Having founded and led the club for the last seven years, Michael Holden is stepping down with a new committee taking over the reins.
When Holden set up the club in 2013 it had three members, however, has now grown to 30 members with a number of these representing the London Interregional Championships Team over the years.
As a coach, Holden has been involved with developing junior athletes for nearly 20 years and supporting juniors to qualify and develop as coaches. In 2019, he was also named the London region Children’s Coach of the Year.
“Michael has run the entire show at Comet by himself bar help from Sophie Frame as welfare officer and coaches Ian Johnson and myself,” commented Anthony Anderson who has taken over as chair and head coach at the club.
“Alongside myself, on the new committee we have Nicola Wadham as treasurer, Sophie Frame as welfare officer, Emma Rowley as kit manager and Tiff Bateman as club secretary and Mark Bateman as webmaster, as well as continued support from the coaches Ian Johnson, Jess Lillywhite and Abi Frame.
“The new committee is looking to continue Michaels legacy and seek to offer more opportunities to the older members in the form of a squad, expand membership and also to find another level 2 coach to help us at our sessions.”
Holden isn’t stepping away completely from the club, however. As a level 3 coach he’ll still be on hand to offer cover for coaching sessions and help out where needed.
Abi Frame, coach at the club, said of Michael: “I have known Michael for the last 15 years, since I was 11 and first starting out. He then helped mentor me in my journey as a coach and we have been coaching alongside each other for around eight years.
“Michael has been nothing but encouraging with me, especially when it came to coaching. I have learned so much from him over the years and is one of the reasons I am still in the sport 15 years later.”
If you’d like to share your club’s activities with Triathlon England, please get in touch with your Regional Manager Jon Train at jontrain@britishtriathlon.org.
