There has been no real let up in the intensity of training following our tough January period. My training programme has the appearance of a ‘pre-season.’ Seven separate conditioning workouts, plus up to seven flexibility sessions per week, throw in seven or eight handball sessions and I am well and truly exhausted by the end of the week – and then it starts all over again.

I can’t complain really. I have seen good results in terms of weight loss and strength increase and I feel fitter than ever before. Training has been going well off the court, however on the court it has been disappointing with my club; we lost two of our three matches in February.

In January I was informed I had been nominated by the British Handball Association for a Sports Aid Grant. SportsAid is a charity that helps the next generation of young British sportsmen and women to succeed (www.sportsaid.org.uk). With the handball funding situation slowly recovering from UK Sport funding cuts I was delighted to be invited to a charity lunch where I would be presented with a £500 cheque to support my training. Again, I would like to thank the SportsAid committee for processing the applications and nominating me as a funding recipient, the support is greatly appreciated.

At the SportsAid presentation with Gemma Allman (Water Ski), Harry Arksey (Badminton)

Given that I had a match free weekend it was also an opportunity to go home and visit some friends and family so I managed to take a well-earned rest from my normal schedule.

Wednesday 24th February will be a day that I will never forget. After my mornings work, I received a call from my Second Division coach. He told me that one of the first team goalkeepers was ill and that they needed cover for their match that evening. So only two years since I picked up a handball, I would be sitting on the bench in a Danish Liga match, for the best team in Denmark and cover for Denmark’s number one goalkeeper Nicklas Landin.

This photo was taken by one of my GB teammates watching the match on TV (Team sheet BSV v HF Mors)

Although I didn’t get on the court, it was still an amazing night. There were around 1500 spectators in a compact hall, a great atmosphere and I even signed a few autographs for supporters. It was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time but I hope it is a sign of the times to come.

It was back down to earth with a bump with the second team on the following Sunday. I was having a good game until I had lost some focus and was replaced after 35 minutes. It would appear to have been a good decision; we were drawing at the time and went on to win by two goals. These are all lessons to take forward to the next match.

So with February coming to an end we are entering the last month of the competitive season. Hopefully I can get a few more training sessions in with the first team. There is once again uncertainty from myself and the other British Players at the sports academy in Aarhus. Next season we may have to find a new solution as we try to balance our finances whilst at the same time living on foreign soil in an attempt to fight our way into the most competitive Handball leagues in Europe.

I will be back in the UK on 18th March at the Buckingham 2012 Conference meeting local businesses and sponsorship executives to promote myself and GB handball. If you’d like to get involved please contact ibarham@bucks2012.org