Nina Venables, coach to British Para-Equestrian Olympic team gold and individual silver medallist Deb Criddle, is among 12 coaches across a wide range of sports to be selected for the Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme (ECAP) for 2012-2014.
This prestigious programme aims to accelerate the development of coaches already within the World Class System, to enable them to have an enhanced impact in the short term, but also to become elite coaches in the future.
Nina, 42, learnt her trade initially at Catherston Stud, under the tutelage of Jennie Loriston-Clarke. She completed her coaching exams while looking after Jennie’s Seoul Olympic ride, Dutch Gold.
After spending time at a private dressage yard, Nina began freelance coaching. She started helping Deb Criddle in 1999 and six years later was appointed coach to the World Class Development Para-Equestrian Dressage squad.
Of her selection Nina said; “I was surprised to even be put forward, so it is a real honour to be selected. I am looking forward to both developing my own coaching and having the opportunity to interact with coaches from the different sports, finding out what we can learn from one another”.
The ECAP coaches will benefit from ‘on the job’ training by working alongside a Master Coach from within their industry – in Nina’s case British Para-Equestrian Dressage Head Coach, Michel Assouline – while also having access to a Mentor – possibly from a different sport.
This will be complimented by a workshop programme, delivered by experts in coaching, non-technical coaching skills, sport science and sports medicine.
World Class Programme Performance Director Will Connell said of Nina’s selection for ECAP; “British Para-Equestrian Dressage owes much of its success to Nina’s coaching skills and dedication. She has been an integral part of the World Class team over the past ten years as a coach on the Development Programme and with the Performance Programme as coach / owner supporting Paralympic multi medallist Deborah Criddle. I am delighted that she has been given the opportunity to further enhance her skills”.
Alex Copeland, Head of Sport Development at the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) added; “I would like to congratulate Nina on her selection for the programme. Ensuring we have a system in place that means we can nurture and develop our best coaches is crucial to the continued success of British Equestrian Olympic and Paralympic sport and programmes like ECAP enable this to happen”.
For more information about the programme and the other coaches selected visit the UK Sport website