Four competitors from St Albans Masters Swimming Club claimed a gold medal at the British Gas ASA National Masters Championships in Sheffield.

The 4x100 medley relay team of Steve Adams, Duncan Beveridge, Neil Culley and Craig Kirkland produced a strong performance to come out in first place in the 4x50m freestyle relay.

The quartet had earlier finished runner-up in the 4x100m medley event despite breaking a European record in their age category by four seconds. Camp Hill Edwardians took top spot by a matter of inches.

Although the St Albans team has one former international, they consoled themselves with the fact that Camp Hill had three in action.

The St Albans side also placed third in an exciting men’s 4x50m medley relay event.

Meanwhile, Duncan Beveridge won an individual silver in the men’s 50m breaststroke, while Adams, Culley and Kirkland all placed in the top eight.

St Albans’ female representative, Lisa Randall, came fourth in the 200m backstroke – her first National competition after a prolonged period of retirement lasting 26 years.