Royal approval for coaches

Four coaches who have helped Dai Greene on his path to gold glory have picked up a prestigious UK award.

The coaching chain that has pushed Wales' World Champion athlets up the ranks was honoured at the UK Coaching Awards in London this week.

Greene's current coach - Malcolm Arnold - was named as one of four coaches to receive theCoaching Chain Awardpresented to coaches who have made a contribution to the development and success of an athlete. The other coaches were Wynford Leyshon (from Loughor, Swansea), Darrell Maynard (Cwmbran) and Benke Blomkvist (former Senior Performance Coach in Wales).

Picture: (left to right): Benke Blomkvist, Darrell Maynard, Wynford Leyshon, HRH Princess Anne, and Malcolm Arnold.

They were presented with their award by HRH Princess Anne, the Patron of sports coach UK.

It was a double celebration for Arnold, whose four decades of coaching success were recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year was another one of multi-podium finishes for Malcolm's athletes. Dai Greene added the 400m Hurdles World title to his European and Commonwealth crowns. The Welshman's victory took the tally of major medals won by Arnold's athletes, who have also included Colin Jackson and Jason Gardner, to over 65.

Other Welsh finalists at the annual awards included Flintshire's Steven Thomas (Young Coach of the Year category), Wales gymnastics coach Tracey Skirton-Davies (Performance Development) and Cardiff Metropolitan University lecturer Jake Bailey (Coach Educator).

Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister said:

"Wales has had excellent representation at these awards again, which is something we are very proud of. To be picked out in front of so many outstanding coaches from across the UK is a fantastic achievement."

For more information visit www.sportscoachuk.org .