Meet the Team
Ben Bright
Swim Coach
As an athlete Ben competed at the highest levels in the sport of Triathlon; Representing New Zealand at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, winning a Junior World title and placing top five at Senior Elite world championships amongst other achievements.
As a coach he has worked with World Champions in all three ITU elite categories – Senior, Under 23 and Junior, coached multiple European champions, three Olympians (two in Triathlon and one in Swimming), had multiple World Cup Triathlon wins and podiums and multiple British National Champions.
Ben has the experience of coaching both triathlon swimming and pool swimming to the Olympic level. This means he has a unique perspective on the requirements of good swimming technique and what is required to swim fast in all conditions, whether in the pool or open water. His belief that the basics of good technique cross all levels of ability is proven at both elite and age group level.
Craig Gibbons
Swim Coach
As a Swimmer Craig has competed at the highest level competing at the World Championships in Melbourne in 2006 and in Manchester in 2008 as well as competing at the European Championships in 2004, 2008 and 2009. Craig is part of the current GB swim squad with hopes of competing at the London 2012 Olympics.
Craig has extensive coaching experience and has coached athletes of all levels – He is Level 1 & 2 Qualified ASA Swim Coach.
Dr. David Bailey
Sports Physiologist, Lead Swim, Bike & Run Fitness Tester
David works as an exercise consultant providing training and coaching advice to athletes of all abilities. He attained his qualifications in sports science and exercise physiology at Loughborough University and has put his extensive knowledge into action whilst working as an exercise physiologist with elite athletes representing their country at World Championships and Olympic Games.
David worked alongside the British Cycling team during their preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games where the team won 14 Olympic medals including 8 Gold’s. David has worked with athletes from British Swimming, Canoeing, Orienteering, Squash, Rugby and UK Athletics. Most recently David provided scientific support to the British Triathlon team working closely with multiple World Cup winners and ITU World Champions.
John Dennis, MCSP, MACP
Velomotion Fitter, Forwardmotion Run Assessor
John is a Chartered Physiotherapist who has been working in elite sport for 12 years and through 3 Olympic cycles. He has been a member of Team GB at the last two Olympic Games, with British Badminton at Athens in 2004 and British Triathlon at Beijing in 2008. The past four years has seen Jon working with the elite British Triathlon team based in Loughborough. John also competes regularly in triathlons from sprint to Ironman, cycling events and Xterra.
John's skills as a fitter have been recognized by Retül USA and now also works for Retül as an instructor and educator on Official Retül University courses and oversees the Retül University European programme - See
www.retuluniversity.com for more details.
Keith Allen-Shirtcliffe, BSc (Hons) MCSP ACPSM
Forwardmotion Run Assessor
From being a keen sportsman himself Keith went on to study for a physiotherapy degree with sports and biomechanics modules. Since 1997 Keith has been a Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in sports and spinal injuries and has undertaken comprehensive postgraduate training relating to sports injuries and their prevention. Since leaving his post as a Senior Physiotherapist in the NHS Keith has worked extensively in elite sport including travel with teams to a variety of countries across Europe and Asia and for a private Sports Physiotherapy Clinic.
This wealth of experience goes hand in hand with Keith’s main clinical interests, which are the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries. He believes that promoting efficient body mechanics will lead to a more enjoyable and less injury prone sporting career.
When he is not working or studying, Keith can usually be found training for an Ironman triathlon or in the hills with his wife and dog.
Mike Smith, BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy
Velomotion Fitter
Mike joined us from the outset in 2009 having previously worked with the MK Dons Football Team. Mike soon became a Retül Certified after and has since fitted many world-class athletes across several cycling disciplines and numerous triathletes ranging from ITU to Ironman competitors. Mike also supports the running of the Official Retül University courses (hosted at our Studio for European delegates).
As an athlete Mike regularly competes in national level cycling events representing the Corley Cycles Elite Cycling team and has ambitions to take this to the next level in near future.
