A Hertsmere Leisure fitness instructor has achieved a gold medal in the China 3 city International Dragon Boat Race Festival.

Nick Evans and his team beat 25 other countries to the title in a competition that saw them compete in Zhanjiang, Guilin and Guangzhou in China.

"This is a triumph for the team," said Evans. "It's the just reward for all the extra training we put in. It's been a fantastic cultural, as well as competitive trip. We had our own night sleeper train to travel from city to city and have seen great places of interest all sponsored by the Chinese Government. We raced in front of crowds of over 100,000 people."

In September he has been picked for the team to compete in the 2008 European Dragon boat Masters Championships in Italy.

"We aimed for gold and got it. We won three Silvers at the last championships, so the focus on gold paid off. If the British team competing in China in August are as determined as us, we could see some more Gold. I'm joint coach of the team and this team are hungry for the September challenge!"

Nick is a fitness instructor at The Centre in South Oxhey, Hertfordshire.