Benke Blomkvist (Senior National Performance Institute Coach – Hurdles)
Benke has been a professional coach for 25 years and was the head coach for Swedish Athletics for sprint/hurdles for several years. He is also the former long-term coach of women’s 60m Hurdles World Record holder Susanna Kallur and her sister Jenny Kallur.
Benke has also been working in Wales as the Senior Performance Coach for a period of time. At the beginning of 2015, he joined British Athletics to be based at the NPI where he coaches a group of athletes including Andrew Pozzi, Danny Talbot, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Dai Greene.
Fuzz Caan (Senior National Performance Institute Coach – High Jump)
Fuzz was an international high jumper whose promising career was cut short by injury. In 2009 UKA appointed him national coach for high jumping.
He has coached a number of global medallists including multi-medallist Robbie Grabarz – Olympic bronze medallist in 2012, Germaine Mason (alongside Steven Francis) to an Olympic silver medal in 2008, Jonathan Broom Edwards to Paralympic and world silver and Isobel Pooley to Commonwealth silver in 2014.
Aston Moore (Senior National Performance Institute Coach – Horizontal Jumps)
Aston was a successful triple jumper, an event where he was a former British record holder, winning bronze medals in the 1978 and 1982 Commonwealth Games and the 1981 European Indoor Championships.
After his retirement from competitive athletics Aston focused on coaching the triple jump and coached Ashia Hansen to a UK and World record as well as Phillips Idowu to an Olympic silver medal and World title. He has also coached Kelly Sotherton and Louise Hazel to Commonwealth titles. Aston currently coaches Ashley Bryant and Paralympic and world medallists Stef Reid and Olivia Breen.
Scott Simpson (Senior National Performance Institute Coach – Pole Vault)
Scott was an international pole vaulter who represented Great Britain and Wales, placing 6th at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
He has previously held professional roles as; the Director of Athletics (UWIC / Cardiff Met University), National Coach Mentor (England Athletics) and the Head of Coaching and Performance (Welsh Athletics), before being appointed to his current role in 2018.
Scott’s coaching accolades include guiding Kate Dennison (Rooney) to the 2012 Olympic Games, Sally Peake to Commonwealth Games silver in 2014 and Holly Bradshaw to the 2016 Olympic final, the 2015 and 2017 World Championship finals and the 2013 European Indoor gold and 2018 European Outdoor bronze medals.
Rob Denmark (National Performance Institute Coach – Endurance)
Former 5000m specialist Rob Denmark has a full-time coaching role based at the National Performance Institute. A Commonwealth gold medallist, Rob works with Head of Endurance Barry Fudge, as well as liaising with the programme’s key advisors Steve Cram and Paula Radcliffe.
David Harmer (National Performance Institute Coach – Endurance Events)
David joined British Athletics at the National Performance Institute in 2015 and has been part of the coaching staff at a number of major championships since. David coaches a group of endurance athletes based at Loughborough, and supports the wider endurance program through both the periodised British Athletics altitude camps, as well as pre-championship preparation camps.
Leon Baptiste (Performance Development Coach – Sprints)
Leon competed in the 100 and 200m over a 15 year career winning European Juniors in 2003 and Commonwealth Games Gold in 2010. Over the last three years he has embarked on a coaching career and previously worked alongside Steve Fudge, whilst developing university athletes. He has coached athletes to medal at European Indoors, English Schools and BUCS. Leon is currently on the UK Sport Athlete to Coach Scheme. Leon is currently working under the guidance of Stephen Maguire and Benke Blomkvist.
