Published: 11 June 2005
News from John Dennis
Guinness Book of Records World Record holder, David Abrutat, the first person to circumnavigate Great Britain on a hand cycle, a distance of some 3369 miles, is set to establish a World One hour hand cycle track record at Reading Velodrome at Palmer park Stadium on Sunday, June 12th.
Dr David Abrutat completed an Animal Science Ph D at Bristol University in 2000, just one month before being involved in a serious road traffic accident in which his back was broken in four places. As a result of the accident he is paralysed and confined to a wheelchair.
Before the accident Abrutat, while an under graduate at Bristol, joined the Royal Marines Reserve and was awarded the Commando Medal as the best recruit. After a brief period he led a major research expedition to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.
One year after his accident, in 2001, David competed for the first time as a disabled athlete at the National Veteran?s Wheelchair Games in New York, USA and returned with five gold medals. He was later voted the Yorkshire Disabled Sports Personality of the Year.
The record attempt, on a hand powered tricycle conducted under Human Powered Vehicle Association regulations, will be made during the afternoon of Sunday, June 12th 2005. Spectators will be welcomed to view the World Record and cheer David on, at no charge.