Page 7 - BBHAC Winter 2016-17 Gazette

Vice Presidents’ Profile 7

victories included the Bewl only losing out on the title by a When he is not managing the
Water marathon in 2013 and mere 6 points. Young Athletes Nick still loves
2014 in times of 2:54.31 and At the same time he took to compete in the mob matches.
2:49.27 respectively. Nearer to immense pleasure rediscovering He also encourages our young
home he won the Ted Pepper running. A Club 5, and a race walkers. His company
10km in 2005, 2006 and 2011. conversation in the Clubhouse chose to sponsor local athlete
Mark often attends the young afterwards with Ian Swatton Tom Bosworth before the
athletes’ matches with his encouraged him to return to Olympics who, together with
wife Gemma, who is the running, and he is eternally in Olympian Shaun Lightman,
team physiotherapist. He has Ian’s gratitude for that. It rebuilt have generated a renaissance in
travelled with the U20 girls his confidence, and despite Race Walking for Blackheath
teams to the European Clubs Chris Haines’ brutal handicaps and Bromley. The fruits of
Championships in recent he progressed doggedly with this include the emergence of
years, helping out with the the Bennett Cup, managing to Isabelle Bridge and Abigail
administration and supporting come third in 2016, but more Smith in wining International
the team importantly shared the podium vests, some great young walkers
with the FIRST WOMEN have been influenced to take
WINNER! He was immensely the sport to the next level.
Nic Corry has done a fantastic proud of sharing the podium Nick also has a great passion
job for the Club in recent years. with Sarah Belaon. for Multievent and is happy
He is the team manager of to be able to bring the young
the U17 Boys team that has “Having had experience of team athletes on in such a great
performed so well in the past managing our young athletes, I was discipline as this, especially
couple of years – largely the approached to look after the upper sending a number of athletes to
result of all Nic’s hard work and age group. I had my doubts, but Rod the English Schools Finals. He
enthusiasm. Harrington offered to manage the
age group with me, and we saw a also has, an underlying passion
Nic says “My involvement began chance of real success. The boys had for Athlete Wellbeing and in
with the Club in 2013, when my struggled for a few years, but there particular mental health and is
two sons Coleman and Barnaby was real potential there, it just needed proud that the Club is leading
were introduced to Club athletics. I unlocking. We looked at the lads the way in Club athletics, with
took such pleasure in their progress and set our stall out. Our goal was its focus on Athlete Wellbeing.
and greatly admired the support to take the boys to Europe. At the
they received through their coaches time the boys had barely made the Bill Foster, ed. Wilf Orton
Mick Jones and Keith Liston, but YDL finals, but in our first season
particularly the support from their we helped the boys and girls win the
Team Manager Paul Austridge. National Title, even though they
Seeing the impact Team Managers missed out on progressing to Europe.
have on our athletes progress made Rod and I could perhaps have left
me want to learn more about the role, it there, 12 months later our boys
and I made the mistake of expressing matched the phenomenal performance
interest to Mike Davies.” Quicker of the BBHAC Junior Ladies and
than a whirlwind he found qualified for Europe.”
himself manager of the Under
15 boys team. By the end of
the season working with Paul
Austridge, Karen Desborough
and Sandra Richer, they took
the team to the national finals