SWIMMING: Fireman Chris Goddard is hoping to climb the ladder to success at the European Masters championships later this month, writes NORMAN LAWTON.

Sprinter Chris who is ranked second in Britain in the 35-40 years age-group at 100m and 200m, competes in Innsbruck, Austria from August 25 to 29 in a total of five events - freestyle (100m, 200m, 400m and 800m) plus butterfly (100m).

"I've been swimming Masters for about four years and the Europeans are held every two years," said 37-year-old Chris, who spends his working hours on Red Watch at Accrington Fire Station, and much of his free time being trained by top Read coach Alan Moorhouse at the Thompson Centre, Burnley.

"I didn't think I was strong enough to compete in the Europeans two years ago, but under Alan I've improved considerably."

Clitheroe ASC is Chris' registered club but he is also part of the elite Bobcats - Borough of Burnley Catchment Area Training Squad - and has this year alone already picked up a host of medals against national and international opposition.

In the International meeting at Leeds in April, he picked four golds and two silvers against Russian, Scandinavian and German opposition. At the Northern Counties event in Liverpool in June, Chris had an identical hauls of four golds and two silvers, and he now holds six Northern Counties records in his age-group.

Invaluable assistance in helping Chris make the trip to Innsbruck and been provided by sponsor Harold Hardman, manager of Accrington-based Alpha Personal Credit.

And the National Masters championships, held in Sheffield each October, are already being targeted by Chris, who has been swimming Masters for just four years.

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