DORSET’S Nic Vaughan has followed up the European masters title he won in Spain last month with three gold medals and a silver at the World Masters Games in Sydney’s Olympic pool.

One-time US Olympic swimmer Scott Carpenter was among the scalps claimed by the 45-year-old Royal Marines chef from Hamworthy as he won the 45-49yrs 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

Both his 50m times – 25.11 in the freestyle and 26.74 in the fly – were lifetime PBs, improving on the best times he set before a back operation several years ago.

He also came second in the 100m butterfly in 1:00.88 and added a fourth gold, a second silver and two bronze medals to his tally with the Royal Navy relay teams.

Vaughan, who also swims for Ferndown Otters, said: “The races were pretty close with only a 10th of a second between the medallists.

“I’ve been steadily working my way back up since the operation.”

• Jean Howard-Jones headed Dorset’s medal tally at the ASA National Masters Championships in Sheffield with gold in the 65-69yrs 50m and 100m freestyle (34.16 and 1:16.06), 50m butterfly (39.23) and 100m medley (1:30.66).

She also won two golds and a silver with the Spencer SC relay teams, who knocked two seconds off their world record in the women’s 240yrs freestyle (2:13.74).

Ferndown’s Cathy Hartle took bronze in the 50-54yrs 1500m freestyle in 21:43.98.

Olympian David Hembrow, 62, who trains at Littledown but swims for Teddington, took gold in the 60-64yrs 1500m freestyle (2:16.60) and silver in the 50m, 100m and 800m freestyle (29.73, 1:05.86 and 10:36.07).