to! Proud of Team Europe for putting up an awesome fight but well done to Team USA! Chuffed with my 100 free PB but even better to get to race alongside some of the greats!"
Reported by This is 2 days ago.