Bath GBR - Sarah Price the twenty-one year old swimming for Barnet Copthall, snatched the women's 200m backstroke in a British record of 2:10.97 on day one of the Speedo British Grand Prix which is being held in Bath.

Price and Joanna Fargus from the University of Bath both members of the Sydney Olympic team, battled it out for the whole of the four-length race. With 50m remaining Fargus the nineteen-year-old British record holder closed right down on Price for a finger tip finish which Price ahead by just 200ths.

Price had said before the event she had no idea what time she would swim as she was not tapered for this event all her preparation is for next week's European Short Course Championships.

Her winning time of 2:10.97, sliced 7/100's off the previous British mark with Fargus also inside her previous best.

Price said after "I'm really really pleased I did not die which means I'm really strong for next week", where she will be out to regain her world short course record which has just been taken from her by American Natalie Coughlan. Price said "the record is only on loan".

When asked if she knew how close Fargus was to her over the closing stages she replied "I didn't as my goggles all steamed up". A jubilant Price closed by staying "I now hold all six British records".