GB starlet Eleanor Simmonds got the final day of the BT Paralympic World Cup off to a flying start by breaking her own world record in the SM6 200m Individual Medley. Sam Hynd followed suit, and echoed Eleanor but in the S8 400m Freestyle.

Double Paralympic champion Simmonds said, “I didn't really think I was going to do that good a time. I’m just really happy it’s a world record.

“I haven’t swum the 100m Breaststroke for a few years and so I’m happy to have swum a PB (Personal Best) today.

“I think we have all swum well because we have got such a good crowd and being on television spurs you on well to do well for your team.”

Sam Hynd added, “It may have looked easy, but it didn’t feel it! It’s fantastic to get another world record today. As soon as I stepped out of the blocks I knew it was going to be a good race.

“I didn't think I could break the world record today but I knew when I was in the race that I could do it. After 200m I knew I could get it.

“Apart from the Australians most of my competitors were in that race today and showed them what I can do, ahead of the Worlds.”

There were also gold medals for Britain’s Jonathan Fox in the S7 100m Backstroke, Sascha Kindred in the SM6 200m Individual Medley, Stephanie Millward in the S9 100m Butterfly, Thomas Young in the MD 100m Backstroke, Louise Watkin in the S9 50m Freestyle and Matthew Walker in the S7 50m Freestyle.

Nyree Lewis admitted that she shocked herself in breaking the S6 100m Backstroke world record, a race in which she finished six seconds further ahead than the rest of the field. Charlotte Henshaw then closed out a fabulous competition for Britain, beating her friend and fellow competitor Elizabeth Johnson’s former world record in the final race, the SB6 100m Breaststroke.

Henshaw said, “I was really surprised with what I swam today. That was very unexpected.

“I’ve been slowly chipping away at Liz’s record and I finally took it today. I have a friendly rivalry with her. It’s always good to have someone to race against and to push you. It's nice to have someone there with you at the block and then be a rival once you're in the water.”

GB dominated ten of the events in the pool, but it was the Rest of the World (ROW) team who took advantage of the remaining two. Wins for Xiaoqin Jin and Shengnan Jiang, in the S8 100m Backstroke and S8 50m Freestyle respectively, were enough to seal the overall BT Paralympic World Cup team trophy for ROW, with 120 points.

Despite a brilliant day in the pool and gold in the men’s Wheelchair Basketball yesterday, Britain finished close behind in third, on 105 points. Europe (EUR) were sandwiched between ROW and GB in second place, on 110 points. Meanwhile the Americas (AME) were unable to capitalise on a strong day in the Wheelchair Basketball and ended up with 65 points.

Singer Mica Paris was on hand to present the winners’ trophy to members of the ROW team as a packed Manchester Aquatics Centre looked on.

Point Scores Report for the BT Paralympic World Cup swimming:
1. GBR 44
2. ROW 29
3. EUR 24
4. AME 22

The confirmed BT Paralympic World Cup Team Trophy points and standings are:
1. ROW 120
2. EUR 110
3. GBR 105
4. AME 65

The BBC, the official televised partner to the event, broadcast live from the Manchester Aquatics Centre today on BBC Television, from 14:00 – 16:00.

The official event website, with images, flashquotes and press releases, is: www.btparalympicworldcup.com

BT is the title sponsor of the Paralympic World Cup; the sponsorship runs up to and includes the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA) and the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and supported by BT, ParalympicsGB, the FA, Manchester City Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

The event schedule has seen Athletics on 25 May, Football 7-a-side on 26-29 May and Wheelchair Basketball on 27-30 May, all at the Manchester Regional Arena and Swimming at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on 31 May.

Follow the BT Paralympic World Cup on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BTPWC