By comparison with earlier nights in Montreal, the penultimate finals session off the world championships had some encouraging moments for Britain, as Loughborough teammates Liam Tancock and Kate Haywood advanced to the finals of the 50m backstroke and breaststroke respectively. Also giving hope to the British squad was David Davies’ qualification as the fastest swimmer for the final of the 1500m freestyle.

On a night of world records in Montreal, Britain’s only representative in the evening session Katy Sexton failed to progress to the final of the 200m backstroke, posting a time well outside her best. There was better news, however, for Becky Cooke who bounced back from her 4x200m freestyle relay disappointment to qualify for the 800m freestyle final.

The fifth night of finals produced the nearest of misses for the British team as the Women’s 4x200n freestyle relay finished fourth in their final, having held the bronze medal position for much of the race. There was little else to cheer for the British team either, as both Gregor Tait and James Goddard failed to progress from the semi finals of the 200m backstroke.