By Andrew Clarke

Last updated 09:44, Thursday, 06 November 2008

A SWIMMER from Whitehaven has returned from the British Masters Championship with four medals – two gold and two silver – around her neck.

MASTER OF THE POOL: Helen Asquith with her impressive haul of two gold and two silver medals

Helen Asquith, 25, claimed her first national title at the Sheffield event and produced some of her lifetime best performances to do so.

In her first event, the 100m backstroke, she powered through to second, and finished runner-up again in the 100m butterfly.

However, she wowed the large crowd in the 200m backstroke event that followed and came home nearly four seconds ahead of the field in 2.25.52 – the fastest time of the day recorded for the event.

And Helen, who lives at the Highlands, Whitehaven, doubled her gold medal tally in her favourite event – the 200m butterfly – and finished over four-and-a-half seconds in front of her nearest rival.