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Leeds Beckett coaching team competing with England greats for award
Kris, Rugby Development Officer for Sport and Active Lifestyles, and student Harrison, who is currently doing an MSc in Sports Coaching, have been shortlisted for a UK coaching award. They will compete with England football manager Gareth Southgate and England netball team head coach Tracey Neville – formerly a netball coach at Leeds Beckett.
They are all shortlisted for the ‘Great Coaching Moment of the Year’ award, which celebrates a time when a coach’s support and guidance really paid off.
Kris and Harrison, along with Stephen Quinn, are nominated for their work with Old Otliensians RUFC in Otley. The coaching team took over the rugby side last year. Since then, the team has been promoted and reached the national final in Twickenham where they won the RFU Junior Vase.
Sharon Marshall nominated the trio for the award, and she said: “I am passionate about recognising great coaching and I know the annual UK Coaching Awards are the showpiece for so many coaches to have their achievements shared and acknowledged.
“The whole town of Otley came out to cheer on the boys of Old Otliensians reaching the final of the Junior Vase trophy at Twickenham.
“The hard work and passion of the coaches certainly rubbed off onto the players. The coaches deserve recognition in the team’s performance throughout the year topped off with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at Twickenham.”
Kris added: “It's always nice to receive recognition for the work you do, but to receive it on a national platform is unbelievable and something we still can't believe. The final in May was not only good for the club, but also for the whole town of Otley and it was great to see how sport can bring a community together.
“It's amazing the power of sport can have on a community, and to be nominated by someone locally for this achievement is huge honour and we are very grateful to them. To be on a shortlist with household names like Gareth Southgate and Tracey Neville is unbelievable, they are both incredible and highly regarding coaches within their sports and in the wider sports coaching community, and competing with them for a national award is something I never thought would happen.
The winners will be announced at the UK Coaching Awards 2018 in London on 29 November.