Growing up in Burnham-on-Sea, Sara was a standout swimmer at the Burnham pool. Sara would go on to represent Great Britain in 11 World Championships ranging from Modern Pentathlon (National Champion) to Triathlon (World Amateur Champion) to X-Country Skiing (7th in World Masters) – she was also a 2X National Biathlon Champion. After winning the ITU Worlds as an amateur, Sara turned professional and went on to win an amazing 33 races around the world.
After retiring from Professional Athletics, Sara put her degree in Business & Finance, and Masters Degree in Psychology to use working alongside Mark Allen (6 X Ironman World Champion) as his Operations Executive and later as a Program Manager at Microsoft.
Sara is now back home, taking on another big challenge – making the Burnham-on-Sea Swim & Sports Academy a facility that she and the community can be proud of. Sara continues to represent England racing around the world.
Born in Denver Colorado, Mark was the son of an Air Force pilot and teacher. Mark attended High School in Florida, where he became a surfing fanatic, later moving to Southern California to compete in contests. With little success in that department, Mark became an Ocean Lifeguard to pay the bills! He then went on to become a surfing stunt double in LA and appeared in a couple of motion pictures.
Mark’s career (apart from his lifeguard stint) has been in National and International Sales & Management. He has represented such companies as Nytro Multisport, Kestrel Bicycles, Aqua Sphere, Speedo, Orca USA and later on Synergy Sport – Zoggs USA.
Triathlon has always been a passion of Mark’s. He started in the 80′s in San Diego – the birthplace of Triathlon and has raced every distance from sprint to Ironman. A contributing writer to Triathlete Magazine, in the late 90′s, Mark was also a specialist in bike positioning and has consulted with many of the World’s top professional athletes.
Mark is excited to be back in the U.K. and looking forward to making the Academy a destination for everyone.
Martin Rogers
Andy has been teaching swimming in Burnham-on-Sea for 10 years. He ran Sedgemoor’s swim school from 2005 to 2008 and has been Head Teacher at the Academy since 2008.
As well as training in Diving and Synchronised Swimming coaching, Andy is now able to train and qualify new Lifeguards.
Paul Hazelton
Kelly Pople
Ro used to compete with Burnham-on-Sea Swimming Club until around the age of 17, when she went into teaching. She taught at Weston Swimming Club, and obtained her ASA Level 1 Teacher Certificate with them in 1994. She joined the Academy Teaching Team in September 2010.
In 2009 she had a Kidney Transplant and competed in the British Transplant Games at Bath in August 2010, where she won 1 gold in 50m Backstroke, and 4 silver medals in 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, and jointly won the trophy for the Best New Transplantee. After getting picked for the UK Swim Team for the World Transplant Games in Sweden June 2011, she won 2 golds in 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle, 2 silvers in 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, and 1 bronze medal in 50m freestyle. In August 2011 she went to the British Transplant Games in Belfast, won 5 Gold medals in the same strokes and distances as previously, and got presented with the trophy for Outstanding Super Senior Female.
Nic has 15 years experience of teaching swimming, privately and with Burnham-on-Sea Swimming Club where she qualified as an ASA Level 1 & 2 Teacher. She now joins The Academy Teaching Team in September 2011.
She was the World Masters Champion in 2005 for the 50m Backstroke and continues to compete at a high level with Burnham Swimming Club and within the World Masters Championships.
Emma competed with Burnham-on-Sea Swimming Club until 2007 when she went to University to complete the final stage of her Sports Science Degree which she passed in 2008. She qualified as an ASA Level 1 Teacher in 2004 whilst teaching for Burnham-on-Sea Swimming Club, where she continues to teach to date.
She joined the Academy Teaching Team from the outset in 2008 and went on to pass her ASA Level 2 Teaching qualification in August 2011. As well as teaching with the Academy and Burnham-on-Sea Swimming Club she has helped coach fellow swimming teacher Ro, enabling her to succeed with her Transplant Games Competitions.
Experience and areas of expertise; Jeannie ran a successful personal training business in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from 1992-2000, where she was a member of the key personnel team working for Hilton International. Most of her clients were concerned with weight loss and she also worked in the field of ante and post natal exercise.
From 2000-2003 Jeannie worked as a fitness instructor and personal trainer for Sun coast Fitness in QLD, Australia, where she wrote individualised gym programmes and trained people with back health concerns. She also performed small group Fit ball and Pilates sessions with elite and age group triathletes.
Jeannie herself has been coached and mentored in long distance swimming by an ex national elite level swimmer in Australia, during which time she placed 3rd at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in 2006 and 2007.
Jeannie looks forward to training anyone who is passionate about achieving their goals. She believes that anything is possible, that fitness should always be fun, and that it is important to enjoy the journey.
I have been a keen swimmer from the age of 13 when I started competing in at Somerset county and south west regional competitions for Taunton Deane swimming club. I also was lucky enough to represent Somerset in 100 backstroke at Sheffield. When I moved away to university my swimming career reached its peak at Gloucester swimming club achieving open short course national qualification times in 100 and 200 backstroke.
In 2007 I qualified as an ASA Level 1 swimming instructor, where I started doing some covering for swim academy. Now I have finished my BSc (HONS) Sport Coaching and Conditioning degree at UWE Hartpury. I have become a member of the Academy teaching team also helping with Junior Masters and Triathlon academy swimming.
With A BSc (HONS) Sport Coaching and Conditioning degree plus Level 3 Personal Trainers qualifications I have extensive knowledge of the body, its functions and how it reacts to exercise. Training sessions will be create specially for YOU to help you stay motivated with different training methods with Kettlebells, Resistance training, Bodyweight training, Cardio, Gym based boxing, swimming and specific sport training methods. I will create a specialised training program for you to help you reach your goals as quickly as possible I specialise in weight management, working with older adults, athletes.
I have been a keen swimmer starting from a young age, at the age of 13 when I started competing in at Somerset county and south west regional competitions for Taunton Deane swimming club. I also was lucky enough to represent Somerset in 100 backstroke at Sheffield in 2009. When I moved away to university my swimming career reached its peak at Gloucester swimming club achieving open short course national qualification times in 100 and 200 backstroke.
My main sport was Tetrathlon ( 10m air pistol shooting, 200m swim, 1500m run and horse riding) I finished 3rd at nationals 2010 & 2011 out of 120 U21 female competitors. Winning best shoot in 2011 and winning best swim both times. I always was selected to represent Great Britain in 2010 in America finishing 19th out of 30 achieving 2nd best swim with a 2.19 long course 200 Front crawl. In 2011 I represented GB again in Ireland finishing 11th with best swim and best shoot but unfortunately I had an unlucky stop horse riding.
Richard is a Master Spinning Instructor and Bootcamp Sergeant Major at Burnham on Sea Swim & Sports Academy.
He has been a Personal Trainer for over 15 years and offers a wealth of experience that can only be gained from working with many different types of client.
He is a qualified Nutritionist and Weight Management consultant and is a strong motivator and teacher who will get you results in a very short space of time!!
