Norwich teenager Anne Bochmann insists her bid for Commonwealth Games selection is firmly on course after being among the medals on day one of the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

Norwich teenager Anne Bochmann insists her bid for Commonwealth Games selection is firmly on course after being among the medals on day one of the British Gas Swimming Championships in Sheffield.

The 16-year-old's best chance of selection for a trip to Delhi in October comes in the 400m individual medley, which doesn't start until Saturday morning.

But the City of Norwich ace warmed up in style for her main event by producing an impressive swim to claim bronze in the 200m IM yesterday.

European short course champion Hannah Miley claimed gold with a time of 2:12.32minutes, with Aimee Wilmott second with 2:14.25minutes.

But with Bochmann only just over three seconds behind flying Scot Miley, she believes things are looking good for the weekend's key events.

'I really want to qualify for the Commonwealths in the 400m IM which isn't until the last day so everything ahead of that is just practice for me.

'I thought I swam well in the 200 IM heats - especially for a morning swim - and I got a great position for the final which really helped.

'The 400m IM is my big one so I seem to be showing some good form ahead of that which is fantastic for me.

'It is always a boost to do well in an event when you know that you've got a bigger one to come still.'

Her Sheffield experience had earlier got off to an inauspicious start when, in the first event of the day, she failed to make the final of the 200m freestyle, ending 25th overall in a time of 2:04.67minutes.

But with plenty of time to put her feet up and the prospect of a bumper crowd inside the Ponds Forge venue on Saturday Bochmann is feeling bullish about her chances of booking her ticket to the sub-continent.

'The 200m free was a bit disappointing and I felt a little rusty but I'm feeling better now and hopefully I can keep building through the week,' added Bochman.

'It is always tougher in the morning because there is no real atmosphere but hopefully for the finals it will be really noisy.

'I always think I perform better with a good atmosphere, it gets me going, and hopefully that is how it will be through the rest of the week.

'I just need to make sure I keep resting up and I get lots of sleep before my big events so I'm recovered and ready to go.'

Meanwhile, Stephanie Bird, of the Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Swimming Club, was third in the final of the women's multi-disability 200m freestyle event.

t British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, and have pledged �15m to support the sport at all levels - from paddling pool to podium. Visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming