BALLOCH swimmer Ross Murdoch was beaten to the 200m breaststroke title at the Scottish National Swimming Championships by fellow Scot Michael Jamieson on Friday night.

Jamieson and Murdoch qualified for the final as first and second fastest respectively at Tollcross, in times of 2.14.27 and 2.15.03, Commonwealth champion Murdoch finishing ahead of the in form Adam Peaty who touched the wall in 2.16.37.

The final was loaded with big names, also featuring Andrew Willis and Richard Spoor — with Jamieson and Murdoch going head to head in the same pool in which Murdoch beat the Olympic silver medalist in his most famous win at Glasgow 2014 in the 200m final.

Jamieson made a strong start and was leading at 100m. Murdoch then started to make a move and Scotland’s one-two from the Commonwealth Games were shoulder to shoulder down the last 50m. Jamieson, however, was the stronger of the two and moved ahead with 15m to go.

The Bath University athlete touched home in 2.12.16 to a great cheer, with Murdoch (University of Stirling) coming in behind him in 2.13.01. Richard Spoor of Loughborough was third in 2:14.70.

Jamieson told Scottish Swimming after the race: “That was alright, I was hoping to have gone faster to be honest with you. I’d really love to go sub 2:10. I’ve never dipped below that unrested. I’m heading to Vichy next week for the French Open Championships so I’d like to get close to that then.” “Rio is absolutely my goal. I want to get into the best shape possible. We hear all the time how great breaststroke is in the UK. But that’s the truth. You need a world class time to make the British Team and that is what is pushing us all on. I still believe I can get up there and compete with the best.”