Bermuda?s top Masters swimmers have been restocking their trophy cabinet ? this time following a slew of victories at the British Columbia Provincial Championships held at the Watermania Aquatics Centre in Richmond, Canada.

On a short course 25 metres facility some 300 Masters, mostly from British Columbia but also from the USA and other Canadian provinces, competed, ranging in age from 19 to 90.

And the Bermuda pair of Colleen Nelson, 55, and Chris Smith, 72, were among the big winners.

Smith, representing the Trillium Y Masters club in Toronto, picked up gold medals in all seven of the events which he entered ? 200 and 1500 metres freestyle, 50, 100 and 200 metres butterfly, 200 metres backstroke and 200 metres breaststroke.

Nelson, a member of the Cowichan Aquannis Masters club in Duncan, BC, stroked her way to six golds in the 200 and 1500 metres freestyle, 50, 100 and 200 metres breaststroke and 100 metres butterfly and took silver in the 50 metres backstroke.

She also swam on two relays with team-mates from Duncan in the 240-279 age group. They placed first in both the women?s medley relay (with Nelson swimming the butterfly leg) and also in the women?s freestyle relay in which Nelson swam the lead-off leg.

?I find it inspirational to watch so many swimmers of all ages competing in swimming,? said Nelson in an e-mail to The Royal Gazette yesterday.

?The BC championships are seeded according to time, regardless of age or gender. So that means that you can find yourself on the blocks next to someone much younger or much older than yourself.

?I have often made new friends standing behind the blocks waiting for my heat to swim. Then you see the same swimmers the next time there is a meet.

?There are several former Canadian national team members now competing in Masters swimming and it is a real thrill to be able to challenge them for medals.?

Nelson was due to return to Bermuda yesterday but plans to compete in the Canadian Masters National Swimming Championships in Edmonton, Alberta next month when Smith will also be competing.

Smith also plans to swim at the Fina World Masters Aquatic Championships in Italy in June.