Talan Skeels-Piggins
Summary of achievements to date:
March 2004 Twelve months since paralysis, competes in and wins the Bath Half Marathon using a special racing wheelchair.
May 2004 Part of six person team (all paraplegics) that completed Worlds First 24 Hour Relay Walkathon in special walking frames for people who are paralysed.
April 2004 Fourteen months post accident and selected to join the Development Squad for the British Disabled Ski team.
2005-2011 Helms a Dart 18 in able-bodied races at Falmouth week, as well as sailing for pleasure.
June 2006 Appears before Medical Board of Survey and argues case to be allowed to remain on active service. Wins case and becomes first officer of the Royal Navy to be retained on active duty following paralysis. The ruling creates a legal precedent for those injured and disabled military personnel to be retained in the Armed Forces. Leads the Navigation Safety team for NATO exercises at Northwood HQ.
September 2006 According to the tour guides and locals, becomes the first paraplegic to reach the edge of the Victoria Falls, Zambia.
2005-09 Joins in the Army Alpine Championships, Combined Services Alpine Championships for training purposes. Advises on the positive benefits of snowsports for those injured/disabled service personnel. BFBS produce a five minute clip shown tri-service. Is one of the instigations into ensuring the charity ‘Battle Back’ is created.
March 2010 Represents Great Britain at the Winter Paralympics, Vancouver. Highest placed GB male athlete in SuperG (26th) and GS (15th) disciplines.
2010-11 IPC European Champion in Alpine Skiing, Super G discipline. Retires from alpine ski racing at the end of the season having won twelve International Medals in DH, SG and GS and five National Medals in DH, SG and GS.
April 2011 Sets up The Bike Experience charity with his own savings. The charity aims to develop self-confidence, self belief and empowerment of disabled people by showing them that they can do what many think is impossible, through the journey of teaching them how to ride a motorcycle. The charity as taught 250 disabled people in the six seasons it has been in existence. The riders have a variety of disabilities: Paraplegia, Amputation, MS, Stroke, VI, RA, TBI, Polio, CP, PTSD, Nerve damage, and many more.
2011 First paraplegic in the history of motorsport to gain an ACU ‘Hill-Climb and Sprint’ Race Licence and competes against able-bodied racers in solo motorcycle racing.
2011 Awarded Honorary Masters (Education) from University of Chichester for Outstanding Sporting Achievement.
2011-2013 Having retired from competitive sport, travels to USA to coach Alpine racing and then sets up the British Para-Snowboard Team.
April 2012 Carried the Olympic Torch on Day 4 of the Torch relay through Great Britain.
June 2012 First paraplegic in the history of motorsport to gain an ACU Road Race licence and compete against able-bodied racers in solo motorcycle racing. Creates pathway for other disabled motorcyclists to become racers. Since that date there have been four more paraplegics and four leg amputees gain their ACU licence (all four paraplegics learning to ride again through The Bike Experience charity).
February 2013 Silver Medal in IPC NorAm Adaptive SBX Competition. Becomes first Monoskier to win IPC medals in both Alpine and Adaptive SBX races.
August 2013 Takes part in a motorcycle endurance race in Assen, Holland. The all-paraplegic team is the first of its kind. High-sides the motorcycle with only 20min left to go in the race, remains attached to bike and shatters both legs. Nearly loses left leg.
March 2015 Expands his own racing to include others and creates Talan Racing Team. The worlds first motorcycle race team for disabled motorcyclists who were disabled as a result of a motorcycle accident.
June 2015 Wins Bridgestone World Cup in Italy, is crowned 600cc Motorcycle World Champion (Paraplegic Class).
October 2015 Gains MSA Car Race Licence, the first paraplegic in the world to hold both car and motorcycle race licences.
February 2016 First paraplegic in the world to become a licenced Motorcycle Race Instructor.
September 2016 Final race of the first season of racing in the Porsche Club Championship - awarded Driver of the Race award at Oulton Park. Finishes season in seventh position overall in Class 2, just four points from sixth position (and only scoring in 9 of 13 rounds).
October 2016 First paraplegic to secure a podium finish in an able-bodied motorcycle race. Starts in 35th position, finishes 14th overall and 3rd in class.
October 2016 The USA section of The Bike Experience charity has it’s first event with two paraplegic riders attend.
April 2017 Sets a British Land Speed record for an electric motorcycle - 168.5mph.
May 2017 Competes in Bridgestone International Handy Race (Disabled World Cup). Venue Le Mans MotoGP support race. 4th overall 600cc and 2nd 600cc (Paralysed Class).
October 2017 Qualifies in 3rd in Thunderbike Sport at Snetterton. Starts in 44th place, in opening lap moves forward 29 places (new pb for opening lap!), finishes in 6th.
Nov 2017 Voted through to the final three nominations for the Carole Nash 2017 Unsung Motorcycle Hero Award (takes 2nd place award at the NEC)
May 2018 Competed in opening round of International Bridgestone Handy Race (World Championships for disabled motorcycle racers). Race was support race at Le Mans MotoGP. Finished 2nd in 600cc race.
September 2018 Finished third in final IBHR race (support race at Magny Cours WSBK round), which meant he finished second overall 600cc and became 600cc World Champion for Paralysed Racers.
November 2018 Classified as '1st Class Archer' (Recurve) after just one year of shooting.
January-March 2019 - Part of Surrey County Archery Team for Recurve and Barebow SCAS League.
July 2019 - Gains Solo Gliding Licence after just 3.5 days of training.
August 2019 - Second Paraplegic in history lap the historic Mountain Course on the Isle Of Man. Set the fastest lap with average of 90mph.
October 2019 - Finishes in 6th place from 56 in final MRO600 Championship points table.
November 2019 - Awarded 'Bowman Archer' classification for Longbow.
Febuary 2020 - Selected to represent Surrey County Archery team in Longbow class at the Four Counties Archery Competition.
August 2021 - Wins the British Masters Age Championship - Barebow category.