I’m a former sprinter, winning both English Schools Athletics Association and the Schools International Athletics Board Championships in 1980. I began coaching after sustaining a recurrent Achilles injury.

In 2000, a friend and I set up Pickering Athletics for our local community. Like Vale of York, we trained on grass fields and in sports halls. These facilities allowed us to develop the fundamentals which athletes need if they want to succeed.

Over the years, we saw many athletes qualify and represent North Yorkshire Schools at English Schools with one of those athletes (my eldest son) going on to compete for Team GB in the 400 metres. He represented Team GB at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Since moving to York in 2010, I have focused more on performance coaching. Athletes I have coached have had success at club, county and nationally. My main focus is sprints,100m – 400m, and more recently I have been coaching a long jumper on England Athletics’ Youth Talent Programme.