Cullen claims 100m backstroke title at Irish Open

Banbridge's Lottie Cullen won the 100m backstroke title at the Irish Open Championships in Bangor. Cullen beat 100m freestyle champion Grace Davison but both achieved the consideration times for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and European Championships in Paris. Larne's Danielle Hill, who was fourth as she returns from an ankle injury, also has the consideration time for Glasgow, meaning Northern Ireland will be able to select a full complement of three swimmers for the event.

Cullen improved her heat time of 1:01. 26 to 1:00. 35 which was enough for the National Centre Ulster swimmer to see off Ards' Davison (1:00.

61) and Limerick's Maria Godden, while Hill's 1:02. 31 puts her in the frame for the Commonwealth Games. "Getting the [consideration] time this morning [in the heats] took all the pressure off, so I could just concentrate on doing what I wanted to do," Cullen told BBC Sport NI.

"Last year was such a rough year and I couldn't be more thankful for my team, family and friends getting me back to this point. "I'm just looking to push forward from these performances. I haven't had lots of long course racing this year, but have been able to chip away at my times and can push on to summer.