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Page last updated at 08:45 GMT, Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Tancock misses out on Euro final

Tancock has missed out on the final of the 100m backstroke (Getty)

Exeter's Liam Tancock missed out on the 100m backstroke final at the European Championships in Eindhoven on Tuesday.

He was third fastest from the morning's heats in a time of 54.98 seconds but was outside 55 seconds in finishing joint fifth in the semi-final.

"I'm not ready to race yet. My target at this stage of the year is the British Championships in a couple of weeks time," said the 22-year-old.

"I'll be looking to add other events to my Olympic qualification."

Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband failed to qualify for the 200m freestyle final.

The 30-year-old Dutchman said: "It's a catastrophe. I am very disappointed.

"In all my long career, this had never happened to me."