Getting a Leg-Up! Swimmer Connor Boyfield won't rule out a late Rio charge

The accolade is awarded every year by the Lincolnshire Amateur Swimming Association to the competitor they believe has been the top performing Yellowbelly.

Other names on the trophy include two-time Olympian and England’s most decorated Commonwealth Games competitor Melanie Marshall (1995), Paul Hancock - who scooped silver in the C6 100m freestyle at the Seoul Paralympics (1988) - and Rachel Menzies, a serial Boston, county and midlands record breaker (1983).

Paralympic hopeful Connor, a sprint specialist nicknamed the Fenside Fish, was celebrated after the past 12 months saw him conclude a successful year with medals at the National Para-Swimming Championships in December.

In Manchester the Boston ASA member won silver in the S9 200m intermediate and bronze in the S9 100m butterfly against much more experienced opposition.

Due to being born with a congenital absence of the lower right forearm, Connor competes in the S9 category.

This year the 6ft 5ins swimmer will be gunning for glory in the county, East Midlands and West Midlands championships.

But he is also looking to impress the GB hierarchy at the Para International Meet at Glasgow in April.

There, Connor will spend five days competing against rivals from across the globe at the event, which many see as their last chance to claim a good time and book their place on the plane to this year’s Paralympics in Rio.

Although Connor is targeting Tokyo 2020 as the games he believes he can qualify for, he will never say never about taking part this August.

“I’ll always trying to improve and set personal best times,” he said.

“I’m always quietly confident I can swim well.”

Connor has also recently been awarded with £2,000 worth of sponsorship from the Leg-Up Club.

The anonymous group of friends run an annual bursary where they offer financial support to sportspeople from the area.

This year Connor’s drive and ambition to reach a future Paralympics impressed the 10-strong panel.