BARBARA Morton added to her collection of Masters swimming titles when she was named as top lady out of 80 entries in the Northern Counties annual championships held at Everton Park pool, Liverpool.

Barbara claimed five championship titles in the 65 to 69 years age group to share the trophy named after Nancy Yarwood, one of the North West's best known swimming personalities. Not to be outdone, Peter Tucker was also unbeaten in the same age group, collecting five titles and in one of them, the 100m breaststroke, he set a championship record which now stands at 1:50.15.

Others to stand on the medal rostrum included Garry Vickers for one silver in age group 30 to 34, David Neville silver and bronze (45-49), Les Shaw making his debut at an open event claimed a bronze (50-54) and Helen Weatherby who collected four silvers and one bronze in the 70 to 74 years category. Also competing were Ged Johnson (40-44) and Graham Croxson (50-54) who were just outside the medal places but contributed to the points total. Darwen finished in seventh place overall. The full results were - Ladies: Barbara Morton (65-69) 50m back (1) 53.19, 100m back (1) 1:53.90, 100m i/m (1) 2:01.12, 50m f/s (1) 44.69, 50m breast (1) 53.31; Helen Weatherby (70-74) 50m f/s (3) 1:06.53, 100m f/s (2) 2:23.22, 50 breast (2) 1:37.55, 100m breast (2) 3:29.29, 50m back (2) 1:25.48.

Men: Garry Vickers (30-34) 50m breast (5) 36.01, 100m breast (5) 1:20.86, 50m f/s (5) 27.93, 100m f/s (2) 1:02.56, Ged Johnson (40-44) 50m breast (5) 41.84, 50m f/s (6) 34.64, 100m f/s (7) 1:20.97, 50m fly (8) 38.99, 100m i/m (9) 1:30.49; David Neville (45-49) 50m back (3) 40.14, 100m back (4) 1:32.17, 100m i/m (2) 1:25.73, 50m f/s (5) 32.52, 100m f/s (6) 1:20.27; Graham Croxson (50-54) 50m f/s (6) 32.61, 100m f/s (5) 1:17.48; Les Shaw (50-54) 50m breast (4) 41.74, 100m breast (3) 1:32.54, 50m f/s (10) 35.49, 100m f/s (7) 1:24.96, 100m i/m (6) 1:29.22; Peter Tucker (65-69) 50m f/s (1) 35.41, 100m f/s (1) 1:19.42, 200m f/s (1) 2:57.15, 100m i/m (1) 1:36.30, 100m breast (1) 1:50.15 (record). Freestyle team (160-199) seventh 2:10.26, medley team eighth 2:22.91.

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