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He's recently been selected for the World Paralympic Championships in Assen, Netherlands, which start at the beginning of September 2006.Ìý His coach is paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Brian training in Bury St.Edmunds

Brian trains for much of the time on the streets of Bury St. Edmunds undertaking endurance and sprint work as well as training in the pool and the gym. He's a T54 wheelchair racer who competes in events ranging from the 100 metres up to the marathon.

The classifications in wheelchair racing depend on what muscle capability the athlete has in the legs and torso with the ‘T’ in this case standing for ‘track’.ÌýÌý Brian was born with a spinal condition (similar to Dame Tanni's) called spina bifida and hydrocephalous.Ìý He has very little muscle in his legs and struggles to walk. The existence of muscles in his torso means that Brian competes in the lower T54 category.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson

He played wheelchair basketball until Dame Tanni introduced him to wheelchair racing about seven years ago. This reduced the frustration he felt at a young age at his inability to compete against able-bodied children:Ìý "It was a little bit frustrating, but the sports that I have done have allowed me to work alongside able-bodied people.Ìý I don't see it affecting me that much anymore, but it was hard when I was younger."

Assen events

The British selectors have chosen Brian for a range of events in Assen.Ìý He'll be competing in the 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x100m relay and marathon.Ìý The Assen marathon course isn't particularly kind on wheelchairs, but Brian says it'll be his favourite event.

Brian Alldis

Brian has been picked first and foremost to give him experience of such a large event but there are also British squad places up for grabs for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.Ìý Brian says that's a longer term goal: "Successes for September would be personal bests. Getting a medal would be really good but I'm still at the development stage at the moment."

The Championships start on the 2nd September and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will have exclusive coverage on ´óÏó´«Ã½1 and ´óÏó´«Ã½2.Ìý You can also follow the Games via the International Paralympic Committee's website using the IPC link on the right>>