The event, hosted by Sports Coach UK, helps to raise the profile of coaches and the vital role they play encouraging participation, performance and excellence.

 

The Coaching Chain award is given in recognition of the contributions made by a group of individuals throughout an elite athlete’s career in helping them achieve their potential. 

 

Jack Maitland, Malcolm Brown, Charles Lines, Tony Kingham and Corrinne Tantrum have all made a huge impact, having guided Alistair and Jonathan from Bradford Swimming Club, through school and on to Olympic and ITU world titles. 

 

Malcolm Brown, British Triathlon’s Performance Manager during the London 2012 Olympic Games, was delighted with the award and commented: “It’s very appropriate that after British Triathlon’s best Olympic Games, there is recognition of the coaches that contributed to the success of Alistair and Jonny as they worked over the years towards the Olympic podium.”

 

He added: “Coaches are only part of the picture, but they are critical to the long and rocky road that is endurance sport.”

 

• Jack Maitland started working with the brothers ten years ago. Along with Simon Ward, Jack set up the World Class Talent ID and Development programme for the North of England in 2001. The successful programme included regular training camps attended by Alistair and Jonathan.  He then went on to establish the High Performance Centre at Leeds Met Carnegie. The brothers have remained with Jack ever since. 

 

• Malcolm Brown is a UKA qualified endurance running coach and his involvement in the brothers’ career cannot be under estimated. During his eight years coaching them, Malcolm took joint management of the Brownlee’s coaching programme, during this time they collected a staggering seven World titles, two Olympic medals, two European titles and numerous National and International Junior and Senior titles.

 

 

• Charles Lines is the Director of Sport at Bradford Grammar. He provided the brothers with exceptional support and encouragement in the crucial school years when they were developing as triathletes. He acted as a mentor, training partner and role models to the boys, in particular Jonathan, and nurtured their talent throughout their school days.

 

• Tony Kingham was a key individual in the development of their early technical running and the competitive environment that he helped create through regular cross-country events. He guided Alistair to the 2006 English Schools Cross Country title, the culmination of some 140 races that he competed in during his school career.

 

 

• Corrinne Tantrum was their swimming coach from the ages of 13 and 11 at the City of Bradford Swimming Club. Corrinne had an excellent relationship with their parents and she involved them and consulted them as they progressed. When the boys were 16 and 14 she passed on the boy’s swimming programme to Jack Maitland but her commitment to the boys training always extended to beyond what occurred on poolside and is a remarkable role model for other coaches.