He has won numerous titles in his sport and has not completely ruled out of going to a second Paralympics, in Rio next year, having competed for Great Britain in Beijing in 2008.

However, Brian Alldis, the new Suffolk Sports Personality of the Year, remains as humble as ever, despite being the recipient of the county’s biggest sports honour at Friday night’s glitzy awards dinner, held at Trinity Park, in Ipswich.

“It’s such an honour to win the Sports Personality of the Year award, when you consider the contenders I was up against,” said Alldis.

“They are all outstanding athletes and I would say they are way beyond myself in what they have achieved.

“But I was really proud to win, especially after listening to all the nominations throughout the night.

“Suffolk is a big county and is so active and when you look at what people are achieving, it’s brilliant.”

The West Suffolk Wheelers member, 29, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, has only been in the sport of handcycling for four years, having made the switch from wheelchair racing in 2011.

With that in mind, Alldis could be forgiven if he was still on the fringes of success in the sport.

However, after a glorious few years, the Creeting St Mary-based athlete, who represented Great Britain in wheelchair racing at the 2008 Paralympics and wore England colours at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is fiercely ambitious and determined.

Such determination means he will not rule out a spot at next year’s Paralympics, although he is not hopeful.

“It’s been an up and down year. “The World Cup and Time Trial in Italy did not go as planned. I then won the Ride London race by one minute 15 seconds and I lapped everyone in the field at the national road race.

“That’s (Rio Paralympics) still the aim and I still have a slim chance of getting there and I am currently seeking funding to pay for my new bike, which should help me improve.

“But British Cycling look for athletes with medal potential and I missed out on those this year so I have got to up my game.”

You won’t find Alldis moping if he does not reach the Games in South America. Instead he will turn any negative into a positive and continue to compete in the sport he loves.

“If I miss out on Rio, it will give me a five-year cycle to work towards Tokyo and the Paralympics in 2020,” he explained.

“Whatever happens, it was such an honour to race at the Beijing Games in 2008 and be part of the British team.

“And I just love the sport. I love training, going out and getting personal bests, while I am also coaching at the West Suffolk Wheelers having got my level two qualification.

“I recently got married (to Amy) but nothing has changed, she is really supportive, as are the rest of my family.

“It’s thanks to them that I have achieved what I have.”