Barnet Copthall's masters swimmers (aged between 30 and 66) travelled to Cardiff to compete in the National Senior Age Group Championship and set a high standard for the club's younger counterparts to mirror.

They won a total of 31 medals: ten gold, ten silver and 11 bronze. Elaine Blower (64) won gold in the 200m and 100m backstroke, plus silver medals in the 100m, 200m and 800m freestyle, while Georgie Hamilton (66) won gold in the 400m and 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly, plus a further bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Emma Harvey (30) scooped gold in 1500m freestyle, while Mark Reynolds (46) was victorious in the 100m freestyle, as well as gaining silver in the 200m and 50m freestyle.

Three relay teams also won gold medals.

Harvey, Barnet Copthall's synchronised swimming coach, also competed in the recent National Masters Synchronised Swimming Championship, and won gold in the 30-39-year-old age group.

Ian Woollard, Masters team coach, said: "The competitive Masters swimmer has so much more to consider than just training and competing. They also have to balance family and work commitments. Barnet Copthall is lucky to have swimmers with an excellent approach to their sport and their lives. They support and encourage their team-mates, making my job very much easier.

"We enjoyed a fantastic weekend in Cardiff, with some great swims from everyone in the team. Even those who didn't quite make the gold medal positions still produced excellent performances and fast times. The relays were a spectacular success and the real team spirit shone through in these events."