TWO Cockermouth women are celebrating the silver medal success of England relay swimmer Matt Bowe.

That is because Wendy Bowe, head of IT at Cockermouth School, is his sister, and swimming coach Eleanor Walsh his part-time mentor.

Wendy has just returned from Melbourne where she watched her brother and his team in their medley success.

“We had to shout loudly. At the time of the race the Australians had yet to win a gold in the pool. There was so much pressure on their team and we were cheering England on, vying with 20,000 screaming Australians.”

Matt Bowe is from Silecroft, near Millom, and swam for the Barrow Swimming Club before going to Loughborough to study sports science.

But he spent many weekends and most Sundays in the Cockermouth pool.

He was second signed to Cockermouth Swimming Club.

“There was limited water time in Barrow in those days so he came to Cockermouth to practise,” Wendy said.

Eleanor Walsh helped coach him both on his weekend trips to Cockermouth and when she was coach of the Cumbrian county team.

She said both he and his brother David had been excellent swimmers. David eventually gave up to study medicine and now, as a doctor, does not have the time to pursue his sport.

She said she was thrilled with Matt’s performance in Melbourne as he has become the first Cumbrian male to win a medal in a Commonwealth games.

Wendy Bowe said she was in Melbourne with her parents and watching Matt swim had been something special for them all.

“We weren’t able to go into the games village as that is just for the athletes. We also did not have a lot of chance to talk to him during the sessions, but he would come and see us each night.

“He was really enjoying it, but he said all the athletes were having trouble keeping their weight down. There were food and drink vending machines all over the village and all free of charge.”