A swimmer from Ross has returned from the British National Masters Swimming Championships with a haul of seven medals.

Don Leatherbarrow won a silver in the 50m backstroke, a bronze in 50m breast and 5 golds in the 50m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle and the 100m individual medley, in the event held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, over three days October 25th-27th.

Don said: "I had a very successful meet, better than I could have hoped for after a slow recovery during the year from a thyroid infection that set me back for a few months.

"However, I'm back to strength again, training hard at Ross pool early mornings with a good crowd of keen friends, I managed a haul of medals in the seven events I raced in."

Don, who featured in the Ross Gazette in March after his success at the grand age of 75 in the Welsh National Masters championships at Swansea, came within .33 of a second of British record, for his age group, in 100m individual medley. He has one last chance this year to have a go at the record, in Cardiff on Saturday December 7th.

Don said: "I am in the 75-79 age group, being 75 in March this year. I still love my swimming, even if it does mean getting up at 6am, to be in the pool training at 7am.

"I was a member of Cinderford masters, until recently joining one of the top clubs in the country at Gloucester, where I now swim with a host of national and European champs.

"My wife Cindy and I are delighted to live near to all the facilities Ross has to offer, she loves her yoga class, and we've both joined the Roaring Megs choir at Goodrich. We are surrounded by wonderful neighbours, so things here are good!"

For more stories in full please see this week's Ross Gazette.