Don Leatherbarrow, who is soon to be turning 81-years-old, was at Swansea for two days over the weekend of March 2nd for the Welsh open national long course champs.  Here, they were also staging the National British champs for the 1500 metre freestyle, which he entered and broke the British record which stood at 30min 10 secs, and after his swim is of 27minutes 43seconds.

Jane Stephenson is also from Don’s club, Gloucester Masters, and she broke the European record. Don told the Ross Gazette: “It was great to be presented with our record breaking medals on the poolside together.”

Don also set a new record in the 50 metre breaststroke, at 47.66 secs, and got a gold in the 50m freestyle, and a silver in the 800m freestyle.

It means that he has now set 20 new British records in long and short course events over the past 15 months. Next up is Gloucester Masters open at GL1 which takes place at the end of March (short course 25m), where Don is doing five races, then in mid June, he is back at Swansea for the National long course champs over three days.

Don told the Ross Gazette: “Last November, at the inter counties South West gala, held at Millfield School, Somerset, at the end of the event they sprung a surprise on me from my club Gloucester Masters, by presenting me with a cup, the Mike Phelps Trophy, for the Male Competitor Swimmer of the year 2018, in front of the whole Gloucester County team. Bit of a shock, to say the least, but very gratifying for an old boy like me!”See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here