Dorchester middle distance runner Paul Blake is bidding to prove his IPC World Champion-ships success story was no flash in the pan at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester later this month.

The 20-year-old readily admits that he exceeded all expectations to collect one gold medal and two silvers – over 400m, 800m and 1500m respectively – in Christchurch at the start of the year.

Blake has competed just once since January as heavy training has become his number one priority, but when he makes his Para-lympic World Cup debut he will get the chance to lock horns with some of his world rivals.

And Blake, who competes for Dorchester AC, is determined to lay down another formidable marker ahead of next year’s London 2012 Paralympics.

“I’m competing in the 800m in Manchester and I can’t wait,” said Blake. “I’ve never been to the Paralympic World Cup before but my coach believes it’ll be a great tournament for me.

“I want to go out there and win. I couldn’t believe how well the World Championships went for me – it was an amazing experience in New Zealand.

“I had never competed in a tournament like that or as big as that before so to go and do so well at my first attempt gives me loads of confidence.

“And so while I’d like to perform well and win in Man-chester I also want to look at improving my times – I’d really like to go under the 2:10-minute barrier.”

It’s fair to say that Blake is a relative newcomer to the major athletics scene – but judging by his performances in Christchurch, it’s also fair to say he’s timing his London 2012 run to perfection.

And Blake readily admits it is the thought of competing at his first Paralympics in front of a home crowd that gets him through all the hard days’ training.

“Competing in New Zealand was just incredible for me and much bigger than anything I had ever experienced but then London 2012 is going to be an even bigger step up,” he added.

“It’s always in your mind and it’s always the driving force of what I’m doing. Obviously you have to take every competition one at a time but London 2012 is still always looming.”

* The BT Paralympic World Cup is taking place in Manchester from May 23-28 with elite international athletes competing in swimming, athletics and wheelchair basketball.

Go to btparalympicworldcup.com for tickets and more information.