Making a Mark. THE fact that Mark Brown would rather be remembered as a role model to youngsters rather than for his international achievements speaks volumes about him.

For while Mark is a World Disabled Games gold medallist, a Paralympic medal winner, and an able-bodied British champion, he would swap it all to give others hope.

His feats on the track, road and fells may be headline news but it is the work that goes largely unnoticed that gives him the most pleasure.

For Mark spends many hours visiting schools and talking to disabled groups about what can be achieved if you put your heart in to it.

Mark knows all too well about the importance of role models after losing an arm in an horrific motorcycle accident in 1992.

He's rebuilt his life with the help of those around him - so much so that he is now regarded as an athlete first and foremost.

Mark, 41, from Burnley, is today a full-time athlete thanks to Lottery funding but used to be a mental health nurse.

As a teenager he was a keen runner at Barden High School before joining the Army when he was 16.

In the Forces he took part in sports ranging from football to cross country before losing his arm.

Mark resumed running while studying at St Loye's College in Exeter when he was 25 and returned to East Lancashire and joined Clayton Harriers.

He was encouraged to contact the Paralympics Association and in 1994 competed in the World Disabled Games.

His enormous list of achievements includes the Paralympics Games marathon bronze medal in 1996, the able bodied British Veteran Half Marathon gold medal in 2002, the World Disabled Games 10,000m bronze medal in Berlin, the European Disabled Championships 5,000m gold medal in 2003 and the Australian all-comers record holder for the 10,000m in 2000.

Mark also competes for Blackburn Harriers on the track and Clayton-le-Moors on the road and fells, training two sessions a day, six days a week.

He is currently in training for the 2004 Olympics in Athens where he is hoping to compete in the 5,000m and marathon, and plans to retire afterwards.

Don Barton, president of Clayton Harriers Running Club, said: "Mark has enjoyed incredible success at national and international level but it hasn't changed him one bit. Despite having his own strenuous training programme, Mark makes times to work and train with junior members of Clayton Harriers.

"He doesn't make anything out of his disability for as far as he is concerned, he is just a runner - and a very good one at that!"

Judo master Billy's a real belter. WHEN most people his age are thinking about the 'pipe and slippers', Bacup-born Billy Hindle is planning one last shot at a world title.

For pensioner Billy, now aged 65, is the only man ever to win three World Judo Masters titles.

But he is not stopping there and is already eyeing a shot at a fourth title.

Billy took up the martial art at the late age of 31 after being introduced to it by his friend and mentor Barry Herewood.

Billy found he had a natural ability to throw people and he hasn't looked back.

North West, national and world titles followed for the down-to-earth man described as a "true inspiration to others".

Furthermore Billy has dedicated his life to training others with the same boundless enthusiasm he pursues world titles and works tirelessly to promote the spirit of judo.

Billy trains two nights a week at Bacup Judo Club and once a week at Nelson Judo Club.

He helps to train members of the junior North West and England judo squads which are based at Bacup. Training with them is the ideal way to warm up for big competitions, he said.

Billy also does weight training, at home and at the gym, but, as he says, the only way to train for judo is judo itself.

He has won nine consecutive North West area titles.

In 1978, when he was 40, he got in to the Great Britain squad and was ranked number two in the country behind Ray Neenan, who went on to compete in the Olympics.

Billy, a sheet metal fitter by trade, was then the oldest man ever to represent the national judo team.

His career at the top was cut short in 1979 due to a cartilege injury and he retired when he was 41.

But after a brief break, Billy returned to Bacup Judo Club and, 20 years after retiring from the international scene, he went to Nova Scotia and became World Masters Judo champion at the age of 61.

He has since gone on to win the World Masters three times.

Billy now plans to win the title for a fourth time in Vienna next year and become a black belt eighth dan, a very rare achievement in this country.

Barney Fenlon, a second dan coach at Bacup Judo Club, was among those who nominated Billy.

He said: "Billy is one of the true characters in judo and what he has achieved is pretty unbelievable.

"He dedicates much of his time to youngsters and he oversees the North West junior judo squad which trains at Bacup Judo Club.

"Billy is a legend in the world of judo."

Success runs in the family for Julie. ATHLETE Julie Pymm has enjoyed success after success -- but only after her daughter Hannah took up an interest in biathlon and triathlons!

Julie, 42, was always a decent club player in tennis and badminton but her huge sporting achievements came to her later on in life after joining the Ribble Valley Modern Pentathlon Team.

The Clitheroe housewife and former fire fighter, only took up the biathlon, triathlon and biathle three years ago.

The biathlon involves running and swimming, the triathlon running, swimming and shooting and biathle running, swimming and running.

Yet, despite her relative inexperience in the sports Julie has already run up a hugely impressive role of honours.

Julie won the 2003 World Biathle Championships silver medal in Monaco, the 2002 World Biathle Championships bronze medal in Germany, the 2001 bronze medal World Biathle Championships in Sardinia, she was 2003 British Biathle champion, 2003 British Modern Triathlon champion 2003 and silver medallist in the British Biathlon Championships in 2002.

Julie has a wide sporting background and trains and plays sport every day of the week.

She plays for Clitheroe Tennis Club, Clitheroe Badminton Club and trains with Burnley Running Club and Clitheroe Dolphins Swimming Club.

At the swimming club Julie trains with the youngsters and uses her expertise to help them with swimming technique.

And at Ribble Valley Modern Pentathlon Team she is secretary and a coach to its increasing number of youngsters.

Her sporting colleagues pay tribute to Julie's will to win, dedication and high fitness level. They say they are not surprised by her success because of her commitment to sport.

Martin Highton, who nominated her, said: "If there were awards handed out for Modest Pentathletes then Julie Pymm would win hands down.

"For as British champions go, Julie is as modest as they come.

"Julie is an all-rounder in every sense of the word, a true Grass Roots champion although Julie would be the last to admit it."