THE inspirational tale of how a young speedway rider overcame a heart condition to compete at national level in the sport he loves has earned him sponsorship from a Tavistock Pannier Market trader.

Ben Reade, who rides for National League speedway team Plymouth Devils, started motorbike riding when he was eight and progressed through youth grass track to win a place with his home town team, Swindon Sprockets.

At 17 he was asked to compete in Argentina in its summer speedway championships but a preliminary medical led to the discovery of heart problems and he was not granted a licence to ride.

Ben, who lives in Newport, South Wales, said: 'I felt my world crash around me because speedway was my life and without this licence I couldn't do the thing I loved.

'I returned to England on December 23rd 2008, disappointed that I hadn't taken part in any races over there and worried that my dream might be at an end.'

A visit to John Radcliff Hospital in Oxford confirmed Ben had Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome, a condition of pre-excitation of the ventricles of the heart due to an accessary pathway.

'The surgeon explained to me that this isn't a life threatening condition and can be left untreated, but if this was the case I would never be able to ride again.

'It was an easy decision to make to have the treatment which meant having an operation on my heart.'

Ben was out of action for ten, frustrating months, and after his surgery returned to speedway with a vengence, finding the occasional ride with the Plymouth Devils in November 2009 before earning himself a full contract this year.

It was at this stage that Ben met Brett Kinsman-Daw, of ABC Service. Brett, 18, from Whitchurch, was asked by fellow market trader and speedway enthusiast Brian Cave, to represent Tavistock Pannier Market at a league meet as they sponsored the Plymouth Devils 'man of the match' award.

Brett, who runs a giftware store combined with ABC Service, which offers a website design, tuition and computer retail services, decided to sponsor the emerging, talented rider.

He said: 'Presenting Ben with the award I realised how well he had done and was very impressed, bearing in mind how he had coped with his heart condition. He is inspirational and a very pleasant young man. I have never been much into sports but what I saw at the speedway track was really exhilarating and after hearing Ben's story I just wanted to get involved.'

His business now has its logo on the tyres of Ben's bike.

Ben said: 'I would like to thank ABC Service for the sponsorship and support they have just given me and realise that sponsorship at my level is difficult to get and really appreciate their support and encouragement.'