COLNE swimming star Philip Croxhall was left flying the flag for East Lancashire when the 15th FINA World Masters Championships took place in Montreal, Canada at the Parc Jean-Drapeau Aquatic Complex.

The two-week event synchronized swimming and water polo competitions, while the second featured swimming and diving competitions and the 3k open water swim.

There were more than 8,000 competitors from 71 countries with around 6,000 taking part in the swimming discipline alone, and there was a solitary competitor from Colne ASC Croxall.

Croxall was competing in the 45 to 49 years age group in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle events.

The main swimming competition in the second week of the championships started with the 800m freestyle and the following day Croxall was taking part in his first event, the 100m breaststroke.

He finished in 42nd place out of 93 in a time of 1 min 22.37 which was a season’s best.

Two days later Croxall took part in his second event the 200m individual medley.

He finished 34th out of 80 in a time of 2-39.69 which was his best time in the event for over three years.

Croxall was back in the pool for the 200m breaststroke where he finished 25th out of 58 in a time of 3-0.07, which again was another season’s best.

He then competed in his final event, the 400m freestyle, where he finished 20th out of 49 in a time of 4-55.79, which almost equalled his personal best set over four years ago.

Croxall enjoyed the experience and said: “It was a fantastic experience to swim against such tough competitors, and to swim in an outdoor pool with the temperature in the high 20s was unique for me.

“Coming from the north of England it was a little too warm, but I enjoyed it.”