SANDBACH sprinter Liam Clowes smashed his personal best to take bronze in the 200m final at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Finland.

The 16-year-old clocked 21.50 secs to finish behind Belgium's Julien Watrin and Jeffery John, from France.

Clowes, who suffered heartache in the 100m final when he was forced to settle for fourth place, had qualified second quickest from the semi-finals.

But the Sandbach School pupil, who won silver at the English Schools' Championship in Sheffield earlier this month, ran the race of his life to take the final spot on the podium ... before dedicating his performance to dad Gary.

"I just wanted to make my dad proud of me," said Clowes. "I felt I let him down a bit at English Schools', but this one is for him.

"He was in the stands watching me and I just wanted to show him what I could do and how quick I could run.

"To get a personal best is absolutely awesome. I knew I had it in me and I knew I could come away with a medal.

"I was a little nervous beforehand, but they were good nerves. I'm just so happy to get a medal."

But Crewe swimmer Charlotte Bradbury's campaign ended on a low after Team GB missed out on a medal in the 4x100m medley relay.

The 14-year-old Malbank School pupil teamed up with Natasha Hofton, Amelia Maughan and Danielle Lowe in the final and the quartet were expected to make it on to the podium.

Great Britain were the top ranked squad going into the race after clocking 4.19.70 minutes in the heats, but it all went wrong in the final as they were forced to watch Italy, Germany and Hungary claim the podium places after a below-par swim of 4.21.15 minutes.

THE British Olympic Association selects, runs and manages Team GB at summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It promotes the Olympic movement, enhances athlete success and develops Olympic sports in the UK . For more information, go to www.olympics.org.uk

NICK CLOWES