Coach and Volunteer Profiles

David Robinson

Club Chair

I joined the club in 1997. The club membership was much smaller back then with very few women members. There were about a dozen of us who ran all the club fixtures and ‘one off’ races. My absolute favourite has always been the Orion 15. For 10/12 years or so I enjoyed racing and training with the club. At the time the clubhouse was in a very poor state and in the late 2010’s I put together a scheme of improvements and along with others applied for various grants.

We finally went ahead in May 2012 and towards the end of the year I was appointed chairperson. By this time we were very much a growing club and over the next decade after merging with Tower Hamlets AC in 2001 we have become one of London’s most successful and diverse clubs providing Track & Field and Road & XC training and competition, primarily for the inhabitants of East London. It has been an absolute joy to have worked with so many members, captains, officials and friends who have all been a huge part of developing the club to where we are today.

Simon Wharton

Club Secretary

As club secretary I am responsible for ensuring the administration of the club. My responsibilities include: agreeing the agendas and organising the regular Board / committee meetings with the chairperson; taking minutes and following-up on actions arising; organising the AGM; attending to affiliations; including reporting to the Charity Commission and registration with other external organisations.

Whilst I have been a member of the club since 2018 it is only in the last couple of years that I’ve found the time to attend more training and race cross-country and really enjoyed being pushed to challenge myself in very different ways than just running round the canals of East London! I love how welcoming the club is and how it works successfully for so many different sorts of runners: from beginners to elite athletes, juniors to veterans and across the whole range of track, field, road and XC events.

Lily Zechmann

Women’s Road & Cross Country – Club Captain

I joined VPH&THAC in 2020 during the manic pandemic, through the desire to connect with individuals with a shared passion for running drew me to the club at a time when physical social connectivity was lacking. I was delighted by the welcoming nature of the club when I first arrived for the social Thursday runs, everyone was so friendly, in addition, the club offers amazing coached sessions that I value highly.

My favourite distance is 10k road running but I also love the quick and fast 800m track race which I am getting more into! I often run when most of the country is still fast asleep or getting ready for bed. I have recently taken on the role as the Women’s Road and XC Club Captain. I am very excited about getting more involved with the club and encouraging more people to get stuck in with the races.

Jade dos Santos

Women’s Road & Cross Country – Race Captain

Running was a big part of my childhood, originally running for Trent Park Running Club as a youngster. Since joining in Autumn 2021, I have now been part of VPH&THAC for around two years and regained my love for running and finally reaching a stage where I am quicker than my younger self.

As the Club Race Captain, I will take pride in promoting competition and encouraging participation while racing alongside our fellow club members in the jade and blue. Something I enjoy so much, particularly the Metropolitan cross-country league and track racing at the Southern Athletics League (“SAL”).

James Hirst

Men’s Road & Cross Country – Club Captain

According to Strava my first session with VPH was way back in May 2018. I was originally drawn to the club by a desire to get my hands on the dashing jade and blue vest. Since then I have become more and more involved in training and racing with the club and am a regular at club training sessions with my favourites being Track on Tuesday and the always brilliant Project V on Thursday’s!

I was drawn to the captain’s role as I love watching and helping people to discover and fall in love with running and realise the tremendous benefits it can bring – something I also do through my role as one of the Run Directors at Hackney Marshes parkrun. As Men’s Club Captain I will do my best to welcome new members, encourage in our races and most importantly make sure we have fun!

Nat Rowland

Men’s Road & Cross Country – Race Captain

I joined VPH&THAC when I moved to London in August 2021 and it has become a central part of my London life ever since. As a keen road runner and a past track and XC junior back home in Horsham, I have been reacquainted with the wonders of club running and haven’t looked back.

Running has taught me that if you put yourself out there and put the effort in, you will reach the goals you set yourself. It seems so simple now, but the more you run the easier it gets! Reaching goals through running taught me that ambition is a good thing and I try to follow that in my day to day life.

Cornelia Abe-Minale

Director of Youth

Responsible for all aspects of training and competition/event administration. this includes the day-to-day organisation of regular club track & field and XC training sessions. Working closely with the respective Track Captains to select and organise the logistics for junior teams participating across the three competitive leagues: Southern Athletics League (“SAL”), the Lower & Upper Youth Development Leagues (“YDL”) and the Metropolitan XC League (“Met League”). Also supporting groups and individual athletes in racing at qualification events and open meetings and competitions (including English Schools, National Championships, Regional and County Championships).

Cornelia has a strong track record in supporting young athletes across all age groups, having coached the junior endurance team at VPH&THAC since 2012. Main training focus is on track distances between 800-3000m and cross country. Notable experience in guiding individuals through competitive races ranging from local grass roots leagues up to the most prestigious regional and national events.

Alan MacDonald

Men’s Track & Field Captain

An important and broad contribution to the regular club training schedules. Working closely with the Director of Youth and the Women’s Track Captain to select and organise the logistics for junior teams participating across the three competitive leagues: Southern Athletics League (“SAL”), the Lower & Upper Youth Development Leagues (“YDL”) and the Metropolitan XC League (“Met League”). Also supporting groups and individual athletes in racing at qualification events and open meetings and competitions (including English Schools, National Championships, Regional and County Championships).

Alan competed in middle distance and cross country running at a high level until he was 21. Since retiring in 2021, Alan has returned to running, joining VPH, where his twins, Lyra and Thom, already ran as juniors.

Alan’s main focus has been on supporting athletic events, qualifying as a Level 1 Photo Finish official and a Starters Assistant, officiating at SAL, YDL and schools meetings and managing our junior teams for the Middlesex champs and SEAA road relays. He has also enjoyed some strong competition results himself and is currently ranked 10th V55 in GB over 1500m in 2023.

Alan’s knowledge and enthusiasm for athletics complements his role very well to promote participation and build the membership across the ‘Track & field’ and ‘Road & Cross Country’ teams.

Bessie Venables

Women’s Track & Field Captain

An important and broad contribution to the regular club training schedules. Working closely with the Director of Youth and the Men’s Track Captain to select and organise the logistics for junior teams participating across the three competitive leagues: Southern Athletics League (“SAL”), the Lower & Upper Youth Development Leagues (“YDL”) and the Metropolitan XC League (“Met League”). Also supporting groups and individual athletes in racing at qualification events and open meetings and competitions (including English Schools, National Championships, Regional and County Championships).

Bessie Venables is a parent of a young athlete at VPTHAC. She is a proud Tower Hamlets resident, being an Event Director at Mile End junior parkrun and a Trustee at Stepney City Farm. She likes to divide her time between working locally as a psychiatrist and officiating in track and field events at various athletic events.

Valerie Wong

Club Treasurer / Finance Director

I work with the Board in planning the development of the club. My role primarily oversees the administration of the club bank accounts, liquidity, preparing and monitoring the annual budget, managing membership fees and other club income and expenditures. Also the preparation of the end of year financial report and annual financial accounts with the external auditors.

I joined the club at the end of 2018, and took on the role as treasurer since October 2022. In addition to managing the finance of the club you can probably find me in the kitchen cooking, or bringing a cake to one of the club-hosted events; you can also probably hear me before you see me at the XC races, lung capacity for a cheerer, not so much a (fast) runner.

As someone who used to run at only one pace, I have enjoyed regular and structured trainings with the club, which has taken my running to a whole new level; it is not only running though, as I can confidently call many members friends today. As a relatively new board member, I look forward to adding my experience and perspective in contributing to the management of the club.

Matthew Dawson

Welfare Officer

Our Welfare officers within the club are there to ensure that members have a trained and trusted person to speak to about a concern within the club or at times outside of Athletics. A club welfare officers has completed England Athletics ( EA ) online safeguarding and Time to Listen training. With the support of the club committee, responsibility include: implementing effective Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures; promote safeguarding at the club and encourage good practice; ensure that members of the club, volunteers, coaches who are working with children or adults at risk are recruited safely and in line with legal requirements.

Having been a member of the club since May 2021, I’ve been impressed by its community ethos and emphasis on wellbeing towards its members. The safety and wellbeing of individuals is of utmost importance to me and having just recently been appointed as a club welfare officer, I hope to transfer professional expertise in safeguarding of vulnerable individuals to the protection of club members.

My experience of working with vulnerable adults with protected characteristics provides me with expertise in consistently reviewing standards to ensure equality of access. With accredited training in motivational interviewing and mental health, I also aim to be a trustworthy officer who handles subjects in confidence with attentiveness and sensitivity. Working with fellow welfare officers, we look forward to looking after the wellbeing of all members and maintaining the clubs friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Alf Vickers BEM

Head of Performance & Coaching

A key coach support officer who works closely with both groups of endurance and track coaches to maximise athlete support across the club sessions and promote competitive performance and participation at key local, regional and national events.

Other responsibilities include: holding regular meetings with all Club Track and Endurance Coaches and manages all aspects of coaching practice, session planning and event management; monitors coach’s DBS status and Safeguarding training; and together with Club Coaches undertakes Event Specific Risk Assessments and Training Guidance.

Alf Vickers BEM

Coach (Track & Field)

Hurdles & sprints

A coach whose athletes have won 31 English Schools individual and numerous National Medals. Has also helped young athletes from school to Junior internationals.

Coaching qualifications: Level 3 Hurdle & Sprints

Cornelia Abe-Minale

Endurance Coach

Endurance coach (800m up to 5000m on track, + XC events) / junior members aged 9-18.

Cornelia has a strong track record in supporting young athletes across all age groups, having coached the junior endurance team at VPH&THAC since 2012. Notable experience in guiding individuals through competitive races ranging from local grass roots leagues up to the most prestigious regional and national events.

Coaching qualifications: Athletics Coach Endurance, LiRF (leader in running fitness), Coaching Assistant.

Kelvin Richards

Coach (Track & Field)

Sprints & jumps (juniors + seniors)

Joined as a 17-year-old competed until he was 40, Long jumping over 7 metres, then turned to coaching.

Coaching qualifications: Level 2 Jumps

Claudine Vickers

Coach (Track & Field)

Sprints & hurdles (juniors + seniors)

First joined as a 9-year-old and competed until she was 17, was the clubs star hurdler during those years, returned as a coach when she was 22 for some time. With a period in between to have a family, and has since come back at 30 and continued as a club coach until now.

Coaching qualifications: Level 2 Speed

Mick Cairns

Coach (Road & Cross Country)

Weekly Tuesday track session

I have been a member of the club for nearly 25 years and coaching for over a decade.
The sessions are based around the annual race calendar, with focus in spring on marathon / half marathon work, moving on to the summer road and track season culminating in the club mile. This is followed by a reset in early autumn then a focus on the cross country season during the winter. I base the sessions on time rather than distance to cater for a wide variety of abilities. My coaching philosophy is based on healthy, intelligent training for best performance and longevity.

Coaching qualifications: British Triathlon Federation Level 2, Lydiard Foundation Level 2, UK Athletics Leader in Running Fitness.

Steve Hobbs

Coach (Road & Cross Country)

Weekly Thursday “Project V” session

10 years experience in coaching Road & XC working with athletes at all levels and all distances from 5k to ultra marathons. A 2h30 marathoner himself, Steve has built expertise based on an amalgamation of a range of coaching methods, approaches and philosophies rather than just one.

Coaching qualifications:  UKA Coach In Running Fitness

Anthony Bunbury

Coach (Multi Discipline)

Specialising in Olympic Lifts, Squats, Free Weights, Multi-Gym, Circuits, Strength and Conditioning for all sports, all athletes and all ages. His weekly session starts with a dynamic warm-up, followed by a circuits session for the upper body, core and legs, a short rest, followed by free weights, multi gym, olympic lifts, squats, dead lifts. rollouts, plyometrics etc,.

Coaching Qualifications: Leader-Fitness in Running and Walking, Level 2 coach for Jumps, Throws, Speed and Endurance, Safeguarding in Athletics. Level 3 UKA Strength and Conditioning Course

Associate member of UKACA: Tony has completed – Foundation Workshop and Certification, Weights & Lifting Workshop, Plyo, Agility and Speed Workshop, and Planning Effective Programmes Workshop