A SWINDON woman, who has triumphed over personal adversity to successfully establish her own business, was named one of the country's Top 25 business heroes in The Barclays Trading Places Awards.

Chrissy Davies, who started Polefect, was hoping to go on to scoop the top prize worth £7,000 at an awards dinner this autumn.

And although she didn't make it to the final spot she was named the Swindon Advertiser/Marriott Hotel Business Person of the Month.

"I was disappointed not get through to the final with Barclays but I was thrilled to get my hands on this award," she said.

Chrissy had always dreamed of running her own business, but with no clear idea of what to do or how to go about it, it remained a dream.

At the end of 2005 she was recovering from a broken relationship, looking after her three-year-old daughter and battling with depression.

In an effort to turn her life around she tried to enrol in a GCSE dance course but just missed out on a place.

Chrissy tried a four-week pole dancing course instead.

"To my surprise, I found it great fun," she said. "Not only that, after dancing for six months, I found my fitness and confidence hugely improved.

"Other women, I reckoned, could benefit if the pole was taken out of the drinking club environment and put into the health and fitness sector."

This was the elusive business idea Chrissy had been looking for and, having qualified as an instructor, she opened her own fitness and dance studio offering pole dancing classes in November last year.

Though at the moment the new business requires her to work all hours and to rely on her family to help care for her daughter, Chrissy is confident that her innovative concept will take off.

"It is going on really well and I have introduced classes for children to help them keep fit," she said.

"Eight children have signed up so far, so it's a good start," said Chrissy, of Westlea.

"It's really good exercise for them and they come here and get fit. They're not allowed to climb trees so they can climb poles instead."

"I am currently training as a gym instructor and plan to qualify as a personal trainer too. I want to do more in the way of dance routines."

Her work of place is the Polefect studio which is Swindon's only pole dancing training centre.

Lessons take place on Friday at 4. 30pm and 5.30pm for kids, and 6. 30pm for adults.

For more information call Chrissy on 01793 486896.

l Pictured is Chrissy teaching pole dancing and receiving her award from Joanne Stagg, the general manager of the Marriott Hotel.