05/01/2010 - New NE Coach and Performance Co-ordinator

A message from Steve Robertson (Regional Chair)

As you may be aware, British Triathlon have appointed a performance development manager, Simon Mills, to oversee a new program for developing junior talent in triathlon across Britain. He is keen to build on the existing work that has taken place in the regions but has also set out requirements for how the regional academies should operate in the future and tie in with the national development program.

The aim is to have a clear pathway so that junior athletes can see how they can work towards membership of the academies, then the Olympic development and ultimately the Olympic podium squads. As part of this process he asked that the regions review their academy programs and make sure they have two people with a specific focus on the junior academies and on supporting junior athletes- they are the regional head coach and regional performance coordinator's roles.

The North East regional committee have asked Colin Gardener (Ryton Tri) to take on the head coach's role and Alan Copland (One Life Racing) to take on the performance coordinator's role.

Simon provided the regional committees with an outline of what the roles would involve and what skills and abilities the two people would require. We asked who would be interested in filling the two roles, and what relevant skills they had, and we were very lucky to have several excellent people put their names forward.

It was a very difficult decision, but we believe Colin and Alan will be the best people to take the academy forward in its new form. One further change is that we've decided that we won't have a development squad within the new structure.

In order to support the greatest number of junior athletes, Alan will be acting to support the development of junior clubs instead- that way athletes will be able to work with their club coaches towards academy membership standards.

You can contact Colin by email at:
colin.gardener@virgin.net and Alan at:
alan@copelandcollectables.com.

Everyone involved with the current academy structure, as well as the entire regional committee, would like to say a huge "Thank You" to Barry Jameson for his leadership of the academy over the past few years. He's developed the academy from uncertain beginnings to the successful organisation we have today and it's to his great credit that he's keen to carry on coaching within the new structure.

Barry's support and great integrity have been invaluable during the process of handing over to Colin and Alan and on a personal level I'd like to publicly thank him for this.

We're extremely lucky in the North East to have a talented and enthusiastic group of volunteer coaches and parental supporters, all with the aim of helping our juniors become the best athletes they can be. I believe that the new arrangements, as part of Simon Mills' national development strategy, will give us the very best chance to do this in our region.

If you have any questions about the new academy arrangements and plans for next year, Colin or Alan would be best placed to answer them. If you have any more general ones, please feel free to get in touch with me via 273robertson@googlemail.com