1st October 2010

European Race Walking Conference

01 October 2010

The Early Bird packages for the inaugural European Race Walking Conference are on offer until Monday 8 October.

The conference – which is being staged at the UKA National Race Walking Centre at Carnegie Leeds Metropolitan University in Leeds from 5 to 7 November 2010 – is supported by UKA, England Athletics and European Athletics, and is the second event in the 2010 European Athletics Coaching Summit Series.

The twin pillars of Long Term Coach Development and Athlete Development will be the themes for the conference, which will comprise an exciting mix of key note addresses, lectures and practical workshops.

The line-up of speakers will include coaches, practitioners from the fields of sports science and medicine, academics and top athletes.

Speakers already confirmed for the conference are:

  • Brent Vallance (Australia): Australian Institute of Sport Walks Coach and Coach to Double Olympic Medallist Jared Tallent;

  • Antonio La Torre (ITA): Coach to Ivano Brugnetti (2004 Olympic Champion) and Associate Professor of Sports Science, University of Milan;

  • Patrick Duffy (IRL): Professor of Coaching, Carnegie Leeds Metropolitan University. Professor Duffy has played a significant role in the development of Sports Coaching in the UK, Ireland and internationally. He was instrumental in establishing the UK Coaching Framework and was formerly the CEO of Sports Coach UK and Director of the Irish National Coaching and Training Centre, University of Limerick and has worked with European Athletics;

  • Alison Rose (GBR): Head Physiotherapist, Carnegie Sports Physiotherapy Clinic. Rose, a former international marathon runner, will lead a session on injury prevention. She has worked with UKA and the English Institute of Sport for a number of years and was physio to Kelly Holmes in the lead up to her double gold medal haul in Athens. She is also the physio to current World and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis;

  • Brian Hanley (IRL): Biomechanist, Carnegie Leeds Metropolitan University. Hanley has undertaken a number of comprehensive studies into the biomechanics of race walking which have involved testing numerous athletes in the laboratory and studies of the 2007 and 2009 European Cup (Race Walking), 2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup and 2010 European Athletics Championships;

  • Pat Ryan (IRL): Director of Development, Athletics Ireland;

  • Andi Drake (GBR): Director of Race Walking and exercise physiologist at UKA’s National Race Walking Centre at Carnegie Leeds Metropolitan University. Dr Drake has published widely around the physiology and biomechanics of race walking.

For delegate costs and to book the Early Bird offers, visit Leeds Metropolitan University’s online store; the price includes all lunches, refreshments and materials, plus the conference dinner. The early bird offer is available until 30 September and there’s a discount for paying by card.

Additional support is offered to European Athletics Member Federation coaches. For more information follow the link to the European Athletics website.

Further details about the conference can be found at: http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/conferences/racewalking/ or by contacting Dr Ian Richards: i.richards@leedsmet.ac.uk or Dr Andi Drake: a.drake@leedsmet.ac.uk

*Please also note that bookings are open for the UKA Women’s Coaching Conference (Milton Keynes, 23 October) and the inaugural European Sprints and Hurdles Conference (Heathrow, London, 13-14 November).*

The closing date for the UKA Women’s Coaching Conference – with keynote speakers including Margo Jennings, coach to Kelly Holmes (2004 Olympic Games double gold medallist) and Maria Mutola (800m gold medallist in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games) – is Tuesday 12 October.

For further information on the UKA Women’s Coaching Conference including confirmed speakers and workshops, in addition to booking details, go to www.uka.org.uk/coaching. The closing date is midnight on 12 October 2010 and late bookings will not be accepted.

For event queries please email women@uka.org.uk

For full event details on the European Sprints and Hurdles Conference visit the dedicated website