ADRIAN O'CONNOR came of age on the second and final day of the World Cup swimming meet in Sheffield last night. The 23 year old electronics student finally achieved a personal goal - breaking the two minute barrier over 200 metres backstroke.

O'Connor lined up against European bronze medalist Adam Ruckwood of Birmingham and Canada's World short course silver medalist Chris Renaud. "I knew I had to climb that mental mountain," said O'Connor. He did it in style. Ruckwood was first in the British record time of one minute 56.00 seconds, Renaud second in 1:57.46 and the New Ross swimmer third in 1:59.71. He erased his own 12 months old Irish record of, 2:00.39 set in Paris.

Emma Robinson of Ulster and Mary Corless of Tuam were placed fifth and sixth in the 50 metres breaststroke final with times of 33.75 seconds and 33.94.