SALISBURY masters swimming duo Phil Muspratt and Rob Langan returned home from the 14th FINA World Masters Swimming Championships this week having gained some priceless experience and pleasing results.

This was a first world championship for both the Salisbury swimmers, although Muspratt last year tasted success at the European championships in the Ukraine, but these championships posed an entirely different and a much more difficult challenge as swimmers from across the globe descended into Riccione, near Rimini, northern Italy.

Langan posted some season best times in the 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke on his way to a 44th and 19th placed finishes respectively.

Langan also added a 27th place finish in his 100m backstroke, as well as a 47th placing for his 50m backstroke.

His best swim was saved until last, however, as he stormed to a win in his heat in the 400m freestyle, posting a personal best of 4mins 38.02sec and gaining a 27th place finish.

Muspratt went into the championships with high hopes of returning home with gold in the 100m and 50m freestyle, but sadly it wasn’t to be as he finished in fourth place in the 100m freestyle, in a time of 53.14sec.

The Jones & Co sponsored swimmer followed this with a sixth place finish in the 50m freestyle in a time of 24.02sec and a second sixth place finish in the 200m freestyle.

However, Muspratt also finished on a high note as he claimed a longed for personal best in the 50m backstroke as he came home in 17th place with a time of 29.47sec.