WOOLSTON archer John Stubbs has been buoyed ahead of his most important period of the year after receiving an MBE from the Queen.

The 40-year-old wheelchair bowman is preparing for three crucial events in the space of six weeks, starting at the European Archery Grand Prix in Buckinghamshire on Wednesday, and is on a high after his services to disabled sport were recognised in the Birthday Honours List.

Stubbs, who is a member of Warrington Wolves Archery Club, does not yet know when he will receive his honour and is still in shock about the award, which is likely to have been given to the former British champion as a result of his gold medal in last year's International Paralympic Committee Archery World Championships.

He said: "I was quite taken aback by it. It was not something I was expecting.

"I never thought, even though it was the World Championships, that it would lead to an accolade from the Queen. It's just not heard of.

"Someone from 10 Downing Street phoned and said we are just calling to find out if you'd be willing to accept an MBE.

"It was the first I knew about it and obviously I thought it was a wind-up. I'm extremely proud but not as much as my parents, who were dumfounded when I told them."

Stubbs hopes there will be even bigger things to come for him though, with the European Championships in the Czech Republic looming large at the start of next month before an event in China soon afterwards.

He said: "The European Championships are what I've been gearing up for all year.

"I need to be in the top 20 in the rankings during 2007 to get to the 2008 Paralympics and I'm number two or three in the world at the moment.

"I need a good result but I'm quite confident. It's an extremely exciting period and the way I'm shooting, I expect big things.

"According to the British Olympic Association's plan for me, I'm expected to medal and I hope I can do that."