UK Athletics Members Council

LYNN DAVIES

President

Lynn is currently the President of UKA having been re-elected for a second term of office.He as been involved in sport and education for the past 40 years,as a competitor in the 100 metres, long jump and 4x100m relay events  in three Olympic Games.

He was Technical Director to Canadian athletics from 1972-76. then team manager to the British Athletics Team from 1978-84 including the Moscow and Los Angeles Olympic Games.

He served as a member of the Sports Council for Wales for two terms,and has been a Vice President of the British Olympic Association since 2001.He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff and was made a Fellow of the University in 1993.

 In 2006 he was awarded the CBE having previously received the MBE.      

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STEVE BACKLEY

Vice President

Steve is one of the UK's most successful athletes and former world record holder in the javelin. In an illustrious career he won the European Championship title on no less than four occasions - in javelin, beating all the world class competitors in the sport due to Europe's strength in that event. He also won medals at three consecutive Olympic Games and was fourth in his final event at Athens in 2004.

In retirement, Backley has continued to serve the sport well, developing his own area of athlete drill and conditioning training, media work and continuous support for the administration and development of the sport behind the scenes.

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JOHN GRAVES

England Representative

John is a retired schoolteacher who celebrates fifty years involvement in athletics in 2010. He first joined Boston AC in 1960 and then moved to Tamworth AC in the early seventies where he was Chairman for ten years from 1998. As an athlete he was an English Schools competitor at 800m and the steeplechase but cross country has always been his real passion.

In recent years, John has been the Interim Chair of England Athletics West Midlands Regional Council followed by Chair of the National Council and is now Chairman of the EA Board.

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FRANK DICK

Scotland Representative

Frank Dick is President of the European Athletics Coaches Association (EACA) and works in both the corporate sector and sport to build the coaching profession.

He has a lengthy career in athletics coaching behind him including that as coach of Olympic champion Daley Thompson. This year, he has been appointed to the Board of Directors of FA. Learning; hosted the World Class Coaches Club at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin; is seeking to establish a European and IAAF College of Master Coaches and has completed his fourth book, "Winning Matters".

He is also architect of the IAAF Coaches Academy concept. 

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LYNETTE HARRIES

Wales Representative

Lynette has been involved in the sport of athletics since her school days winning national titles as a schoolgirl, student and a senior athlete. She then became involved in athletics administration, teaching, coaching and qualified as a technical official.

She became a principal lecturer in the university sector and subject leader in Physical Education and Sport. Following her retirement she was awarded an honorary fellowship of the University of Wales Newport.

A former member of the Sports Council for Wales and Skills Active Wales she is currently a member of the Board of the Welsh Sports Association and is Chair of Welsh Athletics Ltd.

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ROY CORRY

Northern Ireland Representative

Roy Corry has been involved in Athletics in Northern Ireland for the past 50 years. He is currently president and an active member of Willowfield Temperance Harriers (formed 1898).

Roy has also been Honorary Treasurer of Athletics Northern Ireland since 1995, and is a management board member.

He is a semi retired Chartered Managerment Accountant and was also Branch President - his personal hobbies include cycling, rugby and music.

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BILL ADCOCKS

Affiliated Clubs Representative

A former GB athlete and college lecturer, Bill retired as the UK Athletics information /facilities officer in 2007.

He was most famously the holder of the Athens marathon record from 1969 to the Athens Olympics in 2004 where his mark of 2.11.07 was finally broken by race winner Stefano Baldini. He finished fifth in the Olympic Games marathon in 1968 and his best marathon time was 2.10.48 when winning the Fukuoka Marathon in the same year.

Bill has been a member of his  local athletic Club Coventry Godiva Harriers since 1955 - and was made a life member in 1983 - for the last 18 years he has served as club secretary.  

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KEITH MAY

Affiliated Clubs Representative

Keith is retired and apart from athletics his interests include travel, horse racing and playing golf

He is currently the Chairman of the Southern Women’s Track and Field League, and of his Club Horsham Blue Star. Other involvement in the sport includes organising the Sussex County Track & Field Championships as well as the Sussex Under 13 Track & Field League which he set up in 1990. He is a grade 4 timekeeper.

Keith believes that Clubs provide the bedrock for athletics in this country and that support of the Clubs and volunteers within the Clubs is vital for the future of the sport.

Contact email address: kmay@uka.org.uk

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GRAHAM JESSOP

Non Track and Field Affiliated Clubs Representative

Graham is a retired accountant and when not involved in athletics is most likely travelling, playing golf or cycling.

He has been in the sport for more than fifty years from miling and steeplechasing to marathons. During the last twenty five years Graham has become a race organizer, coach, senior official and administrator.

As well as being a Club Chairman, a County President and Southern Chairman, he is also Chairman of the England Athletics Council, Chairman of the English Road Running Association, Chairman of the South East Regional Council and sits on the UKA Technical Committee as an endurance official.

Contact email address:  gjessop@uka.org.uk

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MIKE HARRIS

Coaches Representative

Works as full time Airfield Duty Manager, Manchester Airport.

Interests include Ornithology, Classical Music and Manchester City. Level 4 Endurance Coach & Level 2 Pole Vault Coach, chairman of Trafford Athletic Club, BMC Regional Race Organiser and memberof England Athletics' North West Regional Council.

Mike holds a passionate belief that coaching is fundamental to the success of the sport and that the elite coaching structure has to be underpinned by quality coaching at sub-elite level at club and regional level.

Contact email address: mharris@uka.org.uk

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WENDY HAXELL  

Representative

Retired school teacher.  Interests include reading, WI, music, cooking and travel.

 

Wendy qualified as a track judge 42 years ago, but now also works in photo finish.  As a level 4 official she is involved in management roles nationally but still maintains her interest in athletics at all levels including Sportshall and Special Olympics.

She is Tri Regional secretary for the South and also acts as a tutor for UKA.

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STAN BURTON

Officials Representative

Semi-retired chartered accountant - Interests include spending time with family, playing table tennis in a local league and golf.

Stan qualified as a timekeeper when his son took part in athletics as a youngster and now officiates at top level meetings in the country. Enjoys continued involvement at grass roots level, officiating at local leagues, young athletes and schools meetings.

Contact email address: sburton@uka.org.uk

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HELEN CLITHEROE

Athlete Representative

Helen is currently a competitive international athlete. She has competed for GB teams since 1998. After competing for many years in the 1500m with a PB of 4.01.10, she recently switched events to the 3000m steeplechase and holds the British record which she set at the Olympics in Beijing.

Helen enjoys spending time with her family, eating out and going to music gigs.

She has been a member of Preston Harriers for 23 years and has the honourary role of Club President . She is also a proud Life Member of the club.

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LORD COE

Serving as an IAAF Council Member

Lord Coe was a double Olympic champion in an illustrious competitive career on the track.

In 1992 he was elected as Conservative MP for Falmouth and Camborne, and in a successful political career was private secretary to William Hague, the leader of the Conservative Party in opposition between 1997 and 2001.

Coe was also President of the AAA between 2000 and 2004. Then in 2005 leading the project as the bid chairman, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were awarded to London.

It was a success which saw him awarded the KBE in the 2006 New Year Honours and he is now chairman of the organising Committee.

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ROGER SIMONS

Serving as a Council appointed Member

Roger previously served as a UKA board member holding key roles within the organisation including: Head of Track & Field Policy and Support Team. President of the European Champion Junior Clubs organisation, Chair of the UK Athletics National Officials and Appointments/Upgrading Committee and Chair of the UKA Eligibility Committee. Also a member of the 2012 working group and the UKA member of the British Paralympic Associations..

He has been hugely involved with British and International athletics. He has been Chairman & President of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Promotions Officer & Chairman of the British Athletics League, Chairman of South West Athletics, Chair of the 2003 World Athletics Indoor Championships and 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships Technical Committee's, Founder & Chairman of British Association of Track and Field Leagues, and Chair of UKA Technical Committee.

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CHRIS COHEN

Chairman IPC

Chris is a former teacher who acted as Chairman of IPC Athletics for almost twenty years and is currently Vice-Chairman of the IPC Sports Council. He has been Technical Delegate at five Paralympic Games.

He competed as a jumper in his younger days and is a member of the UKA Technical Committee as well as chairing the Officials Education group.

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