A previous Team GB member will take on the helm as the new captain of a basketball team.
Paul Hobrough, a local private physiotherapist, is travelling to Italy this week as captain of the Great Britain Masters Basketball team.
Paul, 52, plays for the 50-55 age group team and this year will walk out as captain.
He said the 50’s men's group have a tough group stage to get through with European silver and bronze medalists, Poland and Greece, to face up to in the first two games.
The Hexham-based businessman owns Hobrough Healthcare and he has been a healthcare professional for over 25 years.
Paul has created, built and sold physiotherapy clinics all over the UK.
The clinic in Hexham offers physiotherapy, medical acupuncture, biomechanics, ultrasound imaging, shockwave therapy and injection services.
“The honour I felt when coach Des called and told me I would be captain was overwhelming," he said.
Paul had previously been a member of Team GB from 1988 to 2003 in flat water kayaking, so this change to masters' level basketball is quite something.
Since his career as an ex-international athlete, he has amassed a wealth of sport-specific clinical knowledge and expertise.
“I am proud of the fact I have managed to represent my country in two different sports - my life in a kayak seems so long ago and almost as if it was someone else’s life - it’s surreal," he said.
"I was a full-time athlete back then and now I have my business and family to fit training around and that makes life a lot more complicated. Not to mention being in your 50s is a very different challenge from back in the day.
"Playing for GB at my second major basketball tournament is a huge honour. This will be my second sport having represented GB for 16 years in flat water kayak. Pulling on the red, white and blue for GB is something I have never taken for granted, lifts my game and in turn, as captain, gives me an opportunity to lift the team ."
Paul is a best-selling author of two books, titled Running Free of Injuries and The Runner's Expert Guide to Stretching.
He will be competing in Pesaro Italy from June 22 until June 30.
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