AN ATHLETIC Kendalian is representing his region at a different kind of contest after reaching the finals of Mr England.

Chris Mulvaney, 25, is among 12 eligible hunks battling it out for the title of the country’s most desirable man.

As a middle-distance running champion, however, he is no stranger to winning medals, “I was really pleased when I found out as I wasn’t expecting to reach the finals,” said Mr Mulvaney, who attended Kirkbie Kendal school. “Voting is now open and hopefully I will make the final three and get to compete in the contest in London.”

Mr Mulvaney started modelling last year, following an unprovoked assault which left left him needing serious brain surgery.

Before the assault, which took place while he was studying at Arkansas University in the United States, he was Britain’s top 1,500m man, winning the Olympic trials for Athens and the American Universities Championships.

Yet, despite being given only a 30 per cent chance of survival, Mr Mulvaney, who splits his time between the US and his parents home in Bolton, is now on the road to recovery.

“I am still running everyday like a full time runner but it is taking me a while to get better and I still have problems with my injuries,” he said. “Some days I can’t train because it causes a lot of tiredness and to compete at the level I want to I need to be training twice a day. I haven’t given up on my dream but I am pursuing other things like modelling until I fully recover.”

If Mr Mulvaney secures enough votes to compete at the Mr England contest in London, he will not only be in with a chance of winning the national title but could go on to represent the UK at the Mr World competition in South Korea on September 18.

To place your vote visit www.missengland.info/regionals/mrengland2009 before 12 noon on Friday (July 17).