Mark Barron appointed as RYA National Racing Coach
by Royal Yachting Association 26 Feb 2001 15:01 GMT
The Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) World Class coaching team has been enhanced this week with the addition of former international Laser sailor Mark Barron, who joins the RYA as National Racing Coach.
Mark (from Swanwick in Hampshire) has taken over the role from Olympic Development Squad Manager Stephen Park, who now manages the World Class funded programme for GBR Olympic class sailing.
In addition to his coaching role with the Europe class Olympic Development Squad (utilising the skills and experience he developed in his own four year Laser Olympic campaign), Mark will also supervise the RYA's UK Olympic class national events programme and assist Stephen with the vast logistics programme behind RYA Team GBR.
At youth level, Mark (25) will develop the training and competition plans for each of the national youth and transitional classes with the RYA National Coaches and various class associations. He will also recruit, strengthen and supervise the coaching and specialist support for the youth
programme up to Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship level.
"The RYA coaching programme for all levels of sailing in the UK has developed immensely since I competed at youth and Olympic level. It is now internationally recognised as one of the world's leading support programmes. I'm looking forward to the challenges of keeping it that way and transferring the skills I have learnt in my own campaigns onto other Olympic hopefuls in a way that will hopefully make a medal winning difference," commented Mark.
"As well as a possessing a high level of sailing ability and the communication skills needed to transfer his knowledge across as a coach, Mark also stood out due to his exemplary organisational skills. He will be an asset to the World Class Programme and I am sure will rise to the challenge that being the top Olympic sailing nation in the world presents," commented Stephen.
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