02 July 2014 

Two of the world’s top athletics officials, as well as one of the country’s best sprint coaches were honoured in front of spectators and BBC television cameras at last weekend’s Sainsbury’s British Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Moira Gallagher, Keith Davies and Chris Zah all received international awards from European Athletics for their dedication to officiating and coaching.

Zah, from London, has been awarded the European Athletics Coaching Award for 2013. Chris who is known best for his coaching of British hurdling star and World championship finalist Perri Shakes Drayton, is a coach to a talented group of athletes at Victoria Park and Tower Hamlets as well as a number of the UKs top 400m runners including Daniel Awde.

His partnership with Shakes-Drayton has seen her become one of the world’s top hurdling talents as well as one of the UK’s top 400m and relay runners.

Peter Stanley of UK Athletics (Head of Field and Combined Events) said, “Chris is a very dedicated and enthusiastic coach. I have been lucky enough to have coached alongside him and witnessed the pleasure which emanates from the athletes as he conducts his sessions. He delivers quality coaching whilst maintaining a level of enthusiasm and fun as he communicates his thoughts to the individuals. He has honed the art of coaching athletes to high level performances through enjoyable training experiences.’

Gallagher, from Leeds, has been awarded the European Athletics Women’s Leadership award for 2013 in appreciation of her outstanding service to the sport. She worked with great success as the meeting Manager at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and is currently the Chair of UK Athletics’ Officials Education and Training Group and a committed mentor to other officials.  She is also a coach who specialises in working with Paralympic athletes and works to increase officials focussing on Paralympic events, helping raise the standards of the competitions in the Paralympic movement.

AND for an unsuspecting recipient Keith Davies is being awarded the European Athletics Trophy in recognition of his valuable support of the sport of athletics.

His officiating has seen him involved in world leading events including World and European Championships, Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games. Keith was at the heart of the preparations and delivery of the athletics competitions at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

Keith has been instrumental in the development of UKA’s track and field officiating courses assisting the progression of our most aspiring officials across the four home nations.

Cherry Alexander from UK Athletics commented, “Moira and Keith have been involved in officiating for a number of years and have officiated at top class athletics events all over the world. They have continued to excel, proving time after time that they are world class athletics officials and both thoroughly deserve these awards.”

“Athletics wouldn’t be able to exist without officials so it’s great that European Athletics have recognised their dedication and hard work with these awards.”

For full results head to: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/sainsburys-british-championships/athlete-information/