DON Leatherbarrow is getting a big kick out of life in his 80th year – leaving British swimming records and rivals in his wake.

The former professional country and western musician keeps himself in tip-top shape at his local Halo pool in Ross-on-Wye.

And ploughing up and down the lengths certainly paid off for the superfit pensioner when he smashed an amazing five British age-group records winning no less than eight regional titles in one meet.

“I still love racing after discovering the masters swimming scene about 12 years ago and see no reason to stop,” said the 79-year-old grandfather, who turns 80 next month.

And it’s not just in the pool where Don defies the march of time – he still plays his guitar and sings to care and nursing home residents and loves rambling with wife Cindy, who partnered him in a busy music career which included stints entertaining passengers on the QE2.

Don, who lived in Upper Lydbrook from the mid 1970s before moving to Ross six years ago, swam at county level in his youth, and discovered the masters swimming scene when he was introduced to the Cinderford swimming club.

Now he trains up to five times a week at the Halo pool in Ross, taking the plunge as early as 7am, and competes for the Gloucester Masters Swimming Club.

Don made a giant splash at the South East Long Course Masters Championships at Craw-

ley’s K2 50m pool two weeks ago, lowering national 80 to 84 age group records.

The father-of-four, who has four grandchildren, was particularly pleased with his 50m butterfly swim, where he took down the 20-year-old British record by nearly six seconds, finishing in 46.26secs.

“I’ve got to be honest, I was gobsmacked by taking so many records and titles,” added Don.

“Having just come up to the 80-84 category, I knew I might have a chance in a couple of events, but never imagined I’d do as well as I did. I was absolutely delighted and it’s created a bit of a stir with my swimming mates.”

He also beat the 14-year-old 200m medley record by a giant 18 seconds, and other records that tumbled in his wake were the 400m freestyle benchmark, which he lowered by 19 seconds to 7min 2.46secs; the 200m freestyle by six seconds to 3.16.74; and the 100m freestyle by five seconds to 1.21.59.

Don entered eight events and won them all, also landing titles in

the 50m breaststroke (49.51), the 50m freestyle (35.94) and 800m freestyle (14.52.74).

But he admitted: “I did have a good meet but after training in the 25m pool at Ross, struggled a bit in a 50m pool to judge the pace in some races.

“It seems that much harder when you’re looking at the end of the pool and it seems so far away, but that’s what you train for.

“I didn’t swim for a long time as myself and my wife were busy with our music career, playing mainly the cabaret circuit and then private functions.

“Then I started swimming again at the pool in Parkend and was spotted by a Cinderford club swimmer who said why don’t you try masters swimming. I’m so glad I did.

“I’ll swim up to 2km a session, whether that’s stamina work or sprinting, and I’m so lucky to have some really good training partners at the Halo pool, such as Drew Leigh, Jo Cole and

Giles Mason, who are younger and push me hard.

“They’ve spent £2.4m on the leisure centre, which is the 2017/18 Halo centre of the year, and it’s a great place to come and do your early morning lengths.”

And Don said keeping fit and busy has kept him firmly in the swim of life.

“It definitely gives me more energy and helps me feel younger. I’d recommend some regular exercise to all older people,” he said.

“Because of being professional entertainers, myself and Cindy always looked after ourselves, and she makes sure I eat a good diet.

“You need to keep active physically and mentally, so Cindy does hundreds of crosswords, I swim and we both go walking together.”