WaldenTri Training Sessions

Mark stepped down from Head Coach in August 2022, following 3 successful years. He has been coaching since 2011 and is also a coach with WaldenJNR tri club.

In 2020 Mark was awarded Triathlon England East Region “Virtual Coach of the Year” before going on to receive the national runner-up award.

His sporting background is in track cycling and time trialling, starting racing at the age of 15. He also competed in some of the UK's first ever duathlons. Over the years he won a few races and a stood on a few rickety podiums, and he still races now & again as a veteran.

He has his own cycling & triathlon coaching business, Full Moo Cycling. He also writes about cycling & triathlon occasionally.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 2

British Cycling Level 2

British Cycling Level 2 Track

British Cycling Level 2 Road & Time Trial

Craig has been coaching in both WaldenTRI and WaldenJNR since 2010, and he became WaldenJNR’s Head Coach in 2019.

In 2020 Craig was awarded Triathlon England East Region “Coach of the Year” before going on to receive the national runner-up award.

He regularly competes in duathlons and has represented GB at European and World Age Group Championships since 2012. In 2018 he won gold at the European Championships in Ibiza.

Craig has his own personal training and sports coaching business, Dyce Fitness.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 2 Diploma

British Cycling Level 2

England Athletics Level 2

A founder member of WaldenTRI and WaldenJNR. Derek is a highly experienced sports coach who has assisted individuals and teams to improve performance across a range of different sports over many years.

Derek likes to specialise in run training and strength and conditioning. He also works tirelessly to bring new investment & sports facilities to Saffron Walden.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 2

Brendan leads WaldenTRI’s swim coaching activities. He has been a Level 2 coach since 2017, having coached with WaldenJNR for seven years.

He has competed at every triathlon distance from Super Sprint up to an Ironman in 2019. He has a special interest in swim coaching having completed a range of courses from SwimSmooth, British Triathlon's official swim partner.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 2

A Level 2 coach, Ben is a very active within the sport both as a coach and a triathlete.

He coaches with WaldenJNR as well as WaldenTRI, and he competes particularly strongly in long distance Aquabike events and cycling time trials. in 2022 Ben became European Champion in his age group.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 2

Laurie has recently converted to triathlon from a background in functional fitness and mobility.

Having trained in strength and conditioning, Ashtanga yoga, yoga for athletes and gym, she is passionate about helping triathletes learn to move well, build strength in range of motion, reduce risk of injury, and consequently support their overall performance.

Laurie believes that mobility is the fourth pillar of any triathlete’s training and that its benefits reach beyond triathlon itself, extending their longevity.

Coaching qualifications

RYA 200 Hour Ashtanga Yoga

Carol’s background is in athletics, having been a keen club and county runner. An England Athletics Level 1 coach, she has since coached at various athletics clubs, most recently at Walden Track + Field before becoming involved with WaldenTRI.

She taught at St Thomas More Primary School for several years and was PE co-ordinator there, aiming to pass on her love of all sport to the school’s children. Carol has also cycled for quite a few years so she is casting her eye over the duathlon race calendar…

Coaching qualifications

England Athletics Level 1

Chris has been a member of WaldenTRI since relocating to Saffron Walden from Sydney, where he first started dabbling in triathlon in 2006. He has competed in triathlons across all distances, including two Ironman events in Melbourne in 2012 and at Challenge Roth in 2016.

Chris came into triathlon from a running background and has competed in a number of ultra-marathons and 100km running events. As well as coaching with WaldenTRI, Chris also coaches with WaldenJNR and is an active member of Saffron Striders.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 1

Phil is a founder member of WaldenTRI. He is Level 2 coach with both British Triathlon British Cycling. After a “sabbatical” from coaching both seniors and juniors he has re-joined the seniors swim coaching roster.

As a committed “back of the pack” competitor he has previously competed in triathlons from Sprint to Ironman distance as well as open water swim races and various cycle sportive events.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 2

British Cycling Level 2

Phil is a very experienced triathlete who has been a member & coach of WaldenTRI for many years. His earlier sporting endeavours included representing Cambridgeshire at junior levels in rugby and cricket. However, his real love was hockey where he captained at school and club level as well as winning two hockey Blues at Cambridge and playing at National League, junior regional, and senior County levels.

His triathlon career kicked off over a Christmas lunch many years ago and he has never looked back, competing at all distances up to Ironman, including going sub-10 hours at Ironman Austria in 2013.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 1

Catherine is an experienced Ironman triathlete with plenty of fine performances under her belt.

Now she enjoys helping others to develop their own enjoyment of the sport too.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 1

Dave has always been keen on sport but he didn’t pick up triathlon until 2016 when he decided to enter a Half Ironman distance race. At the time he entered he could swim no more than 25 metres in the pool.

As a result of some great coaching he managed to become competent enough to complete the Half, and from there he has gone from strength to strength, most recently focusing on duathlon in which he has represented his Age Group for Team GB.

As a WaldenTRI coach he also works with WaldenJNR, and he is particularly keen to watch the next generation develop their skills and simply have fun.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 1

Maël progressed through WaldenJNR (joining as a Tristar 2) into WaldenTRI. He is now focused on long-distance racing, enjoying extreme challenges such as the 25 hour Red Bull Timelaps cycling race while getting his whole family involved in the sport too.

He is a Level 1 coach and he loves using his decade of racing experience to help club members to develop their sport.

Coaching qualifications

British Triathlon Level 1