bscta : Terry Denison

British National Champions coached: 47 Leeds swimmers have won 171 National Senior or Junior Championships plus 41 National Relay Championships since I took over as Chief Coach in 1972. We have also had numerous National Age Group Champions and Relay Champions and been Top Club at National Age Groups on 14 occasions. The most prolific National Senior Champions have been: Andrew Astbury - 12 Championships (1978-83); Adrian Moorhouse - 30 Championships (1980-92); Tony Day - 5 Championships (1983- 88); Jonathan Broughton - 3 Championships (1987-90); James Parrack - 4 Championships (1988-95); Andrew Clayton - 4 Championships (1993-96); Ian Wilson - 3 Championships (1994-96); Linda Hindmarsh - 16 Senior and Junior Championships (1995-2000); Claire Huddart - 7 Championships (1996-2000); Gavin Meadows - 4 Championships (1996-2000); James Hickman - 18 Championships (1998-2000)

Other National Champions coached: Numerous titles and swimmers from various countries.

Major Championship Medallists coached: City of Leeds Swimmers have won: Olympic Games - 1 Olympic Gold Medal - Adrian Moorhouse 1988 - and 1 Olympic Bronze Medal - Andy Astbury 4x200 FS Relay 1984. World Championships - 3 Gold Medals - James Hickman 2 , Claire Huddart 1 Relay Gold; 4 silver Medals and 5 Bronze Medals Commonwealth Games - 8 Gold Medals, 15 Silver Medals and 8 Bronze Medals in Individual and Relay events European Championships - 12 Gold Medals; 6 Silver Medals and 10 Bronze Medals in Individual and Relay events. World Record Swims:: 1987 Adrian Moorhouse WR (sc) 100m Breast Stroke 59.75 - the first person to break 60secs for 100m Breast Stroke. 1989 Adrian Moorhouse WR (lc) 100m Breast 1:01.49 - equalled twice more during 1990. 1998 James Hickman WR(sc) 200 Fly 1:51.76 1999 James Hickman WR(sc) 100m. Fly 51.02 2000 Claire Huddart WR(sc) 4x200 FS Relay

Other International swimmers coached: In total 98 City of Leeds swimmers have gained international honours at Senior or Junior level during my period as Chief Coach.

Other Coaching Achievements: City of Leeds have won the National Club Team Championship on 15 separate occasions and were European Community Mens Team Champions in 1990. We have also won the National Speed League Championship on 15 occasions since 1980. We have won the Henry Benjamin Trophy(Senior Nationals) on 12 occasions, the Harold Fern Trophy(Senior Nationals) on 2 occasions and been Top Team at National Age Groups on 14 occasions. Our Club has also provided 2 Olympic Team Managers, 2 Olympic Team Doctors. 1 Olympic Team Physio plus 1 National Team Massage Therapist, 2 National Team Coaches and 3 members on ASA Committee plus 2 Directors of England Swimming.

Representative Coaching Honours: Member of National Coaching Staff since 1975 including coaching at 6 Olympic Games; 2 World Long Course Championships; 4 Commonwealth Games; 7 European Long Course Championships and numerous World and European Short Course Championships. I have been named BSCA Coach of the Year on 10 occasions and in 1998 I received the BSCTA Award of Coaching Excellence. The same year, I was made a Life Member of the BSCTA. In 1990, I was BISC Coach of the Year. In 1997 I received the Harold Fern Award from the ASA and in 1999 the MBE for Services to Swimming . I have served on a number of National Level Committees including being Chairman of ASA Swimming Committee and currently Chairman of the ASFGB Technical Swimming Committee. From 1989 to 1996 I served on the BOA Coach Steering Group and during the 1970’s and early 80’s I was a member of the BSCA Executive Committee.

Coaching Influences: My early motivation and inspiration came from Deryk Snelling, Hammy Bland and Dave Haller and my wife, Mona Denison, all of them great motivational coaches in their own right. Present influences come from any and all Swimming publications and Videos that I can get my hands on; from Conferences and clinics and from major Championships; from coaches such as Joe King who had his first World Champion at 72 years of age, John Carew and Ken Wood who are still producing Olympic Champions long after the normal retirement age of this country. We have a lot to learn from them. I am always eager to meet and listen to coaches who are working with great swimmers and I get great motivation from the training programmes of other coaches. Much to the surprise of a good many people who see me as the “ last of the dinasoars”

Favourite Coaching Resources: I am an avid surfer of the net and seek out all snippets of swimming information in Meet Reports, Newsgroups etc.

Favourite Coaching Venues: The Leeds International Pool because it has been very good to me over the years and will, I hope, remain so for many years to come. Other than that, any pool outdoor where the sun shines. I have some great memories of the sun rising over the sea at the St.Petersburg Pool in Florida and the Maroochydore Pool in Queensland. There are so many wonderful places around the world that it is difficult to select out any particular one.

Most important coaching qualities: Overwhelming enthusiasm and desire to succeed.

Best British swimmer of all time: David Wilkie - Olympic Gold and 2 Olympic Silvers plus World Records in 200 Breast and 200 IM.

Best Swimmer of all time: Vladimir Salnikov - first man under 15 mins for 1500FS; Olympic Gold Medallist in 1980 in 400 and 1500 FS; unbeaten between 1976 and 1985; had 2 lean years 1986 and 1987 and then came back to win Olympic Gold in the 1500 FS in 1988. When he entered the Olympic Village Dining Hall that evening the whole place rose in cheering and clapping for his great performance. A magical moment!

Ambitions as a coach: To understand the coaching process better; to see City of Leeds as top Senior Team in Britain once again; to see a City of Leeds swimmer win an Olympic Gold medal.