NOTTINGHAMSHIRE legend Robin Hood has always been an inspiration to Simon Wilson, who was always keen to follow his lead and take up an exhilarating pursuit.

But Wilson could hardly have believed the success that would follow when he first picked up the mask and fencing sword in 2006.

Within a year, he had made the GB squad, has been a national champion for the last four years – and is now vying for a place to represent his country in wheelchair fencing at London 2012.

Wilson, from Kimberley, said: "I am the current number one in Great Britain in the class A foil and epee disciplines, but I am not complacent as we are entering a critical and important period ahead of qualification.

"It would be a dream to represent my country and I just have to take things month by month and focus on the goal of being selected."

There will be one male and one female host nation individual slot and team event places up for grabs when the final squad is approved (team events are foil for men and epee for women) and will be announced by the British Paralympic Association in March or April.

Before that there is the 'small' matter of the final qualifying event at Malchow in Germany which takes place this weekend.

And if all goes to plan, Wilson will be informed in the spring by post if he has made London 2012.

His £2,012 grant from Nottinghamshire County Council helps subsidise his substantial training expenses and also the cost towards paying for international standard swords – more than £1,000 in total and a necessity to qualify to compete for ranking events.

Wilson, who is ranked 20th in the world, says the Chinese are the team to watch in the Olympics when action gets under way at the ExCeL arena in Docklands next September.

A member of the Nottingham City Fencing Club, he is an amputee following bone disease as a youngster, and first got a taste of fencing from local youth clubs as a teenager.

He took up fencing again ten years ago and switched to wheelchair fencing in 2007 after being badgered by coaches and club-mates who praised his handspeed and said he would prosper as a wheelchair athlete. He has not looked back since.

Nottinghamshire County Council is following the fortunes of Shining Star hopefuls in the run-up to and during the London 2012 Games with a weekly series.