Derby Triathlon Club

Derby Triathlon Club Coaches

  • Ian Hughes

    Triathlon Coach - Ian Hughes
    ian.hughes@derbytriathlonclub.co.uk

    BTA Level 3 coach and previous winner of East Midlands coach of the year.

    My main interest in coaching is to provide participants with the confidence and skills to achieve their goals. As a volunteer and racer myself I have limited time to coach and have concentrated on providing the coaching that members cannot get elsewhere. For example: practice races, triathlon specific swimming as opposed to running training which can be obtained at running clubs etc.

    I believe that participation in Triathlon is a life enhancing experience and always encourage people to balance their goals and aspirations within the sport and their other commitments. I believe that gradual progression is the key to physical improvement and suggest triathlete participants see their sport as a long term part of their life to be savoured rather than being in a rush to 'tick off' specific aspirations. I also believe that the sport has something to offer everyone regardless of their state of fitness or time constraints. I believe that being part of DTC assists all members to enjoy their sport to the full.

    I compete in Triathlon - on and off road, Mountain Marathons, Adventure racing, orienteering. I have been participating in Triathlon since 1999, previously having interests of golf and running. I have competed for the GB age group team in World Championships at Standard distance and Long Distance races, achieving a best position of 7th. I have completed 7 Ironman races, qualifying for Kona, Hawaii in 2009 by coming 2nd in my age group at Lanzarote. My best times are around 2:15 at standard distance and 9:52 at Ironman Distance. I have dabbled in ultra running at the lower end of the distance - making 9th place in the Round Rotherham 50 mile race.

  • Hilary Johnson

    Triathlon Coach - Hilary Johnson
    hilary.johnson@derbytriathlonclub.co.uk

    I have been involved with triathlon for 17 years and competed for 14 of those years reaching the level of age grouper at the Maderia world championships. I was also 3rd in the Oregon National Triathlon Ranking series. I moved into triathlon from marathon running. Injury forced retirement from triathlon and I now compete in cyclo cross and time trialling.

    I have always been involved with coaching from gymnastics to weightlifting. My interest in coaching triathlon has stemmed from supporting both of my children Tom and David Bishop who now represent GB at international level and are currently on BTF programmes. I assist in coaching and mentoring on the East Midlands Regional Triathlon Academy for youngsters 14-18 years and I also assist on the national talent squad again 14-18 year olds.

    I have been involved with Derby Triathlon Club for 17 years and would like to pass on both experience and offer support and guidence where I can.

  • Rich Hale - Swim Coach

    Swim Coach - Rich Hale
    rich.hale@derbytriathlonclub.co.uk

    I have been a competitive swimmer since I was 7 years old and I still compete in master swimming at a variety of distances from 50m -1500m. I have competed up to a County standard representing Oxfordshire and North Buckinghamshire at 100m Butterfly and held the Country record. I have swum with many clubs including City of Coventry and more recently City of Derby.

    I started Triathlons back in 1997 at the Oxfordshire Fire service sprint distance triathlon, and on my 6th attempt I won the event. I have also competed at a number of Olympic distance triathlons including Windsor and London with my quickest time over this distance being 2 hour 5 mins. I hope to break the 2 hour barrier (maybe next year).

    I started coaching swimming at DTC in the summer of 2008 and although I do not have a formal qualification I hope to pass on my wealth of swimming experience to whomever I coach. One of my aims is that people feel that they are able to take away something from each session even if that is just enjoyment.

  • Andy Thornton - Triathlon Coach

    Triathlon Coach - Andy Thornton
    andy.thornton@derbytriathlonclub.co.uk

    I started triathlon in 2008 by turning up to a Tuesday Derby Tri Club swim session (coached by Ian Hughes).  Two days later (10th July 2008) Ian had persuaded me to take part in my first triathlon at the Club's Summer Series.  Being second to last out of the pool, putting cycling shorts on the wrong way round over my swim trunks, putting a tight cylcle top on a wet body I eventually made it out of T1 on my bike in mountain bike shoes.  I managed to catch up with Andy Grigg and overtake him on the bike only for him to then sit on my back wheel and thank me for riding on my hoods making it easy for him to draft (now I know he shouldn't have been doing that!).  I duly (as instructed by Andy) got down on my drops and tried to ride a bit faster.  I caught a few more people on the bike and then on to the run - after putting on some socks and making sure I had tied my laces tightly.  I caught one more person on the run and crossed the line in second place but due to Ian having not swum enough lengths I won my first triathlon!

    I should have quit whislt I was at the top but the challenge of four disciplines that triathlon provides is very addictive.  In 2009 I did as many duathlons, sprint and olympic distance races as I could and was the National League Novice Champion and contributed to the the Club winning the National League title in 2009.

    Always striving for self improvement I entered 2010 having done a lot of bike miles in the winter and also completing the conversion of my running style from heel strike to mid/fore foot running.  I was looking forward to improving my performances from the previous season only to break my neck in May of that year and miss the whole triathlon season.  Having to readjust the my focus for that year I did my BTF level 1 coaching course - in part to help me develop as an athlete and also to provide additional coaching resources to the Club.  This was follwed up by completing my Level 2 course in the spring of 2011 and am now actively coaching in the Club.

    My focus is on trying to develop the running and cycling coaching side of the Club.  As you can see having only started triathlon in 2008 the challenges facing the novice triathlete trying to improve are still fresh in my mind and hopefully I can reflect that in my coaching.

    Although new to triathlon I have been sporty all my life.  Rugby is still my favourite sport and I played for many years but after my neck injury it is one I can no longer participate in.  I have also done a lot of running and always ridden a bike for fitness.  I am also a qualified PADI Dive Instructor and athough it has been a long time since I went diving it has been a great experience to draw upon in developing as a Triathlon Coach.

Copyright 2009 - 2010 Derby Triathlon Club
Please report any problems to the webmaster