Training partners Dave Weir and Dan Lucker compete in Manchester. 25 May 2010

Athletics kicked off the 2010 BT Paralympic World Cup at the Regional Arena in Manchester, in front of a record crowd for a disability sport competition in the UK.

Dan Lucker, 17 from Abergavenny was proud to represent the GB & NI team in the biggest senior competition of his career so far, just a few months after a serious infection threatened his future in the sport.

He raced in the T53/54 100m and 200m and was delighted to take 5th place in his first race over 100m. He then finished 6th in the 200m.

“I was expecting about 8th place really (100m), as it was such a strong line up. But I’m really pleased to get 5th place, I’m not too worried about the times today. I’m chuffed to beat the Beijing Gold medallist Josh George!

“I was more relaxed after the 100m, for the 200m I guess I had raised expectations. Sixth place is OK, overall I’m pleased. The crowd was really noisy, I couldn’t believe they knew my name when we lined up at the start of the 200m!”

Dave Weir, now training partner to Dan Lucker at his training base in Kingston was disappointed that his good form in training did not translate to the Gold medal winning performances he has produced in recent years at the Paralympic World Cup.

He was narrowly beaten in the T53/54 800m, by Marcel Hug (Switzerland) who produced a decisive finish to pull clear over the last lap. Dave clocked 1:38.92 for second place in a world class field.

In the final event of the day, in the T53/54 1500m, Dave was determined to take the lead early in the race and push on for victory. He led for two and a half laps, when Marcel Hug made a decisive break to take the lead before the bell. Dave struggled to respond and had to try and hold on for a minor medal.

He finished 5th and later saw the GB & NI team Doctor who confirmed he had a high temperature, which explained his below par performance.  He will undergo a blood test in the next week to make sure he gets back to his best form for the rest of the track season.

“I’ve not been myself since racing in Liverpool over the weekend, but I’ve been trying to remain positive and stay focussed. At the end of the 1500m, I had nothing in the tank, the longer the race went on, the more I struggled to maintain the pace I set.

At least I know that something is not quite right now, I’ve just seen the Team Doctor. I will take a few days off and hopefully be back to my best very soon. It has been a great event for Paralympic sport, the atmosphere was really good, so it’s just disappointing that I couldn’t perform to my very best.”