MERRYLANDS Amateur Swimming Club's masters team has shown age is no barrier to competition.

The team of five competed in the NSW State Masters Short Course Championships at Canberra recently, winning 17 medals from 25 individual events.

President Ian Wilson, who was part of the team, said most of the medals were won by the younger swimmers - those 35 and under.

"Whereas we get very competitive as we get older," he said. "The oldest swimmer at the event was 90.

"There were about 250 competitors from all over NSW plus a few from Victoria."

Wilson said the squad, which also included Alison Sakurovs, Peter Johnston, Steven Nguyen and Graham Edwards, also swam seven new personal best times, doing four himself.

He said a lot of the squad's success could go to the hard work and support from their coaches Johnston and Rachel Palise.

"People are motivated by different things," he said. "I'm pretty competitive, but the bigger part of it is the friendship I have there and just being with the people.

"You get to an age where the medals are nice, but I ­really swim for personal best times.

"It's swimming with the young people that keeps you feeling young."

Wilson said the masters are now looking ahead to the national titles in April next year in Rockhampton, Queensland.

At this year's nationals, the group won 13 medals from 27 events between six swimmers, so they know they have a tough challenge to do as well next year.

Masters train every Tuesday and Thursday from 5pm to 7pm and every Saturday from 9am to 10am at Merrylands Swimming Centre.

They also compete on Saturday mornings with the rest of the club.
Ian Wilson gets a push from the Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club team.
Ian Wilson gets a push from the Merrylands Amateur Swimming Club team.