A HEREFORDSHIRE skier has battled back from a working accident to lie in second place in the FIS World Masters Cup.

Colin Tucker, from Mordiford, needed spinal surgery, but despite less training in the summer, the 71-year-old decided to 'take the bull by the horns; and start a a new season on the slopes.

The World Masters Cup is held in the northern and southern hemispheres, with races in New Zealand, Japan, South and North America and across the mountain ranges of Europe.

The races start from 3,500m above sea level and and, despite being ranked among the top few skiers taking part, Tucker knew he had to be at his best to stay up there.

To date, there have been 12 races completed out of 41, with Tucker placed behind Germany's Henirch Riesmann in the 70 to 74-year-old category.

The championship will resume in the New Year,

The first race was the giant slalom in Santiago, Chile, with Tucker taking second place to equal his previous best result that he claimed 10 years ago.

He then took part in the super giant slaloms and another second place result was achieved.

"Finally, there was a two run slalom which I feel is my best event," said Tucker.

"It was a high and very steep start.

"I kept calm and came out a couple of hundredths of a second on top," explained Tucker.

"Knowing that it could be thrown away in a blink of an eye, I told myself that I had to enjoy the moment, and then without the tension I was four second faster to take my first ever World Masters win in a dozen years of competing.

"I then travelled to the north of Chile and the Atacama Desert, into Argentina, and over the hostile environment of the Bolivian Altiplano.

"On the Altiplano I caught a stomach bug that needed antibiotics, which impacted upon my health.

"I then started in Europe at the beginning of November, when found that I had lost a little of my edge.

"I did six races and typically have been just a few hundredths off the podium.

"One has to be there fully fit and with the skill to compete on the day."