A WINCHESTER coach has won a national award... for his coaching of coaches.

Richard Cheetham MBE was awarded Coach Developer of the Year for his help with coaches throughout the world, across all sports and abilities.

The event took place at the Honourable Artillery Company London on last month, and featured coaches from across the country, covering everything from football to Paralympic ski slalom.

A senior fellow at Winchester University, Mr Cheetham, has worked with a huge variety of coaches across a range of sports from those just starting out to those in high-performance.

He also works with a number of County Sports Partnerships in the south east to deliverer workshops.

Mr Cheetham also works internationally with the likes of cycling governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Rugby Canada, as well as finding time to take part in Kent Rugby’s annual coach conferences.

The work of Mr Cheetham has even won the attention and plaudits of ex-England rugby union international and World Cup winner Lewis Moody, who took his academy team of coaches to work with Cheetham for a day.

Mr Moody, who won 71 caps for England, said: “It’s a great opportunity for our coaches to hear what Richard does, how he does it and the coaching techniques and practices he uses. It’s brilliant for all of us and thoroughly engaging.”

On winning the Coach Developer of the Year 2018, Mr Cheetham said: “I am pretty emotional. I’ve coached for a long time and when I stopped coaching, I wanted to coach coaches. I have had a lovely time coaching people across all ages, met a lot of interesting people and it’s been a long journey so this is an accolade I really do treasure.”

Emma Atkins, director of coaching at UK Coaching, said: “The UK Coaching Awards is a way for the nation to praise the great coaching that takes place, and a chance for us in the coaching sector to reflect and celebrate the effect great coaching has on society.

“We are privileged to be able to recognise more great coaching again, especially, in a year where we’ve worked hard to help the public understand what great coaching looks like following the launch of the first ever Coaching Week.

“I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners – as well as the finalists – for their incredible achievements and for benefitting the lives of so many. Well done.”