European Swimming Championships 2010
Venue: Budapest Dates: 4-15 August
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK users only); listen on BBC 5 live sports extra, updates on BBC Radio 5 live Full details

Robbie Renwick swam Britain's opening 4x200m relay leg

Britain went without medals for the first time at the 2010 European Championships as the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team were fourth.

France's Jeremy Stravius overhauled Rob Bale on the last leg as Russia eased to gold ahead of Germany in Budapest.

In Saturday's only other final with British representation, Antony James came last in the 100m butterfly.

But GB's Kate Haywood and Fran Halsall impressed to reach the 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle finals respectively.

Both Haywood and Halsall will be aiming for the podium when they race in their finals on Sunday, the last day of racing.

"That was a personal best and I've not done one for so long," Haywood told BBC Sport after winning her breaststroke semi-final in a time of 31.24 seconds.

I've still got two more medals to shoot for so I'm trying not to get carried away Fran Halsall

"I had surgery a year ago and to come back with a best time, I'm really happy with that. It's been really hard so to come today and swim well is a relief."

Halsall was second-placed a fraction behind Swedish veteran Therese Alshammar in her 50m freestyle semi-final, while team-mate Amy Smith finished last in the other semi.

"My swimming speed's a lot quicker than it has been," said Halsall, 20, who has already won 100m freestyle gold and silver in the 100m butterfly.

"I think I'm in the mix and I've got a bit left so hopefully it'll come on Sunday.

"I've still got two more medals to shoot for so I'm trying not to get carried away."

In Saturday's concluding race, Robbie Renwick, Ross Davenport, David Carry and Bale were expecting a tough battle to have any hope of a medal in the relay.

But a superb leg from Carry, swimming third, briefly lifted the British to third place ahead of France, only for Stravius to come back at the death.

Russia won in a championship record time of seven minutes 6.71 seconds.

In the overall championships standings, Russia have now leapfrogged Britain into second place, with six gold medals, three silvers and a bronze.

Britain have four golds, five silvers and four bronze, while France lead with six gold, six silvers and five bronze.

Britain's Ellen Gandy fought through to the women's 200m fly final

Halsall and Haywood could add to Britain's tally on Sunday, as could Ellen Gandy, who reached the final of the women's 200m butterfly - but there was heartbreak for Jemma Lowe, who missed the final by one hundredth of a second despite a quick start.

"I struggled for the first couple of days but I've acclimatised now and hopefully the final will go like my semi-final," said Gandy.

Simon Burnett will also be in contention for Britain's men, having produced an impressive swim to finish his 50m freestyle final in third place.

"I think the gold is out of the question, but training in America is going very well," he said.

"I'm getting away from the 200m, which doesn't agree with me any more, and finally it's starting to pay off."

Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, who failed to progress beyond her 100m breaststroke heat earlier in the week, this time hit the buffers in the semi-final of the 50m distance and will not join Haywood in the final.

606: DEBATE It's scary to think how more room there is for improvement when Fran Halsall is fully rested and when she can get her starts and turns up to this level David

"This week's been pretty tough for me, I haven't hit any of my times," she said, having made her British debut at a major championships after swapping allegiance from Kenya.

"But there are ups and downs all the time so we'll see what happens. Everyone on the team is really nice, I was a bit nervous at first but I've made some good friends."

Irish 17-year-old Grainne Murphy, who narrowly missed out on a medal in the women's 800m freestyle earlier in the week, took a deserved silver in Saturday's opening race over the 1500m distance.

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