PAUL 'PIGLET' HAMBLETT

My Name is Paul. I am a former National Rowing Champion, now turned cyclist. I spent over 10 years rowing. I started rowing in my home town of Sudbury for Sudbury Rowing Club. After just one session I was hooked. I enjoyed the competitive atmosphere and continual improvement in my technique and physiology. Whilst at Sudbury we were successful in qualifying for the Thames Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, which was a great achievement for such a small club. 

 

After a few years I decided to give single sculling my full attention. I found the solitary responsibility for training and racing suited my psychology. In my single scull I enjoyed steady progress season upon season. I broke two records in the Boston Marathon (Boston Lincolnshire, not Amercia!), which is a tough 31 mile race. In 2008 I won my first medal at the National Championships; a Bronze. The following year I achieved Silver, and in 2010 Gold in the Lightweight Single Scull. With this result I was invited to represent England at the Home Countries event in Ireland, where I also won Gold. Additionally in 2010 I qualified for the Diamond Sculls event at Henley Royal Regatta. In my first round I was drawn against the five-time World Champion and current Olympic Gold medalist Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand. 

 

The following season I revisited Henley Royal Regatta and made the quarter finals, beating a USA international sculler by 1/3 of a length in the process.

 

In late 2012 I decided it was time for something new. I had been told I was suited to cycling. I am short for a rower, but have a good 'engine'. Also, being a lightweight my power-to-weight ratio was always favourable. These attributes seemed to help me go quickly on a bike, especially up hills. 

 

I had heard about a race called the Haute Route (translated - high road). The event was seven stages in seven days over the Alps. Every stage had approximately two thousand meters of climbing, which sounded like fun. I arrived at the Haute Route 2013 as a novice but finished 37th of 450 finishers. This spurred me on to try and reach my potential. 

 

This season (2013/14) I have been training hard having entered the 'Triple Crown' - Haute Route 2014. This involves three weeks of racing in the Dolomites, Alps and Pyrenees. Training has been going well. These was evidenced by a good performance at the Tour of Sardinia, including a second place on stage two.