YORK City Baths Club star James Wilby opened the British Gas Swimming Championships with a personal best time in the 50 metres breaststroke.


The 19-year-old Strensall swimmer clocked 29.61 seconds to finish eighth in heat five and 24th overall in a field of 41 at Ponds Forge in Sheffield today.


The time beat his previous best of 29.77, which was set at the British Gas International Meet in Leeds in March.


Wilby is next in action tomorrow morning in the heats of the 200m.