Terrance Mahon to UK Athletics

Some "Quasi independent" verification of Mahon rumor.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/9647282/UK-Athletics-hires-Terrence-Mahon-as-a-new-national-coach-for-distance-running-as-coaching-overhaul-continues.html

Well I will only mention former athletes rather than any of Gandys current athletes, but names such as Abbey Westley spring to mind, massive breakthrough to make world champs in 2007. Where is she now? Suffered horrific injuries and illness and has left the sport. Ricky Soos, never fulfilled his potential, despite, I know you would bring this up, making the Olympic team in 2004. Very short lived career at the top. You could also argue Dobriskey. It seems to be the same year in year out for her, horrible injuries and never fully fit. Is this a coincidence? Yes runners suffer injury problems, theres no argument against that, but generally speaking, injuries and illness are poor management of the athlete. These are just three of Gandys better athletes in the past ten years and all have suffered very bad injuries and in the case of two, experienced very short lived careers at the top. So yes, I would say he has "ruined" athletes. I have heard stories of Soos coming back from injuries and Gandy sticking him straight on the track. Is it any wonder he would break down again?

Oh I apoligise. Ali Donaldson, whom, for the life of me I cannt fathom out why, has a UKA coaching job, despite no real credential to speak of. He sends the emails out these days, I guess, so he can actually say he does something, on Georges behalf. I have seen these emails, and they are the work of George. He is the lead coach and the emails very much follow the emails he formerly sent out. The training follows the same pattern, only difference is, the sender of the email has changed.

I believe there are far better coaches in the UKA than Gandy. To name a few, Craig Winrow,Norman Poole, Andy Hobdell Phil Townsend, Alan Storey, Bud Baldaro, Lindsay Dunn. However, it seems, the likes of George, recieves alot of recognition for very little. George, in turn, has given his friends a job. I for one hope that Mahon clears out the dead wood at Loughborough and gets rid of the likes of Nuttall and Donaldson. Of all the middle and long distance athletes at the Olympics this summer, how many athletes can attribute any of their success to loughborough based coaches?

Michael Rimmer - based in N.West coached by Poole

Andy Osagie - based at St Marys coached by Winrow

Gareth Warburton - based in Wales coached by Maynard

Ross Murray - based at St Marys coached by Winrow.

Andy Badderly - based at St Marys coached by Hobdell

Nick McCormick- based at lboro coached by Dunn.

Mo Farah - based in USA coached by Salazar

Chris Thompson - based in USA coached by Rowland

Scott Overall - based at St Marys coached by Robert Chapman

Lee Merrien - based in Guernsey coached by Nuttall

Stuart Stokes - based in Manchester.

Hannah England - based in Birmingham coached by Bud

Barbara parker - based in US coached by Husband.

Claire Hallissey - based in US self coached.

Eilish McColgan - based in Scotland coached by Liz McColgan

Julia Bleasdale - part of Melbourne track club

Jo Pavey - based at St Marys coached by husband

Laura Weightman, based in leeds, coached by Steve Cram

Lyndsay Sharp - based in Scotland.

I think this makes my point very well. Gandy, Nuttall (other than Merrien), Donaldson, and the main man himself, Ian Stewart, have had no real coaching influence on any of GB tops middle and long distance runners, other than, going on free trips to Kenya. They have all clung to the coat tails of successful athletes, not least, Mo Farah, whom Stewart and the likes, try to attribute his success to something they have done. It is time for a change, and Gandy and his mates, need to be moved on.

Excellent post. Really says it as it is .

Well Dobriskey did more than most of that lot on your list and praised Gandy for getting her race fit despite injuries for her World Silver. She has gone downhill since being coached by Ricky Soos. I don't know if the got Soos injured, but what did he did since leaving Gandy- f all maybe he was just a lightweight?

Go back to Coe he was running 1:53 before going to Loughborough although he seemed reluctant to give much credit there

He coached Jon Brown to UK records in the 10 and 2 fourth olympic marathons and Jon was a long way from being the most talented runner in the UK

It's Terrence not Terrance.

If he comes to coach in Britain, this can only be a good thing for the UK and a bad thing for the US.

It makes sense for UK Athletics. The UK wants the best middle distance coach available for 17-year old Jessica Judd. Fastest 17-and-under time in the world this year in the 800. 2:00.96 in the World Juniors, second to Ajee' Wilson's 2:00.91, and Wilson is older. Followed that with the semi and final at the World Juniors 1500. 4:09.93. Judd is to the UK what Cain is to the USA. Could be a showdown between these two at the 2014 World Juniors in Eugene. Judd has already been quoted as saying she is going for 800 Gold in Eugene.