Blatchford's running blade features at the opening of the Paralympics (From Hampshire Chronicle)

World-leading Basingstoke prosthetic manufacturer Blatchford's running blade features at the opening of the Paralympics with athlete Robbie Barrett

6:00am Saturday 8th September 2012 in Hampshire Business By Richard Garfield

AN athlete who took part in the spectacular Paralympics opening ceremony sprinted like a lightning bolt – thanks to a world- leading Basingstoke prosthetic manufacturer.

Wearing an Endolite Running Blade made by Chas A Blatchford and Sons, Robbie Barrett, who won bronze in the 100m and 200m finals in the Seoul Paralympics in 1988, was part of the spectacular aerial display last Wednesday.

To the ethereal strains of Handel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine, Robbie was one of six former medal winners, which included former wheelchair racer and now life peer and TV presenter Tanni Grey-Thompson, who flew across the sky, suspended high above the cheering crowds as they approached the golden globe representing the Universe.

Robbie sprinted across the sky on a new Endolite Running Blade which was sporting a gold Union Jack on a flaming background for the event.

Robbie, who was formerly the captain of the GB Sitting Volleyball team, now trains the next generation of paralympic sprinters.

He is also currently trialling the Endolite Running Blade in order to find solutions to achieving top-level sprint speeds and yet reducing the damage to the joints, which are under huge loading from the impact of competitive sport.

Blatchford’s chief executive Stephen Blatchford said: “It was a fantastic project to collaborate with Robbie to produce a special gold-painted running blade for the opening ceremony. “We’re really proud to be associated with the Paralympic Games. We have also learned a lot from this project which we hope to use in a new prosthesis for sprinters that we will be launching later this year.”