TOBY Duggan returned to Wellington School this week after spending three weeks in Brisbane, Australia as part of the British water-ski racing team, preparing and competing in the world water ski racing championships.

Two weeks after Duggan had been selected for the team, on June 26, he broke his leg while racing along canals at about 90 mph in the prestigious Diamond race in Belgium.

Toby showed remarkable courage and determination and managed to get fit for the champinships.

Even with his leg in plaster Toby went to the gym every day to train and get fit.

At the ppening ceremony on September 9, Toby had the opportunity to carry the British flag for the team.

Toby then competed in a series of four races over a week and finished sixth overall individually and third overall as part of the British team.

Duggan started water-skiing on a lake at the age of six and by the end of the season he had been bitten by the skiing bug and was competing in slalom tournaments.

Three years later he entered his first race at Weston-Super-Mare.

Ski racing is a fast and dangerous sport with skiers reaching speeds of 100 mph when the water is calm.

This coming Saturday Duggan is competing in a regional race at Lyme Regis and will then be taking a rest for the winter before starting to train hard in January for the European championships in Belgium.

The next chance Duggan will have to compete at the world championships will be in two years time in the USA when he will be 17 and no longer a junior.

Duggan, as modest as he is dedicated, recently declined to wear his British team suit and tie at school for a day, saying his Wellington School uniform was more appropriate.