Dr Barry Mason
Dr Barry Mason progressed from Doctoral Research at the Peter Harrison Centre to become Head of Performance at GB Wheelchair Rugby.
Barry’s Journey
Barry started his sport science journey at the University of Chichester studying a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science followed by an MSc in Sport Biomechanics.
Barry then began a PhD under the supervision of Professor Vicky Tolfrey at Manchester Metropolitan University before making the move (alongside Vicky) in 2007 to Loughborough University, where he completed his thesis: ‘The ergonomics of wheelchair configuration for optimal sport performance’.
Research Associate at the Peter Harrison Centre
After completing his PhD, Barry stayed on at the Peter Harrison Centre as a Research Associate (RA) and progressed to a senior RA, where he led a significant proportion of the technical and biomechanics work within the centre. Barry supported several PhD students in his role and contributed to a variety of different projects involving wheelchair rugby, basketball, and tennis.
Barry contributed to work focusing on indoor tracking/GPS during training/games for establishing training load, classification, wheelchair configuration, paralympic technology, and biomechanics-based projects looking at shoulder health. Reflecting upon his time at the Centre, he said:
Working within the PHC allowed me to maintain a good balance of academia and research, as well as the opportunity to experience and apply my knowledge to elite sports environments, enabling me to transition into the applied world of wheelchair sport."
Head of Performance at GB Wheelchair Rugby
Barry has been the Head of Performance at GB Wheelchair Rugby since May 2021.
In this role, Barry heads up the world class program for the sport and is involved in developing the performance strategy for the cycles the team go through. He is also the line manager for all the coaches, sport science, and medical support staff to facilitate the delivery of the performance strategy.
When Barry started his sport science journey, his main disciplines and areas of interest were Biomechanics and Physiology, but this has since developed into a more holistic view of the field taking on this extremely interdisciplinary role within sport performance of Wheelchair Rugby.
Being in Para Sport throws up some really unique challenges that you have to be quite creative and innovative in order to find solutions. It's always quite exciting, quite new, quite challenging. No day is the same."
Looking to the future
Barry is looking forwards to the Paris, 2024 Games as well as beginning preparation for the Los Angeles, 2028 Games. As he entered his role mid-way through a Paralympic cycle, Barry is excited to have a full 4-year cycle to put his spin on the role and plan the strategy for the team. Ahead of the Games he explained:
The sport is probably the most competitive now that it's ever been. Our ambition is to try and win a medal and we're in a reasonably good spot to do so."
The PHC team are all really looking forwards to the 2024 Games and wish Barry and GB Wheelchair Rugby the very best of luck.