RYAN Bennett claimed a hat-trick of gold medals at the Scottish short course swimming championships.

Chorley’s Bennett, who attends Stirling University north of the the border and represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games this year, took individual gold in the 100m backstroke.

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And the 24-year-old also celebrated two national records on his way to relay golds in the 4x100 freestyle and the 4x50 medley relay.

Bennett was returning to the same pool he swam in during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where he reached the final of both the 100m and 200m backstroke.

It was a case of third time lucky this time around for Bennett who took gold in his final individual event of the meeting in the 100m backstroke on the final day of competition.

He finished more than half a second clear of Craig McNally in a winning time of 51.73 seconds.

Bennett’s Stirling University team swept to gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay in a time 3mins 14.52 seconds before three of that team - Bennett, Cameron Brodie and Robbie Renwick - joined Craign Benson in setting a new national record of 1min 36.48secs to win the 4x50m medley relay.

Bennett just missed out on a medal in his first individual final when he claimed fourth in the 100m butterfly in a time of 52.44 seconds as gold went to Braxston Timm.

The East Lancs star then took silver in the 50m backstroke behind Chris Walker Hebborn in a time of 24.23 seconds.