I've been lucky enough to travel to various places with the British Paralympic Archery squad, and I was thinking the other day how much I owe to others who have helped me get where I have... and I decided to start listing them...
Number 1 on the list has to be my adoring wife, Hazel. She's been my rock, my life, my heart and soul for many years and she continues to support me in more ways than I can list in words.
Number 2 has to be my family... my Brother and Sister and their families for believing in me and encouraging me, my mother and father in law and my wife's siblings, they're all an amazing bunch of people and I'm blessed to have them in my life. Some say you can't choose your family, well in my case I definitely would!
Number 3 has to be my good friends - again I am blessed with so many honest, kind, caring people. Real friends. True friends. The kind of friends who would go out of their way for me, without a second thought.
4 - Archery GB of course, and all of the staff and volunteers who make a real difference to the people I share a team with. Coaches, physios, psychologists, doctors, luggers, carriers, pullers, stalwarts every one who have never wavered in their belief in me. And of course my team mates past and present for thousands of hours of good fun and hard work.
Related to that is the National Lottery without who's support, we'd have much poorer facilities and much fewer opportunities to train together, and the British Paralympic Association who help us prepare for the big events.
5 - Scottish Agricultural College and it's staff who made it possible for me to work part time and train part time. My colleagues are always supportive and interested in what I'm doing and where I'm going to next! I'm also a regular in the SAC staff news letter!
6 - Scottish Institute of Sport (and in particular the East of Scotland Institute of Sport) for their support and guidance with Physio, Psych and Strength and Conditioning amongst many other things. A huge thanks to John Marchant my sports psych who turned my world around.
7 - Jim Lawless (author of taming tigers) who's motivational talk started it all for me and made me believe that such dreams were not only possible, but achievable!
8 - Beecraigs country park - for providing me with the best practice range in the country over the last 4 years free of charge and making it possible for me to have out of hours access too! Whatever I've asked of them, they've never said no!
9 - Scottish Archery Association - for providing funds for me to cover travel to test and selection events this year
10 - The Worshipful Company of Fletchers - for providing me with grant funding to buy new limbs last year. They do amazing work for disabled archers up and down the country.
11 - Alistair Whittingham and Edinburgh University Center for Sport and Exercise for providing me with excellent winter training facilities.
12 - Werner Beiter archery products for providing me with kit at discounted prices.
13 - Graham Harris at Clickers archery for providing me with kit at discounted prices.
14 - Arrowhead UK - for letting me try their excellent chestguard way back when, and since then providing amazing customer service.
15 - Pino Reverzani of KFA trading for introducing me to Eli Vanes and providing me with test product.
16 - Balbardie Archers for keeping my feet on the ground, for being a friendly and accomodating club, and for all of the distraction training!
Hmm... that's quite a list and I suspect there's some I have forgotten! Isn't it wonderful to have so many good people around? Thank you one and all!
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