OLYMPICS-BOUND Ed McKeever is refusing to read too much into his first competitive outing of the year, despite laying down an impressive marker with this summer’s Games in mind.

The Wiltshire paddler was in record-breaking form at the first National Sprint Regatta of 2012 in Nottingham, smashing the course record to book his place for London at the first attempt.

The 28-year-old Bradford on Avon Canoeing Club ace, who trains at the Games venue of Dorney Lake, completed his K1 200m race in 36.06, significantly inside the old mark of 35.38, to clinch the national title.

The performance showed his preparations were on track but McKeever knows there is still plenty to do before he goes for Olympic gold on home water.

"It’s early days," he said. “None of my international competitors were there and they are the ones I’m am going to need to beat in the summer.

"I was quite pleased to qualify at my first attempt. To set the course record is very good for this time of year and hopefully that has shown that I put down a solid base of training over the winter."

The 2010 world champion had two training blocks in South Africa, plus a stint in Seville, Spain, in the winter.

He will now gear up for World Cup meetings in Poznan, Poland, and Duisburg, Germany, next month before the European Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, in June at which his main rivals for glory in London will so compete.

And McKeever says those appointments mean that London 2012 remains in the distance.

“From my point of view, although everyone was saying 100 days to go (to the Olympics, last week), the trick for me is to stay the same," he added.

"In theory, it’s a milestone but there is a lot to happen before August.

"I’m pleased with the base I’ve build over the winter and there is a lot more to come. A lot of work still needs to be done, especially with things like speed work.

"It’s great to get a quick time at this time of the year but what I’m going to do on August 11 is what matters."