Welsh Athletics Appoint Top Coaches

• Posted by Matthew Jones at 1:54 PM | add or read comments (0)

With the Welsh Senior Championships coming up (26 January 2008), Welsh Athletics today announced the appointment of the top coaches who have been busy developing the nation’s up and coming talent.
Sweden’s former National Hurdles Coach - Bengt-Erik Blomkvist –- is just one of three recent coaching recruitments that will benefit Athletes from all over Wales. This will be a huge boost for North Wales Athletics with the coaches set to rotate around the regions of Wales so that every area gets the benefit.
It will be Blomkvist's job to produce the next generation of household names, and he certainly has a wealth of experience to bring to North Wales. From 1996 to 2004, he served as the Swedish Team Coach at all junior and senior European and World Championships as well as the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Blonmkvist has already stated his delight of being to help nurture Wales' top talent, “I am very impressed by the facilities in Wales and the possibilities they present. The future plans for athletics here in Wales are very exciting and I’m glad to be a part of it.
Chief Executive of Welsh Athletics, Matt Newman, explains:
“This is yet another sign of how Welsh Athletics is moving forward. Bengt is an excellent addition to the performance team in Wales. He brings some excellent technical skills and an engaging personality which will help spread his expert knowledge across Wales. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to attract such a high-calibre coach.”
The Swedish coach is not the only new arrival at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in UWIC. Darrell Maynard is also joining the team as a part-time Development Performance Coach.
The former physical training officer for the British Army and Police is the man behind the success of David Greene who was triumphant in the European U23s Championships this summer. He also works with Richard Hill and a number of disability athletes including Tracy Hinton and John McFall who are both tipped for success at the Beijing Paralympics.
His efforts were recognised by the Sports Council for Wales in its 2006 Coach of the Year Awards. Maynard is a five-time Welsh indoor champion over 400m and 800m. This will be great news for North Wales runners who compete over these distances, who will hopefully be able to take advantage of Maynard's experience. Wrexham's James Mills, who recently won the Wrexham Road Racing Championship is an International runner over 800m.
Also, a former Welsh javelin international is returning to Wales to take up the position of UWIC Performance Coach.
Nigel Bevan – who hails from Ammanford - competed at three Commonwealth Games and at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. He is the current Welsh record holder with 81.70m.
Newman summarises with, “Wales has punched above its weight in athletics in recent years. These appointments will help us to realise our full potential and move us closer to a fully operational high-performance centre in Wales"
I'm sure the superb Indoor Arena in Deeside will be a venue these coaches will be gracing in the near future.

North Wales Athletes Start New Year in Style

• Posted by Matthew Jones at 11:58 AM | add or read comments (0)

The first major athletics meeting of the year took place at the weekend. The impressive Indoor Arena in Deeside was the venue for the 2008 North Wales Indoor Championships, with many athletes looking to put down an early season marker to stand them in good stead for the rest of the year.
The Under 17 mens 60m final was extremely close with Jack Gronow of Colwyn Bay just edging out Wrexham's Tom Cusworth in 7.3s.
Carwyn Owen picked up the Gold in the Under 20 mens 60m with a good time of 7.4s.
Hannah Pendlebury (Deeside) was in fine form to win the Under 20 womens 60m by clocking a time of 8.1s. Hannah Thomas of Wrexham put in a splendid peformance in the Under 17 race by dipping under the 8s barrier, to win in 7.9s.
Moving onto the hurdles events, Abi Williams of home club Deeside narrowly beat Wrexham's Lydia David in the final of the U15 60m hurdles with an excellent time of 10.4s.
The long Jump was a very popular event this year with Alex Elliott (Deeside), Thomas Cusworth (Wrexham), Gavin Price (Bangor Uni) and Jack McDonald all picking up winners medals.
Beth Sargent of Deeside won the Under 13 competition with a huge leap of 4.14m. Adam Williams of Menai dominated the Under 20 mens Triple Jump by recording a jump of 13.28m. Experienced Welsh International Athlete Ben Roberts, who now competes for Birchfield won the Senior Mens Shot competition with a throw of 15.07m, while Louise Watkins of Maldwyn took the honours in the Senior Ladies Shot with a distance of 11.29.
Wrexham Athletics Club has had a strong tradition of High Jumpers over the years, with former member Becky Jones competing for Wales in the Manchester Commonwealth Games. Hannah Thomas (Wrexham) will be hoping to follow in Becky's footsteps after she won the Under 17 Womens High Jump by clearing a height of 1.63m. Full results of the North Wales Indoor Championships can be viewed below.

NORTH WALES CHAMPS Jan 2008
SHOT SM
29 Ben Roberts Birchfield 15.07 NR
SHOT VM
24 Dave Edwards Wrexham 8.06 NR
23 David James Wrexham 6.26
SHOT SW
44 Louise Watkins Maldwyn 11.29
43 Faye Calvert Deeside 10.84
53 Amanda Wale Wrexham 9.17
55 Beverley Jones Bath/Deeside 9.02
SHOT U20W
52 Stephanie Owens WestCheshire 9.48
SHOT U17W
9 Rebecca Chin Deeside 8.52
10 Jenna Sherrat Wrexham 8.16
SHOT U15B
13 Kieran Hughes Deeside 6.51
SHOT U15G
18 Lydia David Wrexham 8.4
27 Hayley Nuttall Deeside 8.0
17 Rachel Trotter Deeside 7.44
20 Laura Brady Maldwyn 6.12
28 Megan Varley Maldwyn 6.06
SHOT U13B
1 Sam Bristow Deeside 4.71
16 Shaun Livett Menai 4.63
HIGH JUMP U20M
29 John Edwards Deeside 1.85
30 Daniel Evans Deeside 1.80
HIGH JUMP U17M
7 Daniel Hodgson Wrexham 1.50
2 Mark Poglettke Deeside 1.50
HIGH JUMP U17W
1 Hannah Thomas Wrexham 1.63
6 Sian Swanson Maldwyn 1.60
3 Alex Elliott Deeside 1.50
5 Megan Rogers Wrexham 1.50
HIGH JUMP U15G
18 Lydia David Wrexham 1.40
17 Rachel Trotter Deeside 1.35
20 Laura Brady Maldwyn 1.15
HIGH JUMP U13G
36 Hannah Browning Wrexham 1.20
32 Rhian Williams Deeside 1.15
TRIPLE JUMP U20M
27 Adam Williams Menai 13.28
21 Gawain Rogers Wrexham 11.90
Matthew Rollings Stoke 13.04 Guest
Peter Hewitt Stoke 12.47 Guest
Benjamin Williams Stoke 13.57 Guest
TRIPLE JUMP U20W
Amy Campagne Deeside 10.09
TRIPLE JUMP SW
Anna Kelly Stoke 11.65 Guest
TRIPLE JUMP U17M
1 Thomas Cusworth Wrexham 12.13
4 Jack Gronow ColwynBay 11.92
POLE VAULT U17M
7 Daniel Hodgson Wrexham 3.20
POLE VAULT U17W
11 Rebecca Davies Deeside 3.00
POLE VAULT U15G
26 Lucy Roulston 2.60
LONG JUMP U13B
15 Kieran Cooper Wrexham 4.50
14 Timothy Tipping Wrexham 3.21
LONG JUMP U13G
34 Beth Sargent Deeside 4.14
36 Hannah Browning Wrexham 3.74
35 Laura Bentley Wrexham 3.42
41 Vicky James Wrexham 3.15
LONG JUMP U15B
12 Jack McDonald Colwyn Bay 5.01
10 Simon Bentley Wrexham 4.57
LONG JUMP U15G
9 Rachel Trotter Deeside 4.30
13 Lucy Davies Wrexham 4.07
21 Catrin Thomas Maldwyn 3.75
LONG JUMP U20W
44 Amy Campagne Deeside 4.93 NR
54 Emma Garstang Deeside 4.86
LONG JUMP U20M
20 James Gardner Stoke 6.30 NR Guest
LONG JUMP SM
19 Gavin Price Bangor Uni 4.97
LONG JUMP U17M
1 Thomas Cusworth Wrexham 6.13 NR
2 Mark Poglette Deeside 5.09
5 David Johnson Maldwyn 4.95
LONG JUMP U17W
3 Alex Elliott Deeside 5.24
5 Megan Rogers Wrexham 5.20
1 Hannah Thomas Wrexham 5.12
TRACK RESULTS NORTH WALES INDOOR CHAMPS 2008 5.1.08 NWIAC
60h heat 1 Abi Williams Deeside 10.5
U15G 2 Lydia David Wrexham 10.5
60h heat 1 Katie Gardner Stoke 9.9 Guest
U15G 2 Racel Trotter Deeside 10.9
3 Lucy Davies 11.7
4 Laura Brady Maldwyn 12.4
1 Gawain Rogers Wrexham 9.6 NR
60hfinal
U20M
1 Osian Jones Menai 9.7
60hfinal 2 Daniel Burton Deeside 9.9
U17M
60hfinal
U17W 1 Megan Rogers Wrexham 9.2 NR
2 Alex Elliott Deeside 9.5
3 Sian Swanson Maldwyn 9.9
60hfinal
U13G 1 Rhian Williams Deeside 11.6
60mheat1 1 Elin Jones ColwynBay 8.7
U13G 2 Emma Salmon Deeside 8.8
3 Shauna Roberts WREXHAM 10.3
60mheat1 1 Beth Sargent Deeside 8.8
U13G 2 Rhian Williams Deeside 9.5
3 Laura Bentley Wrexham 10.5
1 Chloe Jones Wrexham 8.3
60mheat1 2 Lucy Davies Wrexham 9.0
U15G 3 Amy Crocombe Deeside 9.1
4 Megan Varley Maldwyn 9.9
1 Katie Gardner Stoke 8.3 Guest
60mheat 2 2 Catrin Thomas Maldwyn 8.5
U15G 3 Abi Williams Deeside 8.8
4.0 Katie Griffiths Deeside 9.0
60mheat1 1 Jack Gronow ColwynBay 7.3 NR
U17M 2 Tom Cusworth Wrexham 7.3
3 Andy Howells Deeside 7.7
4 Ben Bolton Menai 7.7
60mheat2 1 David Johnson Maldwyn 7.8
u17m 2 Daniel Burton Deeside 8.1
1 Katie Gardner Stoke 10.0 Guest
60m hurdle 2 Abi Williams Deeside 10.4
final U15G 3 Lydia David Wrexham 10.6
4 Rachel Trotter Deeside 10.9
1 Neve Evans Wrexham 9.8
60M 2 Vicky James Wrexham 10.3
U11G 3 Tia Williams Deeside 10.5
1 Harrison Tipping Wrexham 10.9
60 M
U13G 1 Elin Jones ColwynBay 8.5 NR
2 Beth Sargent Deeside 8.5
3 Emma Salmon Deeside 8.7
4 Rhian Williams Deeside 9.2
60M
U13B 1 Kieran Cooper Wrexham 8.5 NR
2 Timothy Tipping Wrexham 10.3
60M
U15B 1 Jack McDonald ColwynBay 8.7
2 Simon Bentley Wrexham 9.3
60M
U15G 1 Chloe Jones Wrexham 8.1 NR
Katie Gardner Stoke 8.3 GUEST
2 Catrin Thomas Maldwyn 8.5
3 Abi Williams Deeside 8.7
60M
U17W 1 Hannah Thomas Wrexham 7.9 NR
2 Alex Elliott Deeside 8.0
3 Megan Rogers Wrexham 8.3
4 Sophie Roberts Menai 8.5
5 Rebecca Salmon Deeside 8.6
U17M 1 Jack Gronow ColwynBay 7.3 NR
60M 2 Tom Cusworth Wrexham 7.3
3 Andy Holwells Deeside 7.6
4 David Johnson Maldwyn 7.7
5 Mark Poglettke Deeside 7.9
U20W 1 Hannah Pendlebury Deeside 8.1 NR
60M 2 Emma Roberts Menai 8.6
U20M James Gardner Stoke 7.2 Guest
60M 1 Carwyn Owen Deeside 7.4
2 Gawain Rogers Wrexham 7.5
SM 1 Gavin Price Bangor 7.8
60M 2 David James Wrexham 8.8