Origins
I got into running through doing Cross Country at Wimbledon College, and continued doing it at Durham University, mainly in Intercollegiate races, on behalf of the College of St Hild and St Bede. After two years I got a bit fed up of coming second last, and ventured on a parachute jump (the treasurer of the university freefall society was in the room next to me in college), breaking my ankle in a poor landing at Sunderland Airport. During my recovery I could see runners training on Durham Racecourse, and that rekindled my desire to continue running. On finishing university I returned to Wimbledon, and joined the recently formed Wimbledon Windmilers, on my 23rd birthday. I competed for them in the MABAC cross country league, where I was finishing mid field, and the length of my runs increased to the point that I considered entering the London Marathon. I got a place in the 1989 edition finishing in 3.48 on the clock (this was before chip timing, and I took 3 minutes to cross the start line, so I treat it as 3.45). Training for the marathon had made me slow for distances like 10 miles (PB 65m30 Kingston Mini Marathon 1985) and the Half Marathon (PB 92m Reading Half), so I did Surrey League Cross Country League for the Windmilers the following winter, as times were less important than on the road. The team manager was my future sprints coach, Chuck Isetts.
The switch to sprinting
In 1991 I got a club place for the London Marathon, but two weeks later I sprained my ankle. Crystal Palace Sports Injury Clinic got me running again, and I got round the Marathon with the ankle strapped up in about 3.55. At the exhibition I picked up an entry form for the Luton Marathon that July, and decided to enter to use the London training. At Luton I set off too fast for the undulating course, reaching 15 miles in about 2 hours, and then came a two mile long uphill stretch in Luton Hoo park, by the top of which my calves were cramping, and I ended up walking about 8 miles, and finished in 4 hours 40. I needed to find another activity. A number of factors led me to sprinting.

1) A couple of years before my first marathon Wimbledon Windmilers had a friendly track and field match with Gravesend, at which I had run various distances from the 100m to the 800m. I found I enjoyed the sprints, and I was running neck and neck with Chuck. He was already running veterans races then, and by 1991 was a qualified coach, and I asked if i could join his group.
2)Between my two 1991 marathons, I took part in the Runneymede Relays in Windsor Park, and a fellow member of the Windmilers had commented on my sprint finish at the end of my leg.
3) I had watched the 1991 Tokyo World Athletics Championships and been thrilled by the 4x400 gold.

Track career

Off Track

Kingston and Poly Veterans Team Manager 1993 - 1997 and 2002 to date, Kingston and Poly Southern Mens League Division 3 Team Manager 1998 to 2000 (achieving promotion in the last year, but handing over to current team manager, who has taken us to the British League since, so i could concentrate on competing as a Veteran), K and P Veterans league team manager, Field Judge, Level 2 (county), Track Judge, Level 2 (county),Photofinish Judge,Track and Field secretary and past president of Veterans AC and VAC delegate to BMAF and EAMA