Apologies to Moth and Editor whoknow this story alreadybut otherwise ...:
Remember me?? I do not come on here so much since my life-threatening injuries way back on8th August 2012 when I crahe in a local Road Race here in Lincolnshire My wonderful consultant Neurgeon , Gerry O'Reilly, at /Hull Royal Infirmary told my wife Annika that I was unlikely to survive these injuries: A basal skull fracture, multiple brain haemorrhages, a subdural haematoma , fie broken rinbs and a punctured lung, plus the least of my problems a fracture collar bone. Gerry operated and basically saved my life. He placed me in an induced coma for 11 days after which was on the neurosurgical ard for four months. On eventual discharge in December, it was clear hat I could not work, in fact could barely stand unaided and you are not allowed to drive after such injuries in case of black-outs. I soon had to bite thebullet and get rid of my beloved |Triumph Sprint RS as my sense of balance was rather iffy, apart from my general mobility difficulties.
On being awoken from the coma Gerry was sat next to the bed and asked, "What am I like as a person?\\" "Stubborn I said, I do not give up easily.\good said \gerry, that is useful in his patients. Then, Whatt did I want to do in the future?! A simple questionI thought and replied, "All I wat to do is get back on my bike!" To my undying gratitude he did not say, don't be daft man, you cannot even stand up at the moment!" NO; Gerry said "Well i you want to get back on your bike, then I WILL GETYOU THERE!" what a great positive response to someone whose wife hd been told he probably will not live!! When I see him nowadays at check-ups etc., I tell him that he is officially my hero, but he just laughs out loud and credits his staff with doing the hard work! So verymodest as well as a great brain surgeon i.m.o!!
But by the following autiumn I completed a 60 miles supposedly non-competitive sportive around Lincoln and my clubmate said, "Blimey, Julian!" It is clearly gonna take more than thelittle matter of a fractured skull from stopping you trying to compete with everyone! I passed this on to Gerry and he just laughed again, saying, " Little Matter??!ou should be dead man!People do not survive your injuries! Buthere I am...!
Then jump forward to 2015 and I suffered a delayed effect by losing full-use of my left hand/arm and leg so applied to compete as a Para-cyclist. This was accepted and I've done okay ever since. Though 2017, my firt National championship I pulled out early after being undertaken by someone at great speed. Inearly effed ad blinded at the person for this risky manouevre but was gladI did not! Theycame up to me after the event to apologise and it was literlly cycing royalty! Dame arah Storey. SAhe aid that she could see me having trouble on my left side, had left a big gap so went throgh it!! Fair enough we paarted on good terms and I had pulled out 1/2 lap later anyway having difficulty with bike control on the very bumpy road at Sutton onnington!
\yhe next year at chester in 20217 was better whrn Iplaced 11t in my Para-category just out of the top ten. So Iimmediately had an objective for the next year: a top ten placing! In 2018 in Essex, I hit my target with 5th, the most satisfying race result of my cycle-racing life[ which started in August 1980!] Gerry was as pleased as I was hen we told him.
Then 2019 in Wals, the \brecon Beacons, a weebit hillier than Essex or Chester, I was top ten again with 6th. Move on to this yearnext due to COVID of course and I matched my Essex result with 5th near Bristol and Bath.
But better still on 23rd May, near Leicester I won the first round of the National time-trial Series. My first ever National-win.Moving on to the 10th October in Leeds for the final round of the Series, I won my category again so giving me a National Para-cycling Title for the Series this year.
I havejust featured in our local paperhere in HOrncastle Lics, that gives a good summary of the events leading to this...: Thanks for reading!
https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/linco ... ip-3424782
