Simon Moore – Junior Head Coach
I have been Head Coach since 2016. My role and responsibilities are planning and structuring the junior’s training sessions and their long term athlete development whether it be running, cycling, swimming or triathlons. My coaching career started coaching running to adults several years ago before moving to principally coaching juniors when my own children wanted to take part in these events. I am a qualified Level 1 and 2 triathlon coach including additional qualifications in strength and conditioning and open water swimming.
Although I played football as I child, my own sporting career did not really kickstart until I moved to the North East of England; it was hard to ignore the Great North Run half marathon. I did my first Junior Great North Run when I was 14yrs old and switched to the larger event when I was eligible at 17 in 1991 and have only missed 2 years since to this annual pilgrimage! I have now completed over 60 marathons, half-marathons and ultra-marathons.
In 2011, I started competing in other events than just running and have since completed a multitude of triathlons, duathlons, aquathlons, swimming and biking events including completing over 10 Ironman events, 190 mile bike rides and ÖtillÖ and Breca swim runs.
I have also been lucky enough to have qualified for the European Ironman championship, qualified Good for Age for the London Marathon on 6 occasions and represented Great Britain at cycling on 3 occasions.
I feel that engaging in sport at a young age helps prepare juniors for the road that may lie ahead. I want our juniors to succeedby providing support, togetherness, guidance, enthusiasm, friendship and most of all have fun along the way.
Rachel Miller – EA Athletics Coach / Juniors Administrator / Blue Group Coach
As a child growing up in the depths of South Devon, sport was never easy. I participated in the school netball, hockey and tennis teams but other than that it was very difficult as there were never any clubs easy to get to. My Mum would drive me 45 mins each way just for my swimming lesson once a week! My only running was when my PE teacher came to live with us (she was a friend of my parents) and she would make me run down to the beach and back which was only about 3 miles in total but was very hilly and I hated it!! I had very little confidence as a child and found sport too competitive. I hated the way the other kids would laugh at you when you came last or you missed a goal. School sports day was one of the worst days in the school calendar for me! I am happy to see those days are pretty much gone and there is so much more support for people young and old.
I got into running and triathlon after losing my Dad quite suddenly to cancer in 2007. I ran the Race for Life 5k in Stamford which for me was very difficult, but upon getting my first medal I was hooked! After watching my husband Ricardo compete in the Windsor Triathlon, I decided to give that a go too as I loved swimming, so in 2010 I competed in the Women’s Only Dorney Lake Triathlon and the London Triathlon, both of which I loved. Since then I have gone on to complete a number of half marathons, the London Marathon and also Ironman 70.3 in Austria.
BRJ have been very supportive of everything I have done after joining them in 2013. I have been a member ever since they set up the junior section, as I joined with my daughter. In 2015 I took up the post of Junior representative on the committee (until 2018) and have seen the junior section grow into the amazing and supportive club we have today. I have qualified as an Athletics Coach with England Athletics and have done my Leadership in Running Fitness course with them too. I now have the enormous pleasure of coaching the Blue Group alongside Pippa. I find it very rewarding seeing the kids come in from the age of 7 and getting them started on their running careers.
Paul Mitton – England Athletics Coach in Running Fitness / Black Group Coach / Juniors Committee Representative
I started running in late 2011 in an effort to get fit and it was a less boring option than the gym – entering the 2012 Cambourne 10k gave me a seemingly impossible goal to aim for – since then I’ve run over 20 half marathons and 5 full marathons, and cycled the RideLondon 100 mile sportive twice.
Joining BRJ in 2014 has been instrumental in being able to keep improving my running and cycling – while making fantastic friends at the same time! The support and encouragement at all levels in the club is amazing and something I’m proud to help with by assisting in coaching the Juniors.
I’ve been helping out with the Juniors since 2015 and completed the England Athletics Assistant Coaching course in March 2017, followed by the Coach in Running Fitness course in June 2018. Leading fun and varied training sessions for Juniors of all abilities alongside a great group of coaches is something I look forward to every week.
Since 2018 I’ve been the Juniors representative on the BRJ committee.
Seeing the Juniors enjoying their success in running and triathlon events is wonderful to see and I’m looking forward to supporting this in the future.
Paul Homewood – Coaching and development support
Hi, my name is Paul Homewood and I joined the local BRJ Run and Tri club as a social member after my wife Yvonne joined in 2010.
I attend most of the races my wife and I enjoy taking photos of all the club members at the events.
To me it is a privilege to be able to help with the weekly BRJ junior sessions due to the fact that you all work so very hard and to watch your progress since it all started.
Many years ago I used to train army cadets as an adult instructor and I also used to be a Canoe Coach, Canoe Polo Coach and Canoe Polo Referee.
I also take care of our junior’s safety by making sure they are always checked in and out of the sessions and I am an assistant coach. I enjoy hand cycling which keeps me fit and healthy.
Pippa Burns – British Triathlon Level 1 Coach / Blue Group Coach
Having been a keen cyclist I decided to do the BRJ Duathlon in 2014. The event was superbly organised and I got a great vibe for BRJ. I completed a further 3 duathlons in 2015 and had the crazy idea that I wanted to complete a Triathlon.
I joined BRJ in April 2015 and have completed 5 triathlons two of which have been at Ironman 70.3 distance in Mallorca.
In 2016 I completed my British Triathlon Level 1 qualification. I coach BRJ seniors swimming on Mondays and Junior running on Wednesdays. I thoroughly love coaching within BRJ.
I feel privileged that I get the opportunity, as a coach, to encourage children within sport, help make it part of their everyday lives and watch them achieve things that they may have doubted they could, all whilst having great fun.