Brothers Mark and James Brown are celebrating a medal haul.
The pair came home with five medals after competing in the 38th British Transplant Games.
More than 700 transplant recipients descended on Newcastle and Gateshead for four days of sporting competitions in world famous venues.
It was the siblings’ third games together.
After competing in Bolton and Sheffield previously, the brothers who have both had kidney transplants, decided to go head-to-head in three disciplines.
Former Lindley resident, Mark, 48, and James, 37, who lives in Salendine Nook, suffered from a hereditary disease, alports syndrome, which affects men in their early 20’s.
Mark was on dialysis for 20 months before a successful transplant 21 years ago.
James spent nearly three years dialysing before his kidney transplant 11 years ago at St James’s hospital in Leeds.
The first competition was archery, with honours even as the brothers both won silver in their age categories - James attaining a better arrow average than Mark, claiming first blood.
Mark got enlisted in the basketball – a trial event for the first time at the games.
He said “ I’ve not played basketball since school at Salendine Nook, and told my friend John I didn’t have any shorts with me and couldn’t play in my jeans.
“Unfortunately one of my team-mates was stood next to me and said I could have his.
“My wife Jo texted James to come and have a laugh watching me, but he soon got roped into playing himself.”
Two-and-a-half-hours later, Mark hobbled off court with a gold medal, James with a bronze - one up to Mark in the medal stakes.
The third day saw James just miss out on a medal in the ten pin bowling, and Mark frequenting the bunkers at the golf competition.
The evening saw the duo at the darts competition at St James’s Park - the only event without age categories.
After getting through their first round matches the siblings were drawn against each other.
A close match scored by their dad Roger. and watched proudly by their mum Joan saw Mark winning and eventually progressing to the final and taking the silver medal - overall victory for Mark in the sibling rivalry stakes.
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