Rob wins national coaching award
University of Bath coach and student Rob Ellchuk has won a top national athletics coaching award.
Rob was named winner of the Norwich Union Power of 10 Coach Award for Disability Athletics. He was presented with his award at the UK Athletics awards dinner in Birmingham.
“I was really pleased to receive the award,” said a delighted Rob, who is pictured with his award.
Rob combines coaching at the University of Bath with furthering his own education. He coaches a sprint group at the University and recently completed a Masters in Research and Education. He is about to begin work on a PhD.
The six Power of 10 awards were made to coaches whose clubs and athletes had performed consistently in line with the Power of 10 philosophy of improving performance standards.
Rob’s training group at the University of Bath includes Ben Rushgrove, who won a silver medal in the T36 100m at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Rob was a member of the GB athletics coaching team at the Games.
Since the Games Katrina Hart, who finished seventh in the T37 100m final at the Paralympic Games, has also joined his training group, which consists of both disabled and non-disabled athletes. Both Ben and Katrina also study at the University.<
Rob also coaches Emma Heath and Dominic Parsons; former track and field athletes who are now representing Great Britain on the Europe Cup bob-skeleton circuit.
Andy Paul, UK Athletics Power of 10 project leader, said: “The underpinning philosophy of Power of 10 is to raise standards so it is only right that our awards reflect clubs and coaches achieving this. Whilst the coach award stemmed from nominations all the winning coaches had demonstrable success within the rankings and the awards were a great way of continuing to celebrate those in our sport working hard to raise standards,” he added.
Ben Rushgrove, a University of Bath Sports Performance student, was presented with a bottle of champagne at the ceremony for his achievement in winning a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518 or by email at press@matchtight.co.uk
You can also find out more about Team Bath at www.teambath.com , follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teambath or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/teambath
The University of Bath is The Sunday Times University of the Year 2011/12.
