Ireland Relay Into European Final; Bethel & Reid Advance To Semi’s

Team Ireland swimmers had an exciting morning in the pool on Day 3 of the European Games in Baku. As the Women's Medley Relay qualified for the Final both Rachel Bethel and Emma Reid progressed to semi-final's in their events.

Danielle Hill, Mona McSharry, Emma Reid and Rachel Bethel combined to put Irish swimmers into their first Final of the European Games. Hill led the team off with the Backstroke turning at the 50m mark in 5th place, swimming her third event of the morning she then pulled it back in the second 50 metres putting Mona McSharry in third going in for the Breaststroke leg. McSharry powered through the Breaststroke handing over to Emma Reid for the Butterfly still in third place. Reid and Bethel on Freestyle then carried it home for Ireland finishing in 4:19.56 and third in the heat.

Russia dominated heat 2 of the Medley Relay and will be the fastest qualifier in today's final in 4:09.96 while Great Britain won heat 1 in 4:13.43.

Emma Reid qualified for her second semi-final of the Games in the 100m Butterfly. Reid, of Ards Swimming Club, was just off her best time securing her place in 1:02.66 and will be seeded 15th overall.

15 year old Rachel Bethel will also be in semi-final action today. The Lisburn City swimmer will be the 12th seed in the 200m Freestyle following a 5th place finish in her heat in 2 minutes 05.37 seconds. Bethel has a best time of 2:03.38 and will be looking to match that for a chance to make the Final.

Danielle Hill was unlucky in the 50m Backstroke this morning missing out on a semi-final place by just .04 of a second, she touched in 30.26 seconds. Hill was also in action in the 200m Freestyle finishing in 2:10.74. Issie Hayes of Sundays Well, Cork competed in the 50m Backstroke and was 28th overall in 30.61 seconds. Hayes' main event, the 100m Backstroke takes place tomorrow.

Katie Baguley took four seconds off her best time in the 1500m Freestyle Heats. Baguley set a new best time of 17:49.56 as she hit the wall in 9th place.

In the men's events Andrew Moore (31.17) and Alan Corby (30.32) swam the heats of the 50m Breaststroke with Corby (2:10.94) returning to the pool for the 200m Backstroke and Rory McEvoy the best of the Irish in the event placing 21st in 2:05.49.

This evenings Finals session starts at 1.30pm. Rachel Bethel is first up in the 200m Freestyle semi-final at 1:40pm followed by Emma Reid at 2:29pm. The Ireland Women's 4x100m Medley Relay Team will swim in the Final at 4:05pm (all times Ireland).

Day 3 Heat Results

W 50m Backstroke Danielle Hill 30.26 21st, Issie Hayes 30.61 28th
M 50m Breaststroke Alan Corby 30.32 35th, Andrew Moore 31.17 42nd
W 200m Freestyle Rachel Bethel 2:05.37 19th, Danielle Hill 2:10.74 49th
M 200m Backstroke Alan Corby 2:10.94 35th, Rory McEvoy 2:05.49 21st
W 100m Butterfly Emma Reid 1:02.66 15th
W 4x100m Medley Ireland 4:19.56 8th
W 1500m Freestyle Katie Baguley 17:49.56 9th