A VETERAN Barrow swimmer will be hoping to be crowned king of Canada on his return across the Atlantic.

Brian Knight, 80, emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, 50 years ago and returned to Furness this week to visit family.

When he jets back home with wife Maryann – a Hamilton native – he will start his preparations for the Canada 55-plus Summer Games.

Brian will compete in the 50m backstroke, butterfly and freestyle swimming events in Brampton, Ontario, against other athletes who have qualified through local and provincial competition.

“I’ve won through district and provincial events, just like you would swim for Barrow and then the county and then beyond,” he said.

“I started swimming when I was in Barrow and I’ve carried on pretty much ever since. You get to a certain age and your legs go – you can’t run – and I find that swimming is good for me. It’s life-saving.”

The former butcher from Barrow Island started swimming as a youngster, recalling his first attempt to swim Walney Channel, which saw him start beside Jubilee Bridge and end up in North Scale, when the current caught him.

On his return, Brian’s mother was far from impressed, but he retained his love of the sport, being a member of Barrow Amateur Swimming Club at their old Abbey Baths home for several years.

He stopped swimming to take up boxing at the Furness Catholic Amateur Boxing Club, under the guidance of Pat Ryan, but regained his love of the sport following his move to Canada and regularly takes part in sessions at his local Ancaster Senior Centre.

He has competed in three Provincial Games in Ontario and won four golds and one silver at a previous Canada Games in Nova Scotia.

Brian qualified for this year’s event – at which Maryann will also compete in the prediction swim event, where an entrant who finishes closest to their expected time wins – through wins at the Hamilton event and the Ontario 55-plus Summer Games in Windsor.

The Canada 55-plus Summer Games will take place in August and feature a range of sports, such as athletics and cycling.

Anyone who knew Brian from his time in Barrow can contact him via his sister Maureen Roberts on 01229 473868 or by emailing maryann.tilley@sympatico.ca