PROGRESSION is Stuart Meikle's priority after he was crowned British paratriathlon champion.

The 43-year-old went one better this year by winning gold at the event, held at Eton Dorney.

He completed the opening 750-metre swim in 12-and-a-half minutes, followed by a personal best in the 20k bike ride in 32.30, topped off by a 5k run which he completed in 24 minutes.

Meikle had his right leg amputated at the knee when he was just six months old due to complications following his birth. He was inspired to take up running after taking his children to Keighley & Craven Athletics Club training sessions at University Academy Keighley.

He began training for triathlons in September 2017, only a few weeks after running his first 10k on a blade and was invited to a British Paratriathlon trial in Loughborough.

Meikle said: "My aim is to keep progressing.

"Hopefully next year I will start competing in the World Series. It doesn't get any bigger. I'm doing World Cup races at the moment.

"This year hopefully I will be selected for the European Championships which take place in Valencia in September.

"My season started in April and it will go on until the World Cup in October.

"I'm getting older and getting quicker. The British Championships went really well. Everything went to plan. I could not swim well 18 months ago but it's gone really well.

"I work full-time but I have managed to get down to Loughborough this week to do some training. It's hard.

"I’m delighted with my progression

"Training twice a day is hard work with a family and a business to run but to continue to get quicker and become British champion in my second year in triathlon I’m over the moon.

"I’m just focused now on continuing to get quicker to become world champion."

His British Paratriathlon win continues a great year so far for Meikle. He won the gold medal at the British Paraduathlon Championships in Bedford in April. At the event, he gained a personal best of 22.06 in the opening 5km run, followed by 34.45 in the 20km bike ride and finished in 12.17 in the closing 2.5km run.

Meikle attended a training weekend at Loughborough University, the GB headquarters for the triathlon, and following that was selected to be part of the Paralympic Triathlon Talent Squad.

Meikle, who lives in Bingley, added he is looking for funding to take him to the next level in his sport and thanks Keighley & Craven for their support.

To make a donation, or for more information, contact him at stuartmeikle.com or @StuMeikletri