Houghton clocks new Irish record

Melanie Houghton was in impressive form yesterday when she broke the Irish 50m butterfly record at the National Long Course Championships in Dublin yesterday.

Houghton is a former Australian team member, but now swimming out of the Swim Ireland Performance Centre at the National Aquatic Centre. The 28-year-old broke the record in the morning heats when clocking 27.53, lowering- the previous record of 27.75 held by Shauna O’Brien since last year.

In the semi-final Houghton bettered that time to 27.33 and eventually won the final in 27.55. O’Brien was second in 27.80 while Emma Reid (Ards) was third in 28.38.