PLYMOUTH Leander’s Ben Proud smashed yet another British record on Saturday at the BUCS Long Course Championships in Sheffield.

The double Commonwealth Games champion lowered his own 50m freestyle national best with a storming swim of 21.73 seconds for the one-length event at Ponds Forge.

That takes him into the top three in the early 2016 world rankings, with only France’s Florent Manaudou having so far swam quicker this year.

Proud was more than a second in front of second-placed Kevin Wallbank of Loughborough in Saturday’s race.

Another one of Plymouth Leander’s Olympic hopefuls, Antony James, also smashed a record at Ponds Forge on Saturday.

James, who competed for Great Britain in London 2012, set a new BUCS Championship mark of 52.77 seconds to win the men’s 100m butterfly.

The former Commonwealth Games silver medallist was nearly two seconds ahead of second-placed David Lumberlidge, who clocked 54.63.

There was more Plymouth success on Saturday with Perry Gardner winning the 200m backstroke final in 2:02.70. He had earlier finished fifth in the 50m back final with 26.72 seconds.

Juliette Casini reached two finals, finishing sixth in the 200m freestyle (2:02.97) and eighth in the 50m freestyle final (26.86).

Luke Oakley, Marcus Gardiner and Matthew Zammit were also finalists on Saturday.