SWIMMING: Ian Thorpe launched his bid for an unprecedented seven Commonwealth Games swimming gold medals in sensational style in Manchester yesterday, first winning the 400 metres freestyle in a world record time of three minutes 40.08 seconds, and then anchoring the Australian team to gold in the 100 metres freestyle relay.

In the individual event, the 19-year-old from Sydney improved on the 3.40.17 he set at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, last year. At those championships, Thorpe walked away with a record six gold medals.

"I'm pretty happy about that," said Thorpe, who retained the title he won in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 at the age of 15. "I came here relaxed, and the atmosphere generated by the crowd made it easier. Once again I came close to 3.40 - that is something which is keeping me honest."

As at Fukuoka, his team-mate Grant Hackett settled for silver, in 3.43.48. Scotland's Graeme Smith took the bronze in 3.49.40.

Hackett stayed with his compatriot through the first half of the race, but in the second 100 metres Thorpe relentlessly pulled away.

"Ian has so much power, he ran away with the race," Hackett said.

Thorpe was not the only one to set a world record on swimming's opening day, as England's Zoe Baker won her 50 metres breaststroke semi-final in 30.57. She improved on the record of 30.83 set by South African Penelope Heyns in 1999, in Sydney.

Baker's chance to go for gold will come in today's final.

But compatriot Karen Pickering started the meet with a bang for the hosts, denying Australia the first gold medal of the night with a victory in the 200 metres freestyle in a Games record 1.59.69.

She led a one-two finish for England, with Karen Legg taking silver in 1.59.86. Australians Petria Thomas and Elka Graham shared bronze on 2.00.07.

England's defending champion in the men's 200 metres butterfly, James Hickman, couldn't hold off the Aussie challenge, taking bronze behind Olympic bronze medallist Justin Norris and fellow Englishman Stephen Parry.

Norris won in a Commonwealth Games record of 1.56.95 - eclipsing the 1.57.11 set by Hickman in Kuala Lumpur. Parry won the silver in 1.57.71 and Hickman clocked 1.58.55.

Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry won the women's 200 metres individual medley, after Australia's Jennifer Reilly was disqualified.

Reilly turned in a charging final freestyle leg, but it was the name of Coventry, swimming with no fanfare in lane eight, which flashed up with the No 1 beside it with a time of 2.14.53.

Canada's Marianne Limpert, the gold medallist at Kuala Lumpur four years ago, was second in 2.15.07 and compatriot Elizabeth Warden was third in 2.16.12.

Meanwhile, on the track, Shaun Bownes of South Africa stunned favourite Colin Jackson as he won the 110 metres hurdles in 13.35 to give his country their third track and field title of the Games.

The 31-year-old, who was handed a four-year ban for steroids in 1995 which was reduced to two, ended the Welshman's dreams of a third Commonwealth title as he beat him into second (13.39) while Maurice Wignall of Jamaica was third (13.62).

Defending champion Tony Jarrett was fourth.

Bownes, who was eighth in last year's world championship final, led from the gun and his cause was helped as 35-year-old Jackson hit the first hurdle.

The world record-holder did make up some ground in the middle of the race but Bownes kept his head and had a clear margin over the two-time world champion on the line.