From Sports Editor Max Hall

Poolside in Manchester

NO matter how tenuous, the Redditch link to the Commonwealth Games final medal table is there.

Former Redditch swimming club favourite Jamie Salter was part of the England men's 4x200m freestyle team which took bronze at Manchester Aquatic Centre last night.

As Salter admitted, England were always going to take a medal - it was just the colour that was at stake.

In the five-team event, Commonwealth newcomers Kenya and the Bahamas were already being lapped by the swimming superpowers as Salter clambered out of the pool after swimming the second leg.

With a shadow of Australian Ian Thorpe looming over the event, everyone else was competing for the second prize.

It was City of Edinburgh star Salter who did more than any other to cut into the second berth held by Canada.

He was making great strides in cutting the Canadian lead in his second 50m but a poor pool turn at the end of the length and the chance was gone.

Earlier, Salter came home fourth in the men's 200, freestyle 0.61sec behind Canadian Rick Say after qualifying sixth from the heats.

There were no surprises as Thorpe added another gold to has Commonwealth tally and set a games record 1.44.71 for good measure.

Fellow Australian Grant Hackett was second after beating Salter in the heats.

Redditch swimmer Adam Ruckwood competes in the men's 100m backstroke heats from 11.16am today.