Ian Blackwell gives up drinking alcohol in his bid for England place
SOMERSET Article - 25 January 2002

Ian Blackwell is taking his preparations for the new season so seriously that he has given up drinking alcohol completely. Since the end of the Christmas period, "During which I had a bit of a blow out," he told me, Ian hasn't had a single drink.

"This is a serious business and I've made a firm resolve that I will stick to it at least until the new season begins, with perhaps one lapse when I attend a cricket dinner down in Devon at the end of January, " Blackie told me.

The former Derbyshire player who joined the Cidermen for 2000 enjoyed the best season of his career in 2001, scoring nearly 800 championship runs, which included four centuries, at an average of just over 52, and taking 18 wickets. In addition he scored over 400 runs and took 12 wickets in Norwich Union League.

The twenty three year old all rounder told me, " Following the end of last season I trained twice a day before I went off to play for England in the Hong Kong Sixes. Since then I've continued to train just as hard with Darren Veness and Andy Hurry, and I also go out running regularly."

He continued, " I want to play for England, so for the next three months it will be hard work, but it will be worth it because hopefully I will see the benefits for the next fifteen years . It was a bit tough to begin with but it's getting easier everyday."

In addition to giving up alcohol Blackie is also on a strict diet. "I've stopped eating carbohydrates after a certain time of day, and I'm eating more protein, white meat and vegetables," he said.

As an incentive Somerset Chief Executive Peter Anderson has made a wager with Ian Blackwell that he will be fitter than the player when the start of the season comes. Darren Veness, Head of Injury Prevention at the club, has been charged with working out an appropriate test, and the prize for the winner will be a meal out for four at the other's expense.

When I spoke seperately to the Chief Executive and Blackie earlier, both parties were quietly confident that they would win easily and would be dining out at the other's expense in April!