Trainee doctor Chris bids for triathlon glory

COMBINING life as a full-time medical student with training for one of the sporting world’s most grueling events is no mean feat.

But Chris Joyce is hoping to take both in his stride as he prepares to qualify and represent Great Britain in triathlon at the sport’s European Championships this July.

Super-fit Chris, 23, is in his sixth and final year of a degree in medicine at Manchester University and will start work as a full-time doctor at Royal Preston Hospital in August.

During his training, Chris, who also has a Sports and Exercise Science degree from Loughborough University, has worked in numerous areas including general practice, hospital medicine and surgery. This August he will commence a two year rotation as a foundation doctor with jobs in diabetes, vascular surgery, orthopaedics, general medicine, general practice and accident and emergency.

He has studied hard to develop specialist interests in orthopaedic surgery, pediatric obesity and sports medicine and has aspirations of becoming a full-time sports doctor.

As if that wasn’t enough to contend with, Chris also has to train for up to four hours a day as he aims to fulfill his long-term ambition of representing Britain in the senior elite triathlon team.

To help reach that goal, Chris is being supported by Preston law firm MWR Solicitors, which has provided £500 in sponsorship to pay for an endurance coach to build his stamina for an event that involves long-distance swimming, cycling and running in immediate succession.

Chris, originally from Cumbria, but now living in Preston, said: “Over the next two to three years I’m aiming to bridge the gap from a top age group amateur athlete into a successful professional, elite triathlete. With my race achievements to date this is very possible but will require continued hard work and dedication to training.

“Studying medicine and competing to a high level in sport is very time consuming and expensive. Paying for race entries, coaching and sports kit is costly, as is travelling to races around Europe – I am very thankful to MWR Solicitors for the support they are providing me with my training.”

MWR Solicitors decided to support Chris’s training after partner Altaf Patel spotted him training at Fulwood Leisure Centre, where Altaf is also a spinning instructor.

Altaf said: “Watching Chris train it’s clear he’s a very dedicated athlete and has the talent to go a long way in triathlon. We were delighted to be able to help Chris reach his sporting ambitions by putting something towards the significant costs of his training.”

Chris’ short term aim is to qualify to represent Great Britain at ‘elite’ races and also win medals in his age group at the European and World Triathlon championships. The European Championships take place in Athlone, Ireland, in July.

In the longer term, Chris, who already has a number of international races and national titles under his belt, wants to make the British senior elite triathlon team and race in World Cup events.

Chris is also currently receiving a sports scholarship from Manchester University (MSS) and he would like to thank them all for their ongoing support this year.

Chris’s sporting achievements so far:

• July 2009: Represented GB in European Age group Olympic distance Triathlon Championships, Holten. 7th overall and 2nd fastest British competitor.
• June 2009 National Age group Olympic distance Triathlon championships, Northumbria, 4th in 20-24 year age category.
• August 2008: Represented GB in the 2008 European Biathle Championships in Salford, coming 7th place in the Senior men’s category.
• August 2008: 20-24 years age category Silver medallist in the British Triathlon Age group Sprint Championships in Strathclyde 2008.
• September 2007: Represented GB in the 9th World Biathle Championsips in Monaco, coming 6th place in the Junior Men’s category and 2nd in GB team.
• June 2008: Qualified to represent GB as an age group athlete in the World Sprint Triathlon Championships in Vancouver.
• 2004-2005: British school’s Under 19 Modern Biathlon Champion 2004-2005
• 1996-2004: Cumbria county age group swimming champion- various disciplines.