COVID-19 SAFETY POLICY
Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic we are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of all our members, volunteers, and staff at all Bristol and West AC training sessions and events. Please familiarise yourself with our COVID-19 Safety Policy before attending any events or training sessions.
The Southwest's Premier Athletics Club | Est. 1882
COMMITTEE & CONTACTS
Here you will find information about the club management committee including details on who you should contact if you have any specific questions or queries.
If your query is about a specific training session or needs to be answered by a specific coach, please go to our Training Timetable and click on the relevant session, where you will find the contact details of the session organiser.
WHO TO CONTACT (QUICK LINKS)
General enquires:
Membership:
Coaching, training groups, or training at Whitehall:
Officiating or Volunteering:
Finance:
Marketing & Publicity, Sponsorship:
Website:
Health & Safety
Safeguarding
Southwest PB Series
Junior Athletics
For urgent club related matters or matters that require the attention of the most senior committee members
YOUR COMMITTEE
MARIA TOWNSEND
Chair
Maria Townsend is our club chair and is in charge of ensuring that the committee uphold high standards across the board while meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of our membership. Maria will ensure that we continue to deliver on our development plan over the medium and long-term while executing short term tasks that make Bristol and West AC one off the leading athletics clubs in the country.
Maria is also a competing member of our club herself and regularly represents Bristol and West AC in javelin competitions.
You should contact Maria for urgent club related matters only.
MIKE DOWN
Vice Chair
Mike Down is a stalwart of Bristol and West Athletics Club and has played an integral role in ensuring the club maintains its status as a leading high performance athletics club. Mike is a nationally recognised distance coach. In 2018 Mike received the BMC Lifetime Services to Coaching Award and this year will celebrate 60 years as a UKA qualified distance coach.
You should contact Mike for queries relating to high performance distance running or the Hargreaves Performance Awards.
BEN WESTHENRY
General Secretary and Minuting Secretary
As Secretary, Ben Westhenry is in charge of ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the club and supporting the chair in ensuring the seamless and effective functioning of the management committee. Ben is also in charge of ensuring communications at club meetings are documented and minutes are distributed to relevant parties so that actions can be easily identified and put in place. Ben has pedigree as an elite distance runner, having competed for both England and Great Britain in both track and cross-country, and is now the head coach of the University of Bristol Distance Squad.
For any club related queries of a general nature, or for anything relating to committee meeting minutes you should contact Ben.
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BETTI FARKAS
Membership Secretary and Officials & Volunteers Secretary
Betti is in charge of managing all club memberships, including new membership requests, change of membership status, and season ticket purchases. She is also in charge of managing our club officials for competitions and anyone who wishes to volunteer in any capacity for the club.
You should contact Betti for queries regarding your club membership, volunteering, or officiating using the associated email address below.
PAUL FILER
Coaching Co-ordinator and Development Advisor
Paul Filer in charge of overseeing coaching on a club-wide scale and ensuring the training sessions at Whitehall are run smoothly and seamlessly. He works closely with coaches across the club to ensure that we continue to help athletes of all levels meet and exceed their goals. Paul is a leading throws coach at the club and has coached numerous junior athletes to national accolades.
You should contact Paul for queries regarding training at Whitehall Track, including finding the right training group for you, or for general queries related to training/coaching.
NAT BRETHERTON
Treasurer
As club Treasurer Nat's role is to ensure the financial health of the club is maintained and that budgets are in place to allow us to continue providing an excellent service for all our members. Nat deals with daily intra-club financial transactions anything else relating to club finance.
You should contact Nat for anything to do with club finance.
BEN MALIPHANT
Marketing & Publicity Officer
As marketing and publicity officer Ben is in charge of communications with club members, our social media and working with sponsors such as BCU and ON running who have recently contributed to the club.
You should contact Ben for anything relating to marketing and publicity, such as competition reports, articles, or updates you wish to have publicised, or sponsorship related matters.
NICOLE NEO
Webmaster
Nicole is responsible for maintaining the website. She is interested in building widgets such as calculators for the website, so if you have any ideas do get in touch with a mock-up in spreadsheet form.
DEAN GARRETT
Young Athlete Development Advisor
Dean is responsible for overseeing the progression and development of Bristol and West AC young athletes by ensuring they are provided with the right opportunities and the environment and support they need to excel. Dean is also the head coach of BWAC Junior Academy sessions which take place on a Monday and Wednesday evening at Whitehall Track.
EUGENE HECHAVARRIA
Facilities Manager
Eugene is responsible for keeping Bristol and West’s Whitehall facility in order and ensuring issues and problems are addressed promptly. Eugene is a leading jumps coach at the club coaching multiple English Schools athletes and is still the English school junior boys triple jump record holder.
You should contact Eugene for anything relating to our Whitehall facility.
PAUL OWEN
Health & Safety Officer
Paul is our health and safety officer and is in charge of ensuring the club adheres to it's already high standards of safety. He is also a UKA qualified coach and works with both junior and senior middle and long distance runners.
You should contact Paul if you have any concerns about health and safety within the club.
Paul Jefferson, Emma Withers & Catie O'Donoghue
Safeguarding
Paul, Catie and Emma are our Safeguarding Officers. Their aim is to ensure a safe environment is provided for all members of BWAC to enjoy athletics. We have a legal duty to ensure that we look after and treat properly the children in our club and that also means that we are responsible for reporting any concerns about a child’s welfare if we have due cause to. A safe environment is everyone’s responsibility but policy, procedures, processes, awareness and training are also required so that we can honesty say we have got it right.
JOSH MOODY
Committee Member Without Portfolio
Josh Moody is an elite endurance runner and has been integral in establishing the successful training group, Bristol Track Club, who's aim is to bring together high quality distance runners in an effort to progress the competitive end of endurance running within BWAC. Josh, has also been fundamental in the conception of a new series of road races held at Odd Down Cycle Circuit, which promises to be an exciting series of events across the summer.
You should contact Josh regarding the Southwest PB Series, On Bristol Track Club Elite 5k Race, or if you would like more information about Bristol Track Club.
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KURT TAYLOR
Committee Member Without Portfolio
While still relatively new to the sport, Kurt has quickly established himself as one of the clubs leading endurance athletes and was the team captain of the successful Men's team who won the midland road relays, silver in the National road relays, and bronze in the National XC championships.
Kurt has also played a leading role in organising the new Southwest PB Series set to take place this summer and has been instrumental in its success so far.
You should contact Kurt regarding the Southwest PB Series, On Bristol Track Club Elite 5k Race, or if you would like more information about Bristol Track Club.
NICK HARRIS
Committee Member Without Portfolio
Nick Harris is a sprints coach at Bristol and West AC and has led athletes to county, regional, national and even international success. His role includes providing the committee with a practical insight and feedback about the coaching on the ground during club nights.