Training Buy The Book.

Training has continued to go really well and I'm very positive about next season.I've been following the Commonwealth Games keenly and was delighted to see James Huckle, my Harlow pal, win his medals.There's been a lot of adverse publicity about the facilities in Delhi but I think it's been fantastic to see athletes competing with each other in a spirit of sportsmanship and overcoming all the obstacles put in their way. Great stuff.

My life has, as usual, been hectic outside my sporting activities. I attended a dinner in the House of Lords in my role as Goodwill Ambassador for ADD(Action on Disability and Development) and it was nice to get 'glammed' up for a change. I was also delighted to win an award myself at the UK-Kenyan Achievers Awards in London. I was very proud to accept the Sports Personality of the Year award and got a lovely trophy and certificate. Finally, I had a table in the Harlow branch of WH Smiths where I signed copies of my autobiography,'In My Dreams I Dance'. I felt very honoured when our local MP, Robert Halfon came to show his support. The signing was a big success and I thank all those people who came along, and the manager of WH Smiths who arranged it all.

Team Essex Ambassador Awards.

Last night I attended the awards ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stanstead Airport where I was delighted to accept my award from Team Essex for the second successive year. I felt really proud when my name was announced and I went up onto the stage to receive my cheque. It was also great to see three residents of Harlow being honoured; Faith Pitman, Judo, James Huckle, Shooting, and myself. Harlow certainly excels when it comes to producing sporting talent.

It was a lovely event and the buffet was superb, a delicious blend of hot and cold, and I really enjoyed it. Also, there was beautiful music provided by the Essex Youth String Quartet. It was great to get dressed up and mix with some lovely, talented people.

Harlow Sports Awards 09.

It's interesting that when you are an athlete and start doing well how this can lead on to other things. For example, yesterday after I'd done my usual 10 miles training it was back home for a nice hot bath and then getting dressed in my posh clothes to give a short talk at a function I'd been invited to.
It was held at Harlow Town Football Ground, a lovely venue with a great view of the pitch from the windows of the Functions Suite. It was the official launch of the Harlow Sports Awards 09.The awards started last year and I was a recipient of the Disability Award, presented to me by the famous cricketer Graham Gooch, so I was honoured to be asked to give a short talk on the Importance of Sport as part of the launch. I think it went well.
Afterwards it was nice to chat to the other guests who included Councillor Tony Hall and his wife, Robert Halfon, the Conservative candidate at the next election, Neil Mann, who won the Services to Sport Award last year, and the man who has the unenviable task of trying to teach me to swim, plus up and coming sporting talents James Huckle and Mark Hunt. I really enjoyed myself and it was a nice break from the rigours of training.