World Class Athletic Coach visits Magherafelt
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Andrew Doyle in full swing under the watchful eye of Alan Bertram.
WORLD renowned hammer throwing coach Alan Bertram paid a four day visit to the Meadowbank Sports Arena for an intensive coaching session with Mid Ulster Athletic Club hammer throwers. He was very impressed with the facilities in general and the athletic facilities in particular.
He spoke highly of the foresight of Magherafelt District Council in providing such a facility and hoped the young people and the schools of the district would take full advantage of the opportunity offered by the Council.
As well as working with the senior athletes Alan took the opportunity to work with the coaches and oversee them working with the junior throwers. He was very impressed with the throwing of 11 year-old Nathan Holmes and has invited him to a 'Hammer Fest' which he is organising in Scotland in 2009. He thought that Andrew Doyle had great potential and if he kept as focused for the next couple of years as he is now he could make the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
A lot of his work was spent on drills, drills and yet more drills involving technique.
He finished his visit by suggesting the type of training the senior group should be doing this incoming winter and also suggesting certain skills the young athlete from nine years and upwards should be doing.
The purpose of the visit was to hone the throwing skills of Andrew Doyle as he went forward into his last competition of 2008.
