10th November 2008

Over two hundred coaches and athletes from across the UK and abroad gathered at Loughborough University on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November for a unique conference that focussed on raising standards in all four jumps disciplines.

The weekend also gave the opportunity for a number of our elite performers and emerging junior talent to gather together, train and learn from some of the very best in the World. The group included Olympic Silver medallist Phillips Idowu, Chris Tomlinson, Tom Parsons, Steve Lewis and Greg Rutherford, amongst others on the World Class programme.

Mike Powell made a special trip over from the United States and Russian Vaulter, Viktor Chistiakov joined the line up of international speakers, who, on the domestic front included recently retired Ashia Hansen, whose coach, Aston Moore led a workshop on strength training for the Triple Jump.

Shaun Pickering said:

“It’s been a great weekend, we’ve followed on from the success of the throws weekend last year with a wonderful jumps conference this weekend, we’ve had a very good turnout.

“I’m also particularly grateful to Mike Powell who came over and is flying back on his birthday, so he’s made the sacrifice for that. Viktor Chistiakov actually stepped in at the last minute because Anatoly Chernobay was unable to get a visa as of 2 days ago. He only got married a few days ago! It has been terrific that they have made that effort.”

Greg Rutherford, now back in winter training in London said:

“I’ve been back in training for 3 or 4 weeks now, things have been good and now that Chris (Tomlinson) is with us its brilliant, the training group is perfect for me now, I’ve got the best Long Jumper in the country with me, training with me, so we’ve been training well together and things are looking good for the indoors.”                  

Looking ahead to 2009, he added:

“First of all we’ve got the European Indoors, which is massive, and hopefully going out for a win on that one. There are a lot of good jumpers in Europe but I am hoping to take on something from 2008, which for me wasn’t a particularly good year.

Then going for the World Champs, just showing that the distances I jumped this year would have got me a bronze medal at the Olympics and my PB would have silver so there is no reason why I can’t medal at the World Champs definitely.

Peter Stanley, former coach to Jonathan Edwards said:

“I think that this Conference is the way forward to get coaches together in a relaxed but a professional atmosphere as well, and actually getting them to trading off ideas. Generally it’s talking about what we do without any pressures and away from the competition scenario.”
 

A DVD of the weekend’s workshops and practical sessions can be purchased from the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund – visit www.rpmf.org.uk  for full details.