Peaty feeling in good shape ahead of British Championships

The four-time European champion had a busy evening on Saturday in Edinburgh, finishing second to Andrew Willis in the 200m breaststroke final before taking top honours in the 50m breaststroke 'skins' event.

Last year's British Championships, in which he took gold and double silver, marked the start of a breakthrough senior season for Peaty.

He would go on to win double gold and silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before clinching four titles – two individual and two relay wins – at the European Championships in Berlin and then three silvers at the World Short Course Championships in Doha.

After a well-earned rest, the 20-year-old has been steadily working himself back to full fitness in recent weeks with the British Championships at London's Aquatics Centre on April 14-18 the next big target.

The Championships double up as trials for the World Championships in Kazan this summer and Peaty admitted he was pleased at the way things were progressing in the pool.

"Skins is a great fun and the ideal event to do during the anaerobic period of training," said Peaty. "Between now and the Trials in London I will be focusing on the little things, technique, starts and turns.

"I'm really happy with my performances this weekend and where I am in terms of training and times ahead of Trials.

"I want to be at my best for London, and then onto compete in Russia this summer."

There was plenty of other success for British swimmers in Edinburgh, with Siobhan-Marie O’Connor taking victory in both the 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly.

While Hannah Miley emerged as the winner of the 400m individual medley, Fran Halsall rounded off her meet with victory in the 100m freestyle – Ben Proud doing likewise in the men's final – and Lizzie Simmonds stormed to victory in the 200m backstroke with the fastest time of the year to date.

© Sportsbeat 2015