Swimming: Germany's women's 4x100 metres freestyle relay squad produced a world record on their way to the gold medal on day one of the European Long Course championships here yesterday. But the five Irish swimmers in action failed to emerge from the morning heats.

The German squad of Petra Dallmann, Daniella Goetz, Britta Steffen and Annika Liebs cut 0.72 seconds off Australia's two-year-old record, set at the Olympic Games in Athens, and provided one of the highlights of a stunning opening day.

Germany led home the Netherlands and France, with Liebs swimming the final leg to bring her country home in a world best of three minutes 35.22 seconds.

Russia's Youri Prilukov produced a very impressive swim to take victory in the men's 400 metres freestyle. Prilukov hunted down Massimiano Rosolino, the European record holder who had gone out hard over the opening 350 metres, eventually catching and overtaking the Italian in the last 50 metres to claim the opening gold medal of the week-long meet.

There was a sensation in the women's 50 metres butterfly semi-finals when gold medal favourite Antje Buschschulte of Germany toppled off the blocks and into the water and was disqualified by Irish race referee Ray Kendal for a false start. The German was distraught.

Earlier in the day, none of the Irish competitors emerged from the heats, but none were swimming in what are considered to be their top events of the week.

Dubliner Barry Murphy, fresh from his Irish record-breaking swims at the Short Course Nationals in Lisburn, where he lowered the 100 metres freestyle record to under 49 seconds, finished third in heat one, two seconds inside his personal best.

He was delighted with a personal best time as, he says, it sets him up nicely for more favoured events later in the week.

"It was great, I got the first-day nerves out of the way, as the 100 breaststroke isn't my best event by a long way," said Murphy. "Being a 50 sprinter, you try to balance the strokes.

"The (Irish) coaching staff have been excellent and the facilities are also top-class. It's perfect preparation for the next few days. I don't swim again until Thursday, so my top three events come quickly. I'm an Irish record holder in the 50 breast and 50 and 100 free, and if I break records in all three there is no reason why I can't semi-final in all of them," added a confident Murphy.

Andrew Bree and Jonathan Nixon were Ireland's other competitors in the 100 breaststroke heats, and while Nixon is using the meet to gain experience of swimming at the top level, Bree is looking at bigger things later in the week in his favourite event, the 200 breaststroke.

His time in the 100 was over a second outside his Irish record, but he didn't seem too bothered.

"It was pretty smooth, not good enough to make the semi-finals but I'm still focused on the 200, which is my race," he said. "I felt pretty good. It's a great set-up here. Water is the right temperature. My stroke felt good and, yes, overall pleased with my start to the week."

Ireland's other representative was Melanie Nocher, who was four places outside making the top 16 and a berth in the semi-final in the 200 metres backstroke when she was sixth in her heat in 2.18.20.

Nocher said she was feeling ill before her heat and her swimsuit broke just before the race, requiring a quick change at poolside.

"My taper was fine even after swimming at the Nationals last week, but it's been a bit of a struggle considering my misfortunes. Hopefully by the time the 50 and 100 (backstroke) come up later in the week I'll have put my problems behind me," said Nocher.

Julie Douglas was well outside her personal best when placed 43rd of 46 starters in the 50 metres butterfly in 28.89.

Today, Douglas and Clare Dawson compete in the 100 metres freestyle, while Ciara Farrell goes in the 100 metres breaststroke.