Who are we?

I started my sporting career by riding my bike to Croydon

Amphibians Swimming club and Croydon Harriers running

club. It was only a matter of time before all three sports

combined and I started to compete in triathlons. I gained

results immediately and had success with 3rd in the

National schoolboy triathlon championships, and later 6th

in the Youth European Duathlon Championships.

Due to knee problems the following year, I switched my

attentions to cycling. I really enjoyed my cycling and

again results came pretty easily, I was asked to represent

Great Britain as a junior road rider and also in cyclo-cross,

achieving 31st in the 1998 World Championships

These results led to interest from international teams and in 2001 I took the plunge and signed for the Italian DeNardi cycling team. We travelled all over Europe to race, and it was an amazing experience! I learnt a lot about myself, the sport and what it takes to succeed. Despite a good year, I really missed triathlon and made the decision to return to the UK in 2002. It was a good choice and one I’m really glad I made. I’ve had some good success; winning numerous age group races - including the World Championships - and progressed to the position where today, I feel able to challenge for World honours and Ironman victories.

I am focused on reaching the very top in triathlon, but from this passion for my own sporting aims I’ve developed a desire to help others achieve their own personal goals; be it to improve their PB for a certain event, compete in their first triathlon or simply enjoy the sport more.

I started cycling at 13 and met Stephen soon after when

we would try to beat each other at Crystal Palace! By

the time I turned senior I had been South East champion

at road racing and time trialling. After I left college I went

to live in Belgium with Stephen, where we pretty much

got belted in every race! I got some pretty good results

the following year though and these led to me turning

professional with Team Men's Health. I won a few races

that year and also had a few top 5's in Belgium. The next

couple of years were a bit lean, although I did win the

Elite South East Championships and managed a few

podium places home and abroad.

My lucky break came when friend and ex-team mate

Gordon McCauley moved to the Belgian Professional team RDM-Flanders. He put in a good word for me and with the results I'd had in Belgium, I signed for the team in November 2001. Now I was faced with racing the very biggest races in world - which was a fairly scary prospect!

Initially it was men against boys. Racing with my heroes was fun until they wanted to go fast! I lost the early summer completely following the loss of my Father, but by August things were going well. I was placing in the top 20 in some pretty good races and these results got me a place on the only UK professional outfit Team Endurasport. This meant I left windy Belgium for the Lake Maggiore in Italy. Shame....

I worked so hard to improve as a second year professional, but in honesty I physically was not good enough. I trained hard and did everything I could to be involved in the big races, but I was not up to it. I never wanted to be a 'bit' rider. Living away from home and my fiancèe was a big sacrifice justified only by big results. So despite placing in the Top 20 in a few races and getting a Top 10 in the UK National road race championships, I called it a day as a European professional.

• Registered Professional for 3 yrs. 5 years racing experience in Europe

•10th UK Elite Road Race Championships

•Winner National U23 Road Race Event

•South East Elite and U23 Road Race Champion