FIVE Great Britain squad members from Worcester Dragon Boat Racing Club reaped the rewards of months of preparation by winning 18 medals at the European Championships in Sweden.

Joyce Brown, Sam Corfield, Steve Hughes, John Miskimmin and junior member Jenny Barnes joined the 100-strong contingent in Malmo to defend their World Championship successes of last year. Their awards included ten gold and two silver medals.

Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Mary Drinkwater was quick to congratulate the team. She said: "We are all very proud of the squad members for their brilliant success. They have set a fine example for others and are a credit to the city."

The silver medal performance of the senior mixed and open crews was enough to guarantee a Euro Cup win for the Great Britain squad in their most successful championships ever.

An indication of the British domination was given in the first race as the open mixed crew took gold in the 500 metres.

Although Barnes was not part of that performance she had an equally satisfying day with silver medals in the junior mixed and open crews.

Despite winning both their heat and semi-finals, the Worcester open crew was placed in the fourth lane for the final, against normal seeding rules, which would have placed them in one of the middle lanes.

Finishing within a second of the gold medal place left them frustrated runners-up.

The women's crew secured the bronze medal although being penalised for deviating from their racing line.

The club's mixed crew once again proved unbeatable as they took gold in the 250-metre race, giving Brown and Corfield a brace of gold medals each.

This was followed by a flawless performance from the open crew to make it a double gold for Hughes and Miskimmin, taking their medal tallies to three each.