Coaches
Andy Orton
Head Coach (Level 2)
Favourite Discipline: Bike but if there is one thing I would love to do forever more it’s running.
Food Guilty Pleasure: Cake plain and simple
Most Awkward moment racing: I do like to go the wrong way periodically. Ive done so at Capernwray, Lakesman & spectacularly at UK Tri 70.3
Athlete Hero: Lionel Sanders, he never gives up and doesn’t hide
Top Tip for beginners: Consistency, consistency, consistency. Try and train with others where possible and have fun, it takes the grind out of the grind.
How long have you been coaching/member: I’ve been guiding athletes for 3 years now and a British Triathlon L2 coach since the beginning of 2023. A member of TP since 2016.
Dan McParland
L1 Coach
Favourite Discipline: Eating a lot.
Food Guilty Pleasure: Maccies, but it’s not a guilty pleasure, it’s just pleasure
Most Awkward moment racing: Nothing in real life but I have a recurring dream about racing where I get into T1 just about to take my wetsuit off and realise I forgot to put my trisuit on underneath.
Athlete Hero: Jan Frodeno
Top Tip for beginners: Train more!
How long have you been coaching/member: Member for 10 years, coach for 2 years
David Reece
L1 Coach
Favourite Discipline: has to be bike!
Food Guilty Pleasure: Crisps, any and all flavours
Most Awkward moment racing: Throwing up on the bike at most races after swallowing too much water
Athlete Hero: Mark Cavendish
Top Tip for beginners: Don’t be shit
How long have you been coaching/member: 3 years I think
Ed Townshend
L1 Coach
Favourite Discipline:
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Katy Armitage
L1 Coach
Favourite Discipline: Running will always be my first love (sorry swim and bike)
Food Guilty Pleasure: Pizza all day every day – breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Most Awkward moment racing: Thinking the person in front of me during a pool sprint triathlon was my friend so tickling their feet…turned out to be a stranger who was not very impressed!
Athlete Hero: Lucy Charles-Barclay
Top Tip for beginners: Enjoy the process and remember we all start somewhere!
How long have you been coaching/member: I have been a member for just over a year now and started coaching at the start of 2024
Pete Walsh
L1 Coach
Favourite Discipline: I enjoy all 3 disciplines but if I had to choose one it would be running. Love heading out in all weathers and hitting the trials.
Food Guilty Pleasure: Pizza or chocolate
Most Awkward moment racing: Early on in my triathlon journey I really struggled with my stomach on the run which resulted in quite a few al fresco toilet trips.
Athlete Hero: Lucy Gossage
Top Tip for beginners: Have fun and enjoy it. Take note of things you did well or could improve on and try to implement those in future races.
How long have you been coaching/member: Member since 2013 and run lead for maybe 7 years
Vanessa Townshend
L1 Coach
Favourite Discipline: I like them all, swimming as it’s my best, cycling as rides are social and running is my destress! Why I do triathlon!
Food Guilty Pleasure: Any chocolate!
Most Awkward moment racing: Being shouted at by the ref when I abandoned bike in the middle of transition when I forgot my helmet in my first Olympic distance!
Athlete Hero: Roger black (teenage crush anyway!)
Top Tip for beginners: Don’t worry you won’t be last or if you are (I was in marathon at long distance weekend!) you get the biggest cheer!
How long have you been coaching/member: Member for 10 year, bike lead for 5 or 6
Dave Hollinworth
Swim Coach
1. Favourite Discipline: Transition/After Party
3. Most Awkward moment racing: Accidentally swimming over a disabled athlete with no legs and one arm
4. Athlete Hero: Daley Thompson
5. Top Tip for beginners: Just Enjoy it
6. How long have you been coaching/member: Coaching for 7 years and member since 2011.
Lindsay Coane
Swim Coach
Favourite Discipline: SWIMMING!!
Food Guilty Pleasure: Gluten – I’m gluten free
Most Awkward moment racing: Forgetting my costume for the Ullswater swim – quick trip to a camping shop saved the day!!
Athlete Hero: Mark Foster/Keri-Anne Payne
Top Tip for beginners: Ask anything!
How long have you been coaching/member: Teaching swimming for many a year and coaching for Tri Preston for a fair few of them
Swim Bike Run Leads
Carol Spoor
SBR Lead
Favourite Discipline: I enjoy training for all three. During the race they are all equally tough, so the after party is always welcome.
Food Guilty Pleasure: Lemon meringue pie (or banoffee pie) (or both)
Most Awkward moment racing: My first IM race when I mistakenly thought the bike escorting the race leader (& waving an orange flag) was maybe a ref giving me a penalty. Terrified of being DQ’d from my first IM I served an unnecessary time penalty
Athlete Hero: Steve Cram & Chrissie Wellington
Top Tip for beginners: Go to a local triathlon to watch what goes on. You can learn a lot from what people do well and what people do badly.
How long have you been coaching/member: Member since 2012. Ride lead 2015 to 2020. Run lead from 2024
David Large
SBR Lead
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Gerry McGonagle
SBR Lead
Favourite Discipline: Anything but swimming
Food Guilty Pleasure: Morrison’s Mini Chocolate-Topped Flap Jack Bites
Most Awkward moment racing: Forgot to fill up my between the arms bottle on my TT bike with any fluid/nutrition at all in my first Ironman (IMUK 2022)
Athlete Hero: Tom Rigby
Top Tip for beginners: Don’t compare yourself to others
How long have you been coaching/member: Member for 5yrs, Run and Bike lead for 5mths
Lee Spoor
Bike Lead
Favourite Discipline: Bike – best way to get out and see lots with the minimum amount of effort.
Food Guilty Pleasure: Salt & Vinegar Walkers Max crisps
Most Awkward moment racing: Embarrassing at the top of Sheephouse (the day before IMUK) confidently telling one of the athletes who was racing the following day where to watch in the descent for corners, speed etc. I descended, binned it and broke my collar bone.
Athlete Hero: Allan Donald & Andreas Raelert.
Top Tip for beginners: Be consistent and enjoy what you do.
How long have you been coaching/member: Ride lead since 2015, member since 2012.
Rachel Orton
SBR Lead
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Ruth Travis
Run Lead
Favourite Discipline: Surprisingly swimming.
Food Guilty Pleasure: Chip Barmcake
Most Awkward moment racing: WilmslowTri where I had for some reason fastened my race belt around my back wheel instead of the handle bars. I jump on the bike forgetting that it’s there. I didn’t get very far and had to cycle/run with very oily fingers.
Athlete Hero: Paula Radcliffe
Top Tip for beginners: Don’t get hung up on what everyone else is doing.
How long have you been coaching/member: Joined in 2014 after doing some of the 1-4-1 duathlons, though didn’t do my first Tri till 2017 as I couldn’t swim. Run lead since 2016.
Ste Ormson
SBR Lead
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Vanessa Holme
SBR Lead & L1 Coach
Favourite Discipline: Cycling
Food Guilty Pleasure: Ben & Jerrys Phish Food
Most Awkward moment racing: Dismounting at the traffic lights at Horwich Triathlon but getting it ‘wrong’ and falling over, with my bike on top of me, breaking my shifter.
Athlete Hero: Victoria Pendelton
Top Tip for beginners: Consistency. Triathlon is a way of life!
How long have you been coaching/member: Member of Tri Preston since 2012.