A HAT-TRICK of gold medals at the British Transplant Games was the best ever result for Spreyton?s Wendy Sincock who just three months ago had a hip replacement operation. Wendy has been competing at the games for the last eight years since receiving a new kidney in 1998. Her rigorous training routine paid off ? Wendy triumphed in the 50 metres backstroke, 50 metres freestyle and 100 metres front crawl. She also won a silver in the canoeing sprint slalom and a fourth in the shotput. A trophy was presented to Wendy in the Victor Ludorum for best female of her age group in the water. This year the games were held in Edinburgh and involved 600 transplantee athletes. The event was opened by Jimmy Savile, to an accompaniment of bagpipes underneath Edinburgh?s spectacular castle. Wendy, who was a member of a team from the Exeter Kidney Unit, was cheered on by 15 family members and friends who had travelled to the event to support her. The tough competitor is now hoping to beat her personal best at the World Transplant Games in Bangkok which starts this weekend. Wendy?s sister Anne Donnelly, who also lives in Spreyton, said it was a ?very humbling experience? to attend the games and see so many people from the ages of two to 70 overcome personal challenges. ?These people have had all sorts of transplant from hearts to livers and kidneys,? she said. ?The games is all about raising awareness of organ donation and it is a very social event where donors? families come along as well.? Anne said transplantees had to take numerous anti-rejection drugs each day and were susceptible to illnesses and colds but her sister constantly amazed her with her cheerfulness. ?Wendy has her ups and downs but she never moans or groans about it,? she said. ?She only had a hip replacement a few months ago and she has won three gold medals ? that tells you the sort of person she is. I am very proud of her.? Wendy, who owns a hairdressers in Spreyton, has had to raise more than £2,000 to compete in Bangkok and is grateful to all her customers, family and friends who have helped her with sponsorship. Anyone wishing to give the ?Gift of Life? and join the donor register should telephone 01845 6060400. l Wendy is pictured right.