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Craig Hilliard and Tudor Bidder to head National High Performance Centre in Canberra
Athletics Australia is pleased to announce that Craig Hilliard and Tudor Bidder have been appointed to manage the National High Performance Centre for jumps, sprint hurdles, 400m and 400m hurdles.
In their new roles as National Event Coordinators, Hilliard and Bidder will ensure they bring together the best athletes and the best coaches from across the sport to provide the best opportunities for Australian athletes.
The National High Performance Centres (NHPC) commenced operation in 2005 and are based at various sports institutes across the country, each headed by a National Event Coordinator (NEC).
Two National High Performance Centres have already been established and are already proving to be very successful. In Sydney at the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS), Paul Hallam monitors the sprinters, hurdlers and relay runners whilst Tim O’Shaughnessy is in charge of the distance program (800m to marathon) based out of the Victorian Institute of Sport.
Hilliard and Bidder will head the jumps (excluding pole vault), sprint hurdles, 400m and 400m hurdles program at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
"We are delighted to be working with Australian Institute of Sport in this venture," said Max Binnington, National Performance Manager at Athletics Australia.
"Elite athletes and coaches will have access to the extensive world-class facilities at the AIS which will provide athletes in these events with event specific, world-class expertise."
Hilliard and Bidder will directly coach individual athletes and will coordinate the development of athletes not in Canberra, in consultation with each athlete’s individual coach, as part of the national program.
Paul Hallam who previously managed the sprint hurdles group, will continue the work he has already achieved with his developing hurdlers, with both Hallam and Hilliard working closely together.
Hilliard and Bidder will report to the Athletics Australia National Performance Manager, Max Binnington, and to a joint management committee at the Australian Institute of Sport.
National High Performance Centres have not yet been established for throws, walks, combined events or pole vault. Athletics Australia is in on-going discussions regarding the development of these event groups and how they can be supported by the sports institute and academy network.
Tudor Bidder
• Head Coach, Western Australian Institute of Sport, 1990–97
• Head Coach, Great Britain Team, 2000 Olympic Games
• Team Coach for four Olympic Games
Craig Hilliard
• Team Coach, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 Olympic Games
• Head Coach, 1993, 1997 World Championships
• Head Coach, 1994 Commonwealth Games
• Athletes coached include Jai Taurima, Kerry Saxby–Junna, Jana Pittman, Jane Flemming, Nicole Boegman, Rohan Robinson and Robbie Crowther
The National High Performance Centre coaches will come together this weekend to share their knowledge and expertise to plan the ‘Towards Beijing and Beyond’ journey.
Held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the forum will involve a series of lectures and workshops focussing on the ultimate goal – achieving the set target of four medals and 10 top eight places at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The coaches' forum will allow Australia’s top coaches to work together to ensure that Australia’s athletes undertake the best possible preparation for Beijing.
The forum will also involve national youth development coaches who are responsible for the development of Australia’s future Olympians - London 2012 and beyond.
For further media information please contact:
Michelle Cook – Athletics Australia Media
0430 177 668 or michelle@jumpmedia.com.au
David Culbert – Athletics Australia Media
0417 272 641 or david@jumpmedia.com.au
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