Colne ASC Masters swimmer Karen Driver achieved a new European record as part of a quartet of women in the 160+ Womens 4x200 Freestyle Relay at the recent British Gas ASA National Masters and Senior Age Group Championships.

The 2013 event, held at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, saw Driver swimming for the Sub 160 Masters team, which was formed by the four women for the sole purpose of being able to compete in relay races, as each of their clubs was not big enough to form a relay team.

The name came from none of the women being over 160 cms in height, hence the Sub 160 title.

The other women in the team were Nicola Latty from Oundle, Jessica Wooddisse from Stroud Masters and Sandra Jones from Gloucester Masters.

Between them they recorded a time of nine minutes 33.56 seconds taking 9.7 seconds off the previous record set back in 2010 by the Trafford Metro team from Manchester.

From Friday to Sunday 1,200 swimmers descended upon Sheffield for the Championships and included both Driver and Philip Croxall.

Individually Driver was swimming in the 40 to 44 years age group where she finished second in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events with both the 400 and 1500 events in new personal best times.

Croxall, who was also swimming in the 40 to 44 years age group, finished sixth in the 400m and 800m Freestyle events.

He was also seventh in the 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley ninth in the 200m freestyle and 15th in the 100m freestyle.

He record seasons bests for all his swims including a new personal best for the 800.