23 December 2008

UK Athletics today announce Dr Craig Ranson, currently National Lead Physiotherapist for the England and Wales Cricket Board, has been appointed Chief Physiotherapist. 

Ranson will make the move from cricket to athletics in the New Year and will be mainly based at Loughborough University High Performance Centre (HiPAC) but also splitting his time between other centres in Lee Valley, Brunel University and Birmingham.

He said: “I am excited to make the move to athletics. It is a not only a great time to become involved in a high profile Olympic sport in the lead up to 2012 but a fantastic opportunity to work with athletes who are working at maximum physical exertion all the time.”

The Australian , who has lived in the UK for ten years, has spent much of his career working in cricket, primarily at Derbyshire Country Cricket Club and more recently the England and Wales Cricket Board where he has been for the past three years .

His other experience within performance sports is diverse , working within Australian track and field athletics, the Western State under 16 Australian Rules Football Team, Cottesloe Rugby Union Football Club and at the Hopman Cup International Tennis Tournament.

UK Athletics Chief Executive Niels de Vos said of the appointment: "I am pleased to announce Craig will be joining the UK Athletics medical team. His impressive CV and previous work within performance sport speaks volumes about his dedication and expertise in sports physiotherapy and I am sure our sport will benefit a great deal from his presence in the run up to 2012."

The appointment allows UK Athletics current Chief Physiotherapist Neil Black to concentrate on his new role as acting UK Athletics Lead on Medicine and Sports Science, after performing both roles for the past 9 months.