Client Technical Reports
All work undertaken by Optimal Performance is submitted to clients as technical reports. The references to these technical reports are provided in chronological order below, you can access further details by clicking on the title of the report.
2011
Graveling R and Wilkinson DM (2011). Evaluation of the effectiveness of the management of potential thermal strain. Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK. Consulting Report: 603-00589, October 2011.
Blacker SD, Wilkinson DM, Brown PI, Nevill AM, Rayson MP (2011). Revalidation of Physical Selection Standards for Recruits [PSS(R)] for Junior, Infantry and Soldier Pre-conditioning Courses. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK. Report OPL/11/02, 21 September 2011
Blacker SD, Wilkinson DM, Brown PI, Rayson MP (2011). Revalidation of Physical Selection Standards for Recruits [PSS(R)] Undertaking the Common Military Syllabus (Standard Entry) [CMS(SE)]. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK. Report OPL/11/01, 28 April 2011
2010
Blacker SD, Wilkinson DM and Rayson MP. (2010) Development of Physical Selection Standards for Territorial Army Recruits [PSS(TA)]. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK. Report OPL/10/11, 27 September 2010
Linnane DM, Brown PI, Wilkinson DM, Blacker SD, Richmond VL, Horner FE, Rayson MP. (2010) A Physical Demands Analysis of Phase One Training at RAF HaltonOptimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK. Report OPL/10/10, 30 September 2010
Richmond VL and Rayson MP. (2010) Development of an ongoing Fitness Assessment for HART Personnel. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK. Report OPL/10/09, 12 July 2010
Blacker SD, Wilkinson DM, and Rayson MP. (2010) Comparison of PSS(R) predicted single lift performance and powerbag single lift performance against ammunition box single lift performance. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/08: 07 May 2010
Richmond VL, Wilkinson DM, and Rayson MP. (2010) The physical demands of the Commissioning Course for Officer Cadets and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/07: 01 April 2010
Brown P, McLellan T, Linnane D, Wilkinson D, Richmond V, Horner F, Blacker S, Rayson M. (2010) Emergency Service Personnel CBRN PPE Hydration Guidelines . Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 19 February 2010
Wilkinson DM, Blacker SD, Horner FE, Brown PI, Linnane DM, Rayson MP. (2010) A Re-Evaluation of Health and Nutrition at the Military High School (MHS3 Study). Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/06, 23 January 2010
Blacker SD, Horner FE, Brown PI, Pearson E, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP (2010) Evaluation of Health, Nutrition and Physical Fitness of Cadets on the Joint Services Officer Commissioning Course. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/05: 19 January 2010
Blacker SD, Horner FE, Brown PI, Pearson E, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP (2010) Evaluation of Health, Nutrition and Physical Fitness of Officer Cadets on the Land Officer’s Commissioning Course at Zayed Military College Report. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/04: 19 January 2010
Blacker SD , Horner FE, Brown PI, Linnane DM, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP. (2010) Evaluation of Health, Nutrition and Physical Fitness of Officer Cadets at Khalifa bin Zayed Air College. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/03: 19 January 2010
Blacker SD, Horner FE, Brown PI, Linnane DM, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP. (2010) Evaluation of Health, Nutrition and Physical Fitness of Cadets at Mahwi Military University. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/02: 19 January 2010
Blacker SD, Horner FE, Brown PI, Linnane DM, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP (2010) Evaluation of Health, Nutrition and Physical Fitness of Officer Cadets at the Naval College. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, Report OPL/10/01: 19 January 2010
2009
Wilkinson DM, Blacker SD , Richmond VL, Horner FE, Rayson MP, Speiss A, Knapik JJ. (2009) Injury Rates and Injury Risk Factors among British Army Infantry Soldiers. QinetiQ, Farnborough UK, QINETIQ/09/02508: 1 October 2009
Wilkinson DM, Richmond VL, Horner FE, Blacker SD, Rayson MP. (2009) A Re-Evaluation of Health and Nutrition at the Military High School. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 8 May 2009
Richmond VL, Wilkinson DM, Blacker SD Horner FE, Nevill A, Rayson MP. (2009) Validity of Insulated Skin Temperature as a Predictor of Body Core Temperature for Military Personnel in Desert Environments. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 4 September 2009
Richmond VL, Horner FE, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP, Wright A, Cook AC, Izard R. (2009) Energy balance and physical demands during the Section Commanders Battle Course. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 2 March 2009
Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP, McLellan T, Parsons K. (2009) Hydration Strategies: Review of Best Practice and Comparison with Emergency Service Procedures during CBRN Deployment. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 12 February 2009
2008
Carter JM, Wilkinson DM, Richmond VL, Blacker SD, Rayson MP. (2008) Core Temperature, Recovery and Re-Deployment during a Firefighting, Search and Rescue Scenario. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 18/2008: December 2008
Carter JM, Wilkinson DM, Richmond VL, Rayson MP. (2008) Physiological Assessment of Firefighters undertaking Urban Search and Rescue. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 17/2008: December 2008
Richmond VL, Carter JM, Wilkinson DM, Horner F, Rayson MP, Bilzon JLJ. (2008) The physical demands of the common military syllabus for recruits in single-sex training platoons. QinetiQ, Farnborough, UK, QinetiQ/07/03206/1.0: 10 January 2008
Richmond VL, Wilkinson DM, Horner F, Rayson MP, Nevill A. (2008) The Validity of Insulated Skin Temperature as a Measure of Deep Body Temperature in Army Personnel. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 30 September 2008
Carter JM, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP. (2008) A Review of Evidence and International Opinion on the Upper Limits for Core Body Temperature during CBRN Operations. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 9 June 2008
Wilkinson, DM, Richmond VL, Horner FE, Rayson M P, Cowie HA, and Graveling RA. (2008) An Ergonomic Evaluation of Four Quick Donning Police CBRN Ensembles. QinetiQ, Farnborough, UK, QinetiQ/08/02313: September 2008
2007
Wilkinson DM, Carter JM, Richmond VL, Horner FE and Rayson MP. (2007) The Development and Evaluation of a Prototype Physiological Strain Monitor Based on Insulated Skin Temperature. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 22 August 2007
Carter JM, Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM and Richmond VL. (2007) Physiological Assessment of Firefighters Undertaking Urban Search and Rescue. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 23 May 2007
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter JM, Richmond VL, Williams T, Gemmel I. (2007) Health and Nutrition at the Al Ain Military High School. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 13 April 2007
Rayson MP and Richmond VL. (2007) Development of Physical Selection Standards for Ambulance Personnel Operating in Urban Search and Rescue Scenarios. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, January 2007
Rayson MP and Richmond VL. (2007) Review and Validation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Physical Competence Assessment. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, January 2007
2006
Carter JM, Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Richmond VL and Nevill A. (2006) The Validity of Insulated Skin Temperature as a measure of Deep Body Temperature: Study 2. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 28 December 2006
Carter JM, Izard R, Blacker SD, Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP, Bilzon JLJ. (2006) The Physical Demands of the Combined Infantry Course for Guardsmen at ITC Catterick. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 10 October 2006
Rayson MP, Richmond VL. (2006) Development of Physical Selection Standards for Ambulance Personnel Operating within the Inner Cordon of any Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Incident (‘Hot Zone’). Optimal Performance Ltd, Bristol, UK, 11 August 2006
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Richmond VL, Blacker SD, Carter JM. (2006) A Comparison of Firefighter Physical Fitness Tests. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 25 May 2006
Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP, Carter JM, Richmond VL, Blacker SD. (2006) The Validity of Insulated Skin Temperature as a Measure of Deep Body Temperature. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 19 May 2006
Wilkinson DM, Richmond VL, Carter JM, Blacker SD, Rayson MP. (2006) The Relationship between Deep Gastrointestinal Pill and Rectal Temperatures and the Effect of Water Ingestion on Shallow Gastrointestinal Pill Temperature. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 1 March 2006
2005
Carter JM, Richmond VL, Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM. (2005) A Review of the Techniques Available for the Measurement of Core Body Temperature. Development of a Physiological Monitor for Emergency Service Personnel. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 9 November 2005
Blacker SD, Wilkinson DM, Bilzon JLJ, Rayson MP. (2005) Risk Factors for the Development of Training Injuries among British Army Recruits. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 28 September 2005
Carter J, Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Richmond V, Blacker S, Nevill AM. (2005) Strategies to Combat Heat Strain During and After Emergency Service Activities. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 19 January 2005
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter J, Richmond V, Blacker S. (2005) An Operational Fitness Assessment for the Royal Air Force. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 28 June 2005
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter J, Richmond V, Blacker S. (2005) Physiological Assessment of Emergency Service Personnel performing Civil Resilience Scenarios in an alternative Personal Protective Ensemble. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 18 March 2005
2004
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter J, Richmond V, Blacker S. (2004) The Reliability of the RAF’s Proposed Representative Service Tasks. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 19 November 2004
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter J, Richmond V, Blacker S. (2004) Physiological Assessment of Police Officers during CBRN Operations. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 9 July 2004
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter J, V Richmond, Blacker S, Bullock N, Robertson I, Donovan K, Graveling R, Jones DA. (2004) Physiological Assessment of Firefighters Performing Civil Resilience Scenarios. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 6 July 2004
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM, Carter J, Richmond V, Blacker S, Bullock N, Robertson I, Donovan K, Graveling R, Jones DA. (2004) Physiological Assessment of Firefighting in the Built Environment. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 8 June 2004
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM and Nevill AM. (2004) The Basic Personal Fitness Assessment and its Relationship with Loaded March Performance in Territorial Army Recruits and Regular Army Soldiers. Report to DITrg Pol (A). Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 16 September 2004
2003
Dixon GG, Pugh L, Duda JL, Ntoumanis N, Lemmon A & Rayson MP. (2003) Optimising Investment and Retention in Recruits. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 11 December 2003
Wilkinson DM, Rayson MP and Bilzon JLJ. (2003) The Physical Demands of the Combined Parachute Regiment Training Syllabus. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 31 October 2003
Rayson MP and Wilkinson DM. (2003) Relationship between 4 mile 15 kg Loaded March Performance and 2.4 km run time in TA recruits: Interim Report. Optimal Performance Ltd., Bristol, UK, 2 October 2003
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM. (2003) Physical Selection Standards for Recruits: Impact of Implementing New PSS(R) Models on Army Recruitment. Technical Report to DI Trg Pol(A). Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 30 April 2003
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM. (2003) Potential Risk Modifiers for Training Outcome and Injury in Single Entry Recruits: Body Mass, Composition and Aerobic Fitness. Technical Report to DI Trg Pol(A). Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 22 April 2003
2002
Rayson MP and Wilkinson DM. (2002) The Role of the Environment Agency’s Emergency Work Force – a Physical Demands and Risk Analysis. Report to the Environment Agency, Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 21 October 2002
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM & Nevill AM. (2002) Physical Selection Standards for Junior Entry Recruits: Development and Validation Study. Technical Report to DI Trg Pol(A). Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 16 August 2002
Cook R, Rayson MP, Fothergill E, Wilkinson DM and Lawton D. (2002) A national selection system for the Fire Service: Review of the selection criteria and the Implementation Working Group package. Technical Report to the DTLR. Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 3 May 2002
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM & Nevill AM. (2002) Physical Selection Standards for Single Entry Recruits: Development and Validation Study. Technical Report to DI Trg Pol(A). Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 1 May 2002
2001
Rayson MP, Wilkinson DM and Blacker S. (2001) The Physical Demands of CMS(R): an Ergonomic Assessment. OPL Technical Report to SO1 Occ Med, HQ ATRA. Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 7 January 2002
Rayson MP and Wilkinson DM. (2001) Energy Expenditure during CMS(R). OPL Technical Report to the Adjutant General. Optimal Performance Limited, Farnham, UK, 20 November, 2001
Joyner SM and Rayson MP. (2001) Exercise Dawn Mist: Workload Analysis. SCIAD Note 01/01: 23 February 2001
2000
Scarpello EG, Bilzon JLJ and Rayson MP. (2000) Development of job-related physical fitness tests for Royal Navy personnel. INM Report No. 2000.044
Rayson MP. (2000) Dredge Sampling – a Physical Demands and Risk Analysis. Report to the Environment Agency, 10 April 2000
Rayson MP. (2000) Fish Stock Transfer – a Physical Demands and Risk Analysis. Report to the Environment Agency, May 2000
Bilzon JLJ, Scarpello EG, Smith CV, Ravenhill NA and Rayson MP. (2000) Characterisation of the metabolic demands of shipboard Royal Navy Fire-Fighting tasks: an interim report. INM Report No. 99067
1999
Joyner SM, Rayson MP, Goodfellow EA and Mercer DE. (1999) A job demands analysis of the non-infantry unit in an Infantry role in Northern Ireland. SCIAD Note 17/98:31 May 1999
Rayson MP, Goodfellow EA, Mercer DE and Joyner SM. (1999) Exercise Galloway Cream Physical Demands Analysis. SCIAD Note 20/99. Annex B to Exercise Galloway Gream SCIAD Note 18/99: 28 September 1999
1998
Optimal Performance Ltd. (1998) Patrolling: a literature review. Optimal Performance Ltd., Farnham, UK, 27 February 1998
1997
Optimal Performance Ltd. (1997) Physical Selection for the Police. A discussion paper for the Police Federation. Optimal Performance Ltd., Farnham, UK, July 1997
Optimal Performance Ltd. (1997) Validation of Physical Selection Standards for Recruits (PSS(R)). Technical Report 19, Optimal Performance Ltd., Farnham, UK, September 1997
Optimal Performance Ltd. (1997) Improved Physical Training Enhances Military Performance in Recruits. Final Report for CITG. Optimal Performance Ltd., Farnham, UK, August 1997
Optimal Performance Ltd. (1997) The Physical Demands of the Commissioning Course. Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 & Management Report. Optimal Performance Ltd., Farnham, UK
Optimal Performance Ltd. (1997) Motivational Characteristics of Recruits. Optimal Performance Ltd., Farnham, UK, 8 August 1997
Optimal Performance Ltd. (1997) Reasons for Discharge as of Right (DAOR). Optimal Performance Ltd., Farnham, UK, 26 August 1997
1996
Marsden J and Rayson MP. (1996) Personnel Characteristics in the Design Process: an Initial Study. Defence Research Agency Report DRA/CHS(HS3)/CR96037/1.0
Mason MJ, N’Jie M, Holliman DE and Rayson MP. (1996) The Physical Demands of Basic Training in British Army Recruits: a Pilot Study. Defence Research Agency Report DRA/CHS(HS2)/CR96/019
Rayson MP, Holliman DE, Nevola RV and Birch CL. (1996) Physical Selection Standards for the British Army. Phase 5: Validation. Defence Research Agency Report. May 1996
1995
Davies A and Rayson MP. (1995) The Oxygen Cost and Physiological Predictors of Load Carriage in Females. Defence Research Agency Report DRA/CHS/PHYS/WP95/008
Rayson MP and Holliman DE. (1995) Physical Selection Standards for the British Army. Phase 4. Predictors of Task Performance in Trained Soldiers. Defence Research Agency Report DRA/CHS/PHYS/CR95/017
Rothwell A, Rayson MP and Stroud MA. (1995) An Investigation to Determine if the Durnin and Womersley Skinfold Technique over-estimates Body Fat in fitter and more active middle-aged Men. Defence Research Agency Report DRA/CHS/PHYS/WP95/042
1994
Rayson MP, Bell DG, Holliman DE, Llewellyn M, Nevola VR and Bell RL. (1994) Physical Selection Standards for the British Army. Phases 1 and 2. Army Personnel Research Establishment Report 94RO36
Rayson MP and Holliman DE. (1994) Physical Selection Standards for the British Army. Phase 3. Development of Physical Selection Tests and Pilot Study. Defence Research Agency Report DRA/CHS/WP94006
