29 July 2005 00:00 Worcester Central Networks’ manager wheelies into the record books

Central Networks manager Paul Stares has rolled into the record books by smashing the world record for the longest ever wheelchair wheelie!

Paul, Head of Programming at Metering Services, ‘wheelied’ on the back two wheels of his wheelchair for an exhausting 3hours 15mins to set a new record of 8.1 miles and to gain his place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The gruelling challenge, which took place at St Johns Sports Centre in Worcester earlier this summer, also helped raise over £750 for the Spinal Injuries Association and also helped Paul buy a new wheelchair.

Paul, from Worcester, said: "I wanted to do something that would inspire both my children and other people in wheelchairs to always try and reach their full potential.

“I came up with the idea 18 months ago and trained two nights a week for four months to build up my arm and shoulder strength.

“I’ve been making do with a very basic NHS wheelchair for a long time now and, as my father is getting married this year, I was inspired to make my record attempt now so I can have a nicer chair for the wedding photos!”

By the time all the money is collected, the record attempt should have raised in excess of £1,500, which will be split between the two causes.

Paul, aged 33, father of twin boys, smashed the previous record held by Robert Hensel, who set a record at 6.1 miles at a sports centre in Scriba, USA, in 2002 in just over 2 hours.

But as Paul explained, it could have all gone very wrong.

“If the front wheels had touched the ground then I would’ve had to start all over again,” he said.

“I was determined to beat the last record and I’m delighted with how far I managed to ‘wheelie’.”

Paul was helped in his efforts by his colleagues John Weatherall and Martin Clews who recorded his lap times on the evening.

Ends

Notes to editors:
•Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.8 million customers across the East and West Midlands through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
•Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information and pictures please contact:
Rebecca Middleton on 024 7642 5779
Out of hours, call 024 7642 4000 and ask for the duty press officer