After a disappointing showing at the Beijing Paralympics – Ballard finished sixth in the 200m in China – the 30-year-old saw his UK Athletics funding slashed completely.

But the Chorley AC star put that behind him this summer by notching the 200m qualification time for next year's IPC World Championships in New Zealand.

Ballard won bronze at his debut Paralympics in Athens in 2004 and despite a return to form this summer admits there is much more to come.

"2009 has not been too bad to be honest," said Ballard.

"I've managed to get the 200m qualifying time for the World Games in New Zealand in 2011, which was my main aim after Beijing.

"My training has been going pretty well, although I've been struggling with a back injury on and off since the Paralympics, so I've had that to contend with.

"But next year I want to try to get back to full fitness and see where it takes me.

"I desperately want to try to get back to where I was, because I've won medals at the Paralympics before.

"I'm really looking forward to next year – it's going to be hard and tough for me but I'm back into the training and it seems to be going well."

Next Tuesday sees the countdown to London 2012 reach the 1,000 days-to-go mark, with Ballard aiming to make his third appearance on the
Paralympic stage.

And the Chorley AC ace admits he is struggling to keep the showpiece tournament out of his mind.

Full story in Friday's Lancashire Evening Post