My first introduction to the world of sport was at the age of 5 when my parents, Morley and Chris, took me to my first swimming lesson. I was by no means a natural water baby. However, that day it became instantly apparent that I was a fighter and would not be beaten. From there my determination and competitive spirit helped me not only to master the art of swimming but to progress through the ranks to the join the local team, South Holderness Swimming Club. I went on to represent them at many galas and even at county level. Whilst I was never the best person in my age group, my overwhelming drive and competitive nature always meant that I gave 110% and had complete satisfaction in the knowledge that I had done my best.

During my school years I continued to take part in many sports including rugby, badminton, hockey and cricket. As with swimming, my dedication and enthusiasm meant I would usually make the school team. However, I was always a solid team player rather than a star. My love of cycling started when my dad bought a fantastic bright red, light weight racing bike with Reynolds 531 tubing. On the odd occasion I was allowed to borrow this marvelous piece of machinery I would disappear for hours with only a bottle of water and a few sandwiches. Later on he upgraded further with a new bike and my brother Justin and I would argue over who got the red bike and who would get the latest offering with high tech Shimano technology.

Throughout my time at Liverpool University in I participated in many sports, representing the University in badminton and hockey, for which I was the Second Team Captain. Although I'd hated running as a kid I joined the running club, but that may have been due to an attraction to long legged women! I continued to swim for recreation and attempted to pursue my love of cycling. However, most of my push bikes were stolen in Liverpool so I ended up buying the cheapest, worst looking bike I could find.

It was following graduation from Liverpool in 1993, with a first class honours degree in Building Services and Environmental Engineering, whilst competing in my first triathlon that I found my ideal sport. I developed a love for both the incredible physical and mental challenges it placed on the body and mind along with the tremendous euphoria and satisfaction experienced on completing a tough event. I went on to compete regularly in various events including triathlons at Ampleforth, Dewsbury, Otley, York and the West Lancs Sprint and finally bought my dream push bike stored in the safety of my bedroom in Harrogate. I also ran, rather than competed, in numerous 5k, 10k and half marathon road races.

In August 1996 I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident breaking 5 vertebrae in my upper back (T4-T8). The damage to my spinal cord resulted in paralysis from the chest down and at the age of 25 I found myself in a wheelchair. I spent a total of five months in the Spinal Injuries Centre at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield undergoing intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

My first taste of the world of wheelchair sport came when I was selected to represent Pinderfields Hospital at the Interspinal Games in April 1997. Here I tried my hand at crown green bowls and table tennis but these somehow did not light my fire. Following the Interspinal Games I was invited to compete in the British National Wheelchair Championships held at Stoke Mandeville in June 1997. Whilst competing in the javelin, shot put and discus and when trying my hand at wheelchair racing, in a dedicated lightweight racing chair borrowed from a fellow competitor, I once again discovered the feelings of true competition, determination and the tremendous euphoria experienced during a triathlon. During the competition I won a bronze medal in the F5 class javelin competition and was presented with the Bryn Davies Best Newcomer’s award.

Since then my athletics career has gone from strength to strength. In 1998 I won a silver medal in the Javelin competition at the Commercial Union World Wheelchair Games and was presented with the Best Newcomer's Award at the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation, Wheelpower Sports Awards.

The highlights of the 1999 season included a silver and three bronze medals at the BT English Athletics Open at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, a personal best pentathlon score of 3380 at the Swiss National Championships in August, moving me up to British No.2, and fourth place in the Great North Run raising money for the charities DEBRA and the British Wheelchair Athletics Association.

2000 was a year in which I suffered a great deal with illness and was disappointed not to reach my true potential.

However, in 2001 I overcame my disappointment and frustration with a string of successes including completing the BT Swimathon raising several hundred pounds for McMillan cancer nurses and research, winning the Leeds Half Marathon, competing at the European Wheelchair Athletics Championships and becoming British Champion in the 400m and 800m.

In 2002 I became British champion in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m, finished 4th at the World Triathlon Championships in Mexico and was awarded the nPower Disabled Sportsmen of the Year award.

After the incredible success of 2002 it was always going to be a difficult year to follow. However, despite the death of one of my closest friends, Oliver Mills, and the father of my coach Simon Bassett, it was a year in which I consolidated my level of performance rather than taking it to the new heights I aspired to. Four silver medals at the HSA British National Championships behind the reigning European 100m champion, winner for the second year of the Leeds Half Marathon and a number of top placings in the BWRA road racing Grand Prix all helped to maintain my ranking.

Perhaps 2003 was the kick in the arse I needed because never before had I felt so motivated, so pumped and so incredibly excited about the level of performance I knew was possible. With a good winter's training behind me and a carefully thought out new racing chair from Draft Wheelchair, 2004 was always set to be a fantastic season. It began well with a 3rd place in the Redcar 10 mile roadrace despite hitting a police cone that spilled me out of the chair onto the road and hitting a new high with 6th place and a personal best in the rain of the London Marathon. My track season saw me ascend to new heights pushing forward the boundaries with personal best times in all events. This began in May on a trip to Warm Springs, USA aided by some wise words and lots of coffee with Tanni. At this event I set a new British record in the 800m and narrowly missed out on selection for Athens by 0.16s in the 200m. A few people doubted my achievements in the months that followed but an excellent showing in Rivera, Switzerland in August soon silenced my critics. The icing on the cake came with a podium finish and a personal best in the Great North Run.

Since the accident I have returned to work part time for OPERON as their Environmental Engineer Manager. Whilst I now only work four days, to allow me time to train and compete, I have still managed to gain Chartered Engineer status. Obviously the demands of competing at International level are extremely high in terms of time, dedication and effort but this has to be realistically balanced with working to pay the mortgage and to fund my athletic endeavors.