The Coach

After a career in financial services with HSBC and other financial institutions, my wife and I based ourselves in Dubai for a life style change setting up our own business with a triathlon coaching side.

I started my own triathlon journey in 2002, with Riyadh Triathletes Saudi Arabia, where the expats amused themselves by organizing triathlons: swimming in compound pools and cycling and running in the mid-summer heat. I have raced everything from sprint through to full Ironman (South Africa and Challenge Roth) in triathlon (20 plus 70.3 distance) as well as numerous road races, 5k through to full marathon.

In the last 5 years I have battled back to full fitness from two serious injuries. I broke my shoulder in a serious car accident on the way back from a training session and I fractured my right hip in a freak road cycle accident. So I understand the frustrations of long term injuries from personal experiences.

Over the years my swimming has improved significantly; my cycling legs are still keeping up with expectations; the running is getting slower with age and pins in the hip.  At this stage in my life I train and race for enjoyment and general health.  Right now I stick to 70.3 distances and some shorter local races.

The UAE hosts some first-class facilities for swimming, cycling and running and I thoroughly enjoy working face to face with my athletes in small groups. However, I will also take on athletes who wish to work remotely. In addition I also coach a number of weekly free sessions for the TriDubai athlete community.

Why I am with TriSutto?

After working with a number of other coaches as an athlete and gaining my Ironman Coaching certification, I moved to TriSutto in 2016 after meeting Brett Sutton and Matt Trautman in Dubai at a local camp. I found the approach of treating Triathlon as “one sport” something I could really relate too. I took the TriSutto Coaching certification in 2020 during the pandemic and I have been privilaged to attend two training camps at the “Home of Triathlon” in Saint Mortiz Switzerland. I attended first as an age grouper and then for a further two weeks on-deck with Brett Sutton and the senior TriSutto coaches observing first-hand the training sessions with the pro and elite squads.

I am very fortunate to be a part of the TriSutto coaching set up and to have access to the TriSutto organization and their decades of experience in Triathlon. It is a sport where as an athlete and coach you are continually learning.  I have direct access to talented and experienced master coaches who train me as an athlete and assist me as a coach with continued education, which in turn benefits the athletes I work with. The TriSutto master coaches are encyclopedia’s of applicable knowledge.

My achievements as a Coach

I have enjoyed success as a coach with my athletes in various ways.  To get somebody to finish a sprint triathlon successfully from point zero of not being able to swim gives me a deep satisfaction.  To see another athlete on the podium for an overall medal in an international Ironman 70.3 is a huge thrill. With everything in between from many age group podiums, multiple PBs, to successfully completing full Ironmans.

My achievements as an Athlete

As an athlete I have achieved podiums across both triathlon and running road and track races. I was very fortunate to attend  Age Group World 70.3 Championships in USA.

Motivation That Lasts

Whenever I need that extra push, this is the video I come back to. It fires me up every single time. If you’re looking for motivation, give it a watch — it might spark something in you too.