Barry Symonds
Events: Throws
Qualifications: Training manager, UK level 4 coach
Barry started to get involved with OUAC in 2008, where he helped form a more organized and well-drilled throws squad. Since then, and with better access to the Iffley Road track for throwers planned, he has agreed to increase the amount of time he spends with OUAC athletes, hopefully developing one of the best throws squads in the country. Married with three grown-up children, Barry set about creating a family of international throwers, with this 2 sons throwing discus for Team GB at U20 and U23 level, and his daughter at an English Schools International. Barry has also coached athletes that gained Schools Internationals in shot putt and javelin, as well as athletes who have represented regional teams. He was the group throws coach for the South of England – Western Region for 5 years, where he was the event specific coach for the discus. He was also the throws coach to senior and junior South of England Representative teams at home and abroad!
Events: Throws
Qualifications: Training manager, UK level 4 coach
Barry started to get involved with OUAC in 2008, where he helped form a more organized and well-drilled throws squad. Since then, and with better access to the Iffley Road track for throwers planned, he has agreed to increase the amount of time he spends with OUAC athletes, hopefully developing one of the best throws squads in the country. Married with three grown-up children, Barry set about creating a family of international throwers, with this 2 sons throwing discus for Team GB at U20 and U23 level, and his daughter at an English Schools International. Barry has also coached athletes that gained Schools Internationals in shot putt and javelin, as well as athletes who have represented regional teams. He was the group throws coach for the South of England – Western Region for 5 years, where he was the event specific coach for the discus. He was also the throws coach to senior and junior South of England Representative teams at home and abroad!
Mark Thomas
Events: Sprints
Qualifications: UK level 4 coach, sprints & 4 x 100m relay, 400m & 4 x 400m relay
A welcome addition to the OUAC coaching ranks in 2003, Mark Thomas shares his enthusiasm and experience with the long and short sprint squads at Iffley Rd. A former athlete of repute, Mark was a stalwart of the Welsh Senior International team during his active sporting career and was a medallist on many occasions. Having experienced first hand the gruelling training required to run a sub-47s 400m, Mark became determined to inflict similar suffering on his fellow would-be athletes. Since retiring from competing, he has become a UK Athletics coach for sprints, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays and held a number of senior coaching and managerial positions within Welsh athletics before becoming a GB U20s team selector. Since arriving at OUAC he has left a trial of lactic in his wake and even had a sit-up named after him – distinctions which clearly make the weekly drive from Cardiff worthwhile!
Events: Sprints
Qualifications: UK level 4 coach, sprints & 4 x 100m relay, 400m & 4 x 400m relay
A welcome addition to the OUAC coaching ranks in 2003, Mark Thomas shares his enthusiasm and experience with the long and short sprint squads at Iffley Rd. A former athlete of repute, Mark was a stalwart of the Welsh Senior International team during his active sporting career and was a medallist on many occasions. Having experienced first hand the gruelling training required to run a sub-47s 400m, Mark became determined to inflict similar suffering on his fellow would-be athletes. Since retiring from competing, he has become a UK Athletics coach for sprints, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays and held a number of senior coaching and managerial positions within Welsh athletics before becoming a GB U20s team selector. Since arriving at OUAC he has left a trial of lactic in his wake and even had a sit-up named after him – distinctions which clearly make the weekly drive from Cardiff worthwhile!
Paddy O'Shea
Events: Horizontal jumps
Qualifications: UKA Performance Coach
Paddy’s athletics career began in the early 1970′s as a triple and long jumper and later as a 400m runner with Luton United A.C. He was part of a very successful team which had several GB internationals, including Tony Simmons (European 10,000 metres silver medallist and Olympic 4th place in 1976) and Ian Thompson (Commonwealth and European Marathon Champion and current holder of the Commonwealth Games marathon record). His own role was that of a utility man covering several events for the team at BAL level, including the 800 metres, a jack of all trades but master of none! By the late 1970′s he began to take an interest in coaching 400m and coached a fairly small but good quality squad in the early 1980s. In the mid 1980s he changed direction towards the lateral jumps and coached Lorraine Lynch to the Indoor and Outdoor WAAA Junior titles and a Junior England vest. In 1990 he coached his first English Schools Champion at Junior Boys level , Carl Walsh, who also ranked No.1 on the UK rankings that year. In 1992 he took on Emma Hughes as a 12 year old and she became his second ESAA Champion in 1995, later becoming the AAA U20 Champion in 1999, winning a GB Junior vest alongside Jade Johnson. Emma was No.2 behind Jade that year and 7th overall on the UK rankings. She also won the President’s Award as the most outstanding athlete in the National Junior League. His third ESAA Champion was Cameron Facey in 2005 who went on to UK No.1 ranking as an Under 15 that year. Several of the athletes he has coached have achieved age group No.1 rankings, including Andrew Bullimore who was British Schools Champion and AAA U17 Champion in 2006. At senior level he also coached Gary Smith (7.58m) to a senior England vest in 2001. He is currently coaching Hephizbah Ogunro, the Southern U15 Champion and 3rd placer at the 2009 ESAA Championships and he has recently welcomed back David Hughes out of semi retirement. David was Southern U20 Champion in 2004, with a best of 7.08m. His main bases for coaching are Luton and Bedford where he coaches two nights a week at each venue. In addition he tries to see athletes at weekends when time allows and he has previously coached at Loughborough University. As an independent coach he is able to take on athletes from a number of clubs and he is currently coaching athletes from Bedford & County A.C., Hunts A.C., Luton A.C., Royal Sutton Coldfield A.C. and Stevenage & North Herts A.C. as well as OUAC.
Events: Horizontal jumps
Qualifications: UKA Performance Coach
Paddy’s athletics career began in the early 1970′s as a triple and long jumper and later as a 400m runner with Luton United A.C. He was part of a very successful team which had several GB internationals, including Tony Simmons (European 10,000 metres silver medallist and Olympic 4th place in 1976) and Ian Thompson (Commonwealth and European Marathon Champion and current holder of the Commonwealth Games marathon record). His own role was that of a utility man covering several events for the team at BAL level, including the 800 metres, a jack of all trades but master of none! By the late 1970′s he began to take an interest in coaching 400m and coached a fairly small but good quality squad in the early 1980s. In the mid 1980s he changed direction towards the lateral jumps and coached Lorraine Lynch to the Indoor and Outdoor WAAA Junior titles and a Junior England vest. In 1990 he coached his first English Schools Champion at Junior Boys level , Carl Walsh, who also ranked No.1 on the UK rankings that year. In 1992 he took on Emma Hughes as a 12 year old and she became his second ESAA Champion in 1995, later becoming the AAA U20 Champion in 1999, winning a GB Junior vest alongside Jade Johnson. Emma was No.2 behind Jade that year and 7th overall on the UK rankings. She also won the President’s Award as the most outstanding athlete in the National Junior League. His third ESAA Champion was Cameron Facey in 2005 who went on to UK No.1 ranking as an Under 15 that year. Several of the athletes he has coached have achieved age group No.1 rankings, including Andrew Bullimore who was British Schools Champion and AAA U17 Champion in 2006. At senior level he also coached Gary Smith (7.58m) to a senior England vest in 2001. He is currently coaching Hephizbah Ogunro, the Southern U15 Champion and 3rd placer at the 2009 ESAA Championships and he has recently welcomed back David Hughes out of semi retirement. David was Southern U20 Champion in 2004, with a best of 7.08m. His main bases for coaching are Luton and Bedford where he coaches two nights a week at each venue. In addition he tries to see athletes at weekends when time allows and he has previously coached at Loughborough University. As an independent coach he is able to take on athletes from a number of clubs and he is currently coaching athletes from Bedford & County A.C., Hunts A.C., Luton A.C., Royal Sutton Coldfield A.C. and Stevenage & North Herts A.C. as well as OUAC.
Eric Brees
Events: Sprints, Relays and Hurdles
Qualifications: UK Level 4 Sprints & Hurdles
Eric has spend a long time in the sport. His roles as coach have ranged from team to event-specific coaching positions, with his time being shared between his local club Enfield & Haringey, the SEAA teams competing within UK and Europe, and his work (in his words) “with the mighty OUAC”. Over the years he has been involved in BAAB Coaching Education, lecturing and practical coaching to Levels 1, 2 and 3. He has also spent time as a “mentor” to coaches outside his club. He has been involved as a coach and director for 31 years at the Bournemouth Young Athletes Course. Finally he has recently been part of the coaching team for Active Sports Development, a programme set up to nature talented athletes. He was invited to join OUAC in the 1989/1990 season and is pleased to be able to say that he’s still popping down as and when! He has told us that he “very much enjoys meeting athletes, having a hand in their development and watching their progress no matter how large or small.” He says that “my highlight of the year is our annual trips to Portugal, which are always a pleasure to attend and offer a great opportunity for OUAC athletes to train and bond together before the season kicks off.”
Events: Sprints, Relays and Hurdles
Qualifications: UK Level 4 Sprints & Hurdles
Eric has spend a long time in the sport. His roles as coach have ranged from team to event-specific coaching positions, with his time being shared between his local club Enfield & Haringey, the SEAA teams competing within UK and Europe, and his work (in his words) “with the mighty OUAC”. Over the years he has been involved in BAAB Coaching Education, lecturing and practical coaching to Levels 1, 2 and 3. He has also spent time as a “mentor” to coaches outside his club. He has been involved as a coach and director for 31 years at the Bournemouth Young Athletes Course. Finally he has recently been part of the coaching team for Active Sports Development, a programme set up to nature talented athletes. He was invited to join OUAC in the 1989/1990 season and is pleased to be able to say that he’s still popping down as and when! He has told us that he “very much enjoys meeting athletes, having a hand in their development and watching their progress no matter how large or small.” He says that “my highlight of the year is our annual trips to Portugal, which are always a pleasure to attend and offer a great opportunity for OUAC athletes to train and bond together before the season kicks off.”
