Coaching Profile - Ron Shannon
Coach – HBS Lead Coach - Throws
Mondays and Wednesdays 6 and 7pm
Age - 11 years +
Background and info:
I have been in sport throughout my life, playing rugby and hockey when I was in the Royal Navy, and only came into running/athletics in the last 25 years. I am a qualified Event Coach in Endurance and Throws, and Coach in Running Fitness (CIRF). I am also a level 2 Field Official, serve on the HBS Committee and still compete for the club in Cross Country. I joined Horsham Blue Stars in 2011.
In my time at HBS I have seen many young athletes develop their athletic skills and achieved personnel goals; being part of that gives me a great sense of achievement.
We strive to make the club a safe and happy place for young people to thrive and develop life skills along the way. This cannot be done without the great coaching team we have at HBS, so we are always developing our coaching skills, and encouraging parents and the more mature young athletes to take up coaching.
Coaching Profile - Justine Tanner
Qualification - Athletics Coach – Sprints
Coaches on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7 pm
Age group U15+
Background and info:
I have been in athletics most of my life, I joined my first club 36 years ago and have been a member of Horsham Blue Stars since 2022.
I decided to start coaching shortly after joining Blue Stars to help give younger athletes the chance to get involved in this sport just as I had been given. I became a coaching assistant in July 2023 and completed my Athletic Coaching course in January 2025.
I like competing and will give most events a go!
I want to encourage anyone who wants to have a go at athletics, there is something for everyone, whilst events are mainly individual there is always a team element to enjoy as well.
Coaching Profile - Sarah Smith
Qualifications: Athletics coach/Event Group – Endurance
Athletics coach: Speed (sprint/hurdles)
Age groups coached: U13, U15, U17, U20, Senior
Background: I enjoyed athletics at school but most of my time was taken up with dance classes! I joined my first athletics club at 18 and started competing in road races and XC, but also had great fun filling in any event at athletic track meets.
I qualified as an endurance coach in 2004, inspired by 2 coaches I was assisting at my local athletics track. I have coached beginners to County level athlete, youth and adults. I very much enjoy coaching and find it incredibly rewarding. I believe training should be fun! It is wonderful to see athletes gain confidence and improve their performances, working together, supporting each other and getting the most out of their training sessions.
I started coaching at Horsham Blue Stars in 2018. I love the club atmosphere and how everyone is so supportive.
Coaching Profile - Neil Boniface
Qualifications: Endurance, coach Jumps coach Event group endurance coach Level 3 Personal Training Level 2 Gym based training (Also level 3 Sports massage).
I started running for HBS when I was 12 years old and have found myself returning to the club nearly 35 years later, not only to compete but to coach all ages of athletes.
I started my HBS journey in middle distance running and triple jump and moved up distance as I got older.
I mainly compete in longer endurance events these days from 3k up to marathons and have represented England for Cross country running.
Coaching Profile - Tsz Shing Wong (Gary)
Qualification - Athletics Coach – Sprints
Coaches on Monday evenings at 6-8 pm
Age group: U11 to U15+
Background and info:
I get involved to track and field since I was young, and was fortunate to receive guidance from an Olympic coach in secondary school, I aspired to be like him and I decided to become a coach to help who interest in athletic.
In 2006, I obtained the qualification of Level 1 Athletic Coaching Qualification in Hong Kong. Since then, I have been coaching school teams of various primary schools, secondary schools and universities. I have many years of experiences training young athletes. I am really lucky to have joined Horsham Blue Star after relocating to the UK in 2023 and have successfully obtained the UK athletic Coaching qualification. My coaching expertise includes sprint and long jump.
I hope everyone can come join us to unlock your potential!
Coaching Profile - Keiron Palmer
Qualification - Athletics Coach – Multi Discipline
Coaches on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7pm
Age group U17 / U23 / Senior
Background and info:
I have been a sports coach for 30 years, starting as a swim coach, Badminton and Basketball coach. In 2013 I qualified as an Athletics Coaching Assistant at Horsham Blue Star Harriers to help coaching the U11’s.
I achieved my Full Athletics Multi Event Coaching qualification in 2015 where I specialize in Long Jump, Triple Jump, Sprints, Sprint Hurdles, High Jump and Javelin.
I have my own group of competing athletes U17 / U23 and Seniors covering all of the above disciplines.
All of my Athletes compete for Blue Star Harriers and themselves.
Coaching Profile - John Potts
Coach - Endurance and Sprints Coach
Mondays and Wednesdays 6 and 7pm
Age - 11 years +
Background and info:
Brought up in Bristol, athletics has been a part of my live since the age of 13. I’ve been a member of a number of clubs over the years, and while serving in the Royal Navy, I represented both the RN and the Tri-Services at X-country and middle / long distance. In the past 10 years, as my speed has deserted me, I enjoy ultra mountain races such as UTMB and the Bob Graham Round. However, I still love to run X Country races over the winter when I’m not injured.
I joined Horsham Blue Stars in 2022 with my two children and was qualified as a coach level 2 in 2024.
What I enjoy about athletics is that it promotes overall physical fitness, teaches valuable life skills like discipline and perseverance, offers a wide range of events to suit different abilities, can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and provides a sense of accomplishment through personal best achievements, all while contributing to positive mental health and well-being through physical activity.
Coaching Profile - Rich Airey
Qualification - Coaching Assistant - Endurance
Coaches on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6pm and 7pm
Age group U11+
Background and info:
I have run most of my life and competed for much of my younger years for Brighton and Hove AC and at university for Brunel.
Having moved to and started our family in Horsham, both my children now compete for Blue Star. My particular interest is middle- and long-distance running. As well as coaching I also continue to run and compete, now also for Blue Star.
I have enjoyed moving to the coaching side of athletics in recent months and look forward to further developing my coaching with Blue Star.
I enjoy passing on my passion for the sport of athletics and above all want to see young athletes enjoy training and competing in the sport that has given me so much including memories and friendships for life.
Coaching Profile - Matthew Brett
Qualification – Assistant Athletics Coach – High jump
Coaches on Wednesday evenings at 6pm
Age group U13
Background and info:
As a keen sports enthusiast throughout my time at school, I was very competitive. Taking part in all aspects of athletics, I found that I was especially good at high jumping and could compete at a respectable level. After enjoying some success competing for the county it was time to take a different direction in life.
All grown up now with a daughter that has aspirations to complete in the Olympics I found myself wanting to help others with my knowledge and experiences in athletics so have become an assistant coach in the hope to give back to our youth of today.
With further aspirations of my own I currently work alongside our senior coach to further improve my coaching skills and promote the importance of being the best that we can be to all of athletes.
Coaching Profile - James Hedges
Qualification - Athletics Coach – U17-Senior Sprints
Coaches on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6-8pm
Age group U17+
Background and info:
Athletics has been a huge part of my life. I Joined Blue Stars 17 years ago as an under 15 after my PE teacher recommended, I looked at joining the club. With the help of some amazing coaches at the club I managed to win multiple county championships in the 60m, 100m and 4x100m as well as qualify for bigger championships such as SEAA and English Schools.
I am now enjoying passing on my knowledge and experience to the next generation of sprinters and aim to develop Blue Stars senior sprint team to achieve great success at county level and beyond.