Maryport’s Simon Lawson added another Commonwealth bronze to his collection after finishing third in the wheelchair marathon in Birmingham.
Lawson, 39, won bronze in Australia four years ago but expected this one to be tougher.
The Birmingham circuit twists and turns, and tests competitors with a series of exacting climbs.
He said: “It was really tough and I thought at one point that I was going to be out of it in fourth with David (Weir), John (Smith) and Sean (Frame) looking good for the medals.
“But then David had a puncture and it all changed. Everybody gets a puncture some time in their career, it’s just unfortunate when it happens at a big-scale event like this.
“David had the race in the bag, but it gave me another lease of life as I knew I was in medal contention.
“I caught up to Sean for a while and I had second place in my sights, but he was just too strong on that last climb, and he got it back. Fair play to him, he raced brilliantly for that silver and he’s a great guy.”
At the finish Lawson was cheered in by family and friends, including his biggest supporter his mother.
“I even saw this chap from Workington who said he recognised me through seeing me out training on the Maryport.
“It was great to receive the medal and a bit emotional,” said the former Moto-X rider who was badly injured in 2001 and paralysed from the chest down.
His brother Richard is a leading speedway rider while his dad Steve was a top rider for Workington Comets and Glasgow Tigers.
