A High-Performance Athlete Finds New Horizons with the Grillo Climber

Our Sales, Marketing & Media Assistant, Liam, recently sat down with former Great Britain Para Trap shooter Allan Ritchie to learn about his journey as a high-performance international athlete and his discovery of a new passion – gardening with a Grillo Climber – after stepping back from international competition.  

This December marks 10 years since Allan sustained a spinal cord injury that left him wheelchair bound. After five months of rehabilitation in the hospital, Allan's friends encouraged him to return to shooting, a sport he loved and could still pursue from his wheelchair. Not only did Allan continue, but he also excelled, building an impressive career filled with remarkable achievements.  

A Remarkable Shooting Career  

Allan competed in various shooting disciplines, but it was Para Trap that brought him to the pinnacle of the sport. In Para Trap, athletes use shotguns to break clay targets launched into the air, aiming for as many successful hits as possible. Open to athletes with physical impairments, Para Trap mirrors the Olympic Trap discipline, enabling athletes of all abilities to compete side by side at the national level. However, at the international level, athletes compete within specific categories: Male, Female, and Para. The Male and Female categories are further divided into Senior and Junior divisions, while the Para category is subdivided into Wheelchair, Upper Limb, and Lower Limb classes.

This inclusivity is one of the reasons Allan is so proud of the sport. One of his standout moments was representing Scotland at the 2023 Home International, where he was the only disabled athlete among over 110 competitors from the Home Nations.  

During his career, Allan achieved an array of accolades:  

- Held the title of World Number One;  

- Multiple Internation / National gold medals;  

- Set European, British, and Scottish records;  

- Achieved a world record; and  

- Recognised as British Para Trap athlete on repeat occasions

In his final season, Allan took bronze at the World Championships in Sydney, Australia, finishing the year as World Number Three. His contributions to sport were further recognized when he was named Aberdeenshire Sportsperson of the Year.  

Finding a New Passion  

After making the difficult decision to step away from high-performance competition, Allan faced the question: "What will I do with my spare time?" Leaving the rigorous commitment of elite-level sports opened a gap in his life.  

Reaching out to a fellow wheelchair-bound friend and former Great Britain athlete – a farmer with a modified John Deere tractor – Allan found inspiration. After contacting his local John Deere dealer, Double A, Allan was introduced to the Grillo Climber, setting him on the path to a new hobby.  

A New Sense of Freedom  

With guidance from our Northern Sales Specialist, Gary, Allan explored the Grillo Climber's capabilities:  

"Gary was fantastic and incredibly helpful. He visited my garden, pointed me toward the Grillo Climber, and arranged a demo at the depot. At first, I was sceptical about its ability to handle steep slopes, but it exceeded all expectations – It’s brilliant for the slopes in my garden. While the Grillo’s hand-operated acceleration controls required no changes, only minor modifications were needed to adapt the brake and diff-lock pedals for hand control, making it perfectly suited to my needs."  

The Grillo has given Allan access to areas of his garden he hadn’t reached in 10 years:  

"Looking out at the wind farm in the North Sea from the top of the garden is incredible. I’ve spent countless hours up there with a cup of coffee, enjoying the newfound freedom. Being in a wheelchair can knock your confidence, but the Grillo has given me that sense of independence back."  

Allan’s determination is nothing short of inspiring. Instead of hiring a gardener, he chose to "crack on with it" himself, finding therapeutic value in the process:  

"There’s something calming about being out on the Grillo. My work in the oil and gas industry is fast-paced and stressful, so cutting the grass at a slower pace is a welcome change. Plus, it’s like driving a go-kart – manoeuvrable, fun, and thankfully slow enough that I haven’t crashed into the shed… yet!"  

Outstanding Service  

Allan was full of praise for Double A and Gary’s dedication:  

"Double A has been first-class. The service was spot on – 100%. Gary went above and beyond, visiting me, chatting through options, arranging a test drive, adapting the brake controls, and even changing the wheels for me after delivery. I’d recommend Double A without hesitation."  

Thank You, Allan  

We’re thrilled to have helped Allan discover a new hobby and regain a sense of freedom in his garden. Thank you for your business, Allan. We hope the Grillo brings you many more hours of happy mowing, coffee breaks, and stunning views of the North Sea!