SWIMMING: HALTON rose to the occasion as the most successful visiting club at a Masters Swimming Competition in one of the borough's twin towns.

Supported by Halton Borough Council town twinning, the club sent 19 masters swimmers to Usti in the Czech Republic for an event which featured competitors from seven other nations.

One of the four German teams represented was Marzahn, another of Halton's twin towns, and many old friendships were renewed.

Usti's 50m indoor pool, with a 25m outdoor pool in the same complex, was a superb setting and in all, the team won 51 medals.

Derek Booth led the way with gold medals in three 100m disciplines.

He added to his tally with four silver medals, two bronze and a fourth place to easily become the swimmer of the meeting.

Jeff Rimmer was outstanding in the breaststroke events winning both the 50m and 100m before finishing runner-up in the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

Peter Flynn gave a similar display with gold for 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle - silver coming his way in the 50m backstroke and freestyle.

Another Halton gold went to Carl Barkley in the 50m backstroke.

Carl was unlucky to only make silver in the 50m freestyle after an excellent swim of 27.5 and then bronze for 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

In the 19-24 year age group, Ste Hunt took gold and silver, respectively, for 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke - following up with two more silver medals in the 50m freestyle and 200m freestyle.

Not to be outdone by the men, Nikki Dand finished first at 100m backstroke with silver medals coming her way in the 100m and 200m freestyle.

Other Halton medal winners included Jim Ainsworth, Howard Bentham, Kevin Comer, John Edwards, Paula Gandy, Frank and Mike Kilgannon (who gave each other a hard time, every time), Peter McPartland, Tim Ribton, Howard Bentham.

Colin Hunter, Tony Gandy, Ray and Kieron Marshall all set new personal-best times.