Duo in race to exhibit stretching invention

By laura davies

IT was a race against time for two Swansea inventors who had to change their travel plans at the last minute to exhibit their new machine at a special conference in Geneva.

Robert Clarke, 50, of Ffordd-y- Garnlas, and John Lockwood, 43, of Clos Gors Fawr, Grovesend, missed out on their Tuesday flight from Bristol because of the volcanic ash cloud.

They were forced to take the ferry from Dover to Calais and drive more than 800 miles to attend the International Exhibition of Inventors in Geneva, which starts today. The event will feature more than 800 exhibitors from around the world. Mr Clarke, a fitness trainer, who owns Robert Clarke Fitness Studio in West Street, Gorseinon, said he had been tuning into the news broadcasts to see if they could fly. He said: "We had been looking at news reports to see when flights would be allowed.

"In the end, we decided not to risk it and take the ferry and then drive to Geneva.

"We will be racing around the clock, but the invention has taken two years so we will do our best to get there."

Mr Clarke and Mr Lockwood, an entrepreneur and successful inventor, have joined forces to develop The Sports Injury Rehabilitation Assistant — SIRA — the first powered stretching machine of its kind.

It is to be trialled by the Ospreys rugby team and Wigan Athletic Football Club, and has attracted interest from Manchester City, Fulham and Arsenal.

The machine controls posterior muscles groups in two movements. It has an electronic timer, heart rate monitor, and is wi-fi enabled with a touchscreen displaying real time information.

In-built sensors measure, track and store information from each session providing a benchmark measurement enabling trainers, coaches and physiotherapists to better manage training or rehabilitation programmes.

The inventors have had help, advice and funding from the Wales Innovators Network, an Assembly Government service which is part funded by the EU.

They have also raised funding from private investors, and hope to interest potential distributors and licensors with the aim of targeting the medical and fitness markets.

Mr Lockwood said: "SIRA is a new concept in fitness and rehabilitation, rather like having your very own physio or trainer.

"We spent two years developing it, and it has been well received to date."

But not only will it be a race to get to the event in Geneva, but Mr Clarke is also bracing himself for a race home — literally.

He said: "I have to come home early from the event as I have to come back for the London Marathon on Sunday."

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk