SWIMMING pensioner Don Leatherbarrow set British and European records at the Welsh National Long Course swimming championship having just moved up to the 85 to 98 age bracket.

Don, who trains at the Ross pool, competed in six events including: the 1,500-metre and 800-metre freestyle, medleys, and butterfly, over two days.

The event was held at the Wales International Pool in Swansea.

Don broke the 200m individual medley record (4m:07s), the 50m fly (53.49s), 1500m freestyle (29m:40.04s) which also broke the European record, 400m individual medley (9m:6.39s), and 100m fly (2m:16.52).

He also swam for his club Gloucester Masters in a relay and won gold.

Don was two seconds off the British record for his age group, but one of his best swimmers went down with flu just before the meet.

The 400m individual medley was the toughest.

Don told the Gazette: “There’s nobody in my age group even attempts at you, usually because it starts with 100 metres butterfly and that’s a hell of a killer to start with, then 100 back, then 100 breast, and 100 free to finish and it really is a hard record.”

He added that he couldn’t have done it without his wife Cindy.

She drove him to the meet, organised their Airbnb accommodation, and ensured that he was on the blocks in time.

“She really deserves all the credit and medals”

Don trains regularly at the Ross Pool and his next gala is in late April at Gloucester Leisure Centre, at the 25 metre short course.

After moving to the Forest of Dean with his wife in 1976, he first joined Cinderford Masters and started swimming Masters events at Sheffield within three years.