Achievements

First of all let me say, I have been incredibly lucky. Yes, lucky, in the athletes who have asked me to help them! I always say, " Coaches don't make athletes, athletes make Coaches", and what a pleasure it is to be associated with these fine young people. Here are a few of the people I have been lucky enough to have been associated with.

Picture shows:
Southampton RC Southern Six stage Raod Relay Record Holders.
Back row (L-R)
R Pearson (Team manager)
N Sainsbury
B Glenton
S Macdonald
Tony Fern (Coach)
Front row
A Morgan Lee
J Starling
R Finch

Kathy Tayler. Twice, World Modern Pentathlete Champion. Kathy used the group to improve her running skills.
Alison Wyeth gained her first international vest with the group before moving to London. Alison went on to reach the final of every major games including the Olympics.
Rod Finch represented Britain in the European games outdoors. He also won a bronze medal in the European indoor games. He represented Great Britain on the road in Japan.
Andy Morgan-Lee and James Starling represented Great Britain on the road and England on the country.
Brad Glenton and Stuart Poore also represented England on the country.
Tommie Swart ran 23mins for 5 miles whilst he was with the group.
Julian Jenkinson represented Great Britain as a Triathlete.
Lizzie Adams and Christine Curry were England Orienteers.
Stephanie Robson represented England in the Duathlon.
Top coach Norman Poole used our group to get Rachel Newcombe to the commonwealth games final.
Zahara Hyde Peters used the group before she moved on to greater things both as an athlete and an administrator in the sport.

When Dame Kelly Holmes was based in Marchwood near Southampton with the Army, Kriss Akabusi approached me to encourage Kelly back into running. I must say her talent took me by surprise. Between us we got Kelly into the harness before she moved back to London.
At the time Kelly's main aim was to pass her army PTI exams. It was her burning ambition and I am pleased to say she achieved this.
It's quite pleasing for me and my wife Rene, to see her success. Kelly overcame injury after injury and deserves everything that she strove for.

My greatest achievement was leading Tipton Harriers to their first London to Brighton win. This was a personal triumph for me. I loved the heart of that club.
It has given me just as much pleasure to bring honours to Southampton through my coaching. The people have been truly wonderful to me since I moved here and I wanted to give something back to them.
Therefore I rate my best achievement was when my group provided Southampton with the record for the Southern Six Stage Road Relay, which they still hold. The team that day averaged an incredible time of 18mins 04secs per leg. Just look at this year's results to see how good a performance it was.

Below are just a few of the thousands that have benefited from the group with links to their achievements:

London to Brighton Winners 1964 (20 miles in)
32 George Johnson, 30 Ron Bentley31 Tony Fern

Twice World pentathlete champion

Finalist: World championships, Olympics, European and Commonwealth games

European indoor bronze medalist, Represented GB on road and track

Represented GB on the road and England in cross country

Represented england at cross country

GB Triathlete

GB Orienteering

GB Orienteering

GB Duathlete

Commonwealth games (coach Norman Poole used the group to help Rachel)