BRIDGWATER swimmer Rich Hill has won four gold medals and two silvers at the recent Royal Navy Masters Meet, at Millfield School in Somerset.

He was also the overall winner for his age group at the event, flying to the top of the English Masters Rankings.

The 30-year-old, who trains at 1610 Trinity Sports & Leisure in Bridgwater under the free access (FANS) scheme, is aiming to take on Europe’s elite swimmers later this year at the Len European Masters Championships in Slovenia.

Hill, who is a member of Bridgwater Swimming Club, is achieving some of the most competitive times of his career, with times in many events within 1/10th of his best.

He attributes his success as a Masters swimmer to less time in the pool and a new smart training programme, with free access to the facilities at Trinity Sports & Leisure.

He trains with Bridgwater swimmer Greg Kyd in the gym, while 1610 swim and sports development manager Ricky Hayes coaches him in the pool.

Hill believes that the UK will only achieve success at a national level if there is grassroots support for local athletes.

He said: “Using 1610’s facilities has allowed training to be consistent; you don’t have to spend hours and hours at a time in the pool.

“Varied smart training is the key as well as the support of 1610 staff and also my training partner Greg Kyd.

“We push each other to complete exhaustion but it is paying off.

“A basic land training programme has a huge impact on performance and this is what is needed if UK athletes are to perform at the top level.”

Hill’s rankings for 30-34 age group in England, year to date:
50m Freestyle - fourth; 50m Breastroke - third; 100m Breastroke - third; 50m Fly - first; 100m Fly - fourth; 100m Indiv. Medley - first