THERE were no Seychelles records on the first day of the swimming competition on Tuesday  July 30 at the Manchester Aquatics Centre, England, in the XVII Commonwealth Games as all three local swimmers were eliminated in their respective events.

In the 200-metre butterfly, Bertrand Bristol, swimming in heat  number three, clocked 2 minutes 10.87 seconds to finish in front of Ben Welss of Papua New Guinea (2:14.82).

The 20-year-old, who holds the national record of 2:10.10 over the distance, failed to qualify for Tuesday July 30  final which was to be disputed between eight swimmers – Justin Norris, Heath Ramsay, Grant McGregor (Australia), James Hickman, Steve Parry (England), Jeremy Knowles (Bahamas), Moss Burmester (New Zealand) and Adam Sioui (Canada) in the evening session.

Another Seychellois, 25-year-old Jean-Paul Adam – also took part in the 200-metre butterfly heat, clocking 2:11.39 in heat number two for fifth place ahead of Ben Lowndes of Guernsey (2:11.79).

It is to be noted that Australian Norris, who swam in the same heat as Bristol and is in the pursuit of five gold medals, was the fastest qualifier with 1:58.19.

In the 400-metre freestyle, 23-year-old Barnsley Albert was last in heat number three with a time of 4:23.59. His time is 6.18 seconds slower than Kenny Roberts'  Seychelles record of 4:17.41 set in 1998.

Australia's swimming sensation Ian Thorpe, who is chasing seven gold medals in the competition, easily won the number three heat in 3:47.24 to lead all qualifiers in last night's final.

Thorpe was joined in Tuesday July 30 final by another two Australians – Grant Hacket and Craig Stevens. The other five finalists were Graeme Smith (Scotland), Adam Faulkner, Jamie Salter (England), Mark Johnston and Rick Say (Canada).

Cyclist Hudson Mathieu, who on  Sunday  July 28 clocked 1 hour 10:51.59 in the 46.8-km individual time-trial to be placed 22nd, competed in the 4,000-metre individual pursuit on Monday July 29 at the Manchester Velodrome.

Mathieu, who won his race against Pakistani Disher Ali who did not finish, failed to make it to the quarterfinals after hitting the tape in 4 minutes 58.14 seconds, the slowest time of the qualifiers.

Englishmen Kieran Page, Bradley Wiggins and Paul Manning, Australians Brad McGee, Peter Dawson and Luke Roberts, New Zealanders Hayden Godfrey and Hayden Roulston are the four quarterfinalists.

The fastest qualifying time of 4:19.96 was registered by Australian Luke Roberts.

In badminton at the Bolton Arena, the Seychelles badminton foursome of Juliette Ah-Wan, Catherina Paulin, Nicholas Jumaye and Georgie Cupidon, who finished fourth in in group D after beating neighbours Mauritius 3-2 in their final match of the mixed team competition, are to start their campaign in the individual competition.

Ah-Wan, ladies' singles champion of the recent All-Africa Senior Badminton Championship in Casablanca, Morocco, will play M. Eastmond of Barbados in the round of 64 today and a win for the country's number one female player will see her meet either Indian Murgundet or Pasturel of Jersey.

As for Paulin, she has won a bye straight into the round of 32 and her opponent on Thursday August 1 match is Englishwoman T. Hallam.

Both Cupidon and Jumaye have won byes into the round of 32. Seychelles' male number one player Cupidon, 21, will play Nigerian B. Topping on Thursday August 1, while Jumaye is to meet New Zealander G. Bellingham.

In the women's doubles, Paulin and Ah-Wan are to play Indians N. Choudary and N. Deepty in the round of 32 on Thursday August 1. As for Cupidon and Jumaye,  will  on Wednesday July 31 exchange shots with Maldivians M. Nashid and A. Nashwath in the round of 64.

In the mixed doubles, the duo of Jumaye and Paulin has been drawn against K. Wood and M. Eastmond of Barbados, while the pair of Cupidon and Ah-Wan has for opponent Malaysians C. M. Chan and P. S. Lim.

Both Seychelles teams will be in action on Wednesday July 31 in the round of 64.

In judo at the G-Mex Centre, Francis Labrosse was expected to be in action against Ghanaian Amoako Tuesday July 30 in the -60-kg category. There are 12 fighters in the 23-year-old's division.

The other fighter in the Seychelles two-man judo team, Gerard Baker, is to compete on Wednesday July 31 in the -81-kg division against T. Cousins of England. A total of 13 judokas have entered in this category.