Mark Foster claimed his second gold medal at the European Shortcourse Championships in Dublin last night - winning the 50m butterfly in 23.22 seconds.

Former Borough of Southend swimmer Foster, the current European record holder, held off the challenge of Croatia's Alexei Puninski to claim another major title.

Billericay-born Foster, 33, also won the men's 50m freestyle on Thursday night.

It brings to a close a pleasing year for Foster who took his first long course World medal, a silver, in the 50m Freestyle in August.

Already looking to the future, Foster said: "I am always a slow starter but in the end it was sufficient and I can now focus on the Olympic trials."

Published Monday December 15, 2003

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