2010 News
- News Archive
From left to right: Craig Winrow, Prof Dick Fisher, Mike Summers (England Athletics), Dave Bedford, Andrew Reid-Smith and Mick Woods.
Sporting Centres Launch Celebrated
A reception was held at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham this week marking the opening of three specialist Centres of Sport. The Centres have been developed alongside each other by staff from Sport St Mary's and the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science.
The St Mary’s Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre (EPACC) with Virgin London Marathon, the Centre for Health, Applied Sport and Exercise Science (CHASES), and Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Medicine (C-SHEM) were all declared open at the event.
They have been able to generate a joined-up provision to support and manage the entire athlete experience successfully. The Centres also provide a base from which to develop opportunities for research and consultancy.
Speakers at the event included well known sporting names such as Olympic Gold Medallist Dr Tim Brabants MBE, Olympic Gold Medallist and Dave Bedford, and contributions from St Mary's Principal Dr Arthur Naylor, Head of 2012 Preparations and Sport Strategy Prof Dick Fisher (EPACC), Lesley Haig and Dr Charles Pedlar (CHASES and C-SHEM), as well as the St Mary's Athletics and Cross-Country Team Captain, GB athlete Ben Lindsay.
Key partners were represented from Virgin London Marathon, England Athletics and the English Institute of Sport.
Dr Naylor said today: “The three new Centres for Sport are built on very fine foundations at St Mary’s, which has a strong reputation regionally, nationally and internationally in Sport and Exercise Science, and particular expertise in endurance performance.
"The Centres have been developed by Sport St Mary's and the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, who have worked together closely to provide an excellent base of support for active individuals at all levels, in association with very well respected external parties.”
Prof Fisher said: “The launch of these Centres marks a new era for Sport St Mary’s and I am delighted that it involves collaboration with a range of prestigious partners."
Dave Bedford, Race Director at Virgin London Marathon, added: " I am delighted to be associated with the launch of the new Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre and the two specialist centres that will provide valuable support for its runners as well as athletes in many other sports."
Tim Brabants MBE also said: “It really is impressive to see how forward thinking St Mary's is with it's world class support for athletes."
EPACC student athletes with Dave Bedford.
