South Canterbury speed skating veteran takes a step back from coaching

Veteran speed skater and coach Bill Begg has decided to take a step back from coaching full-time but will still continue to train and support the South Canterbury team.

The 76-year-old said, due to mobility issues he will no longer be available to travel overseas with the national teams and after the Banked Track speed skating championships early last month, has stepped back from full-time coaching.

“I have to have a hip replacement operation done, but I’ll still coach the South Canterbury team twice a week,” Begg said.

“But going overseas and the aeroplanes and all that is a bit too hard for me now. At 76-years-old and 45 World championships, it’s about time to take a step back.”

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The next challenge for the South Canterbury speed skating team is the Oceania Championship on Easter Weekend in Queensland and Begg says the team is in good hands.

The team’s coach for the Oceania Championship will be world masters champion skater Brett McCormack from Dunedin and Keaton Swindells will be the assistant coach.

Begg said McCormack is “very experienced” and has a “very thorough” style of coaching.

The team manager will be Helen Beveridge, with Andrea Worner and Dale Teague as assistant managers.

Begg said the club’s coaching will now be shared around.

“Keaton Swindells, due to an illness, has not been able to compete and nominated to be the assistant coach for the Oceania champs.

“So up to Easter he will be responsible for the coaching of the Oceania team who are based in Timaru at the bank track, which will be good for him to gain experience and work with half the team on a regular basis prior to the Oceania champs.”

Begg said the possibility of Keaton returning to university in Hamilton after mid-year could lead to a review of the club situation, but his own involvement was health-dependent.

However, Begg will continue to oversee the road training. Cheryl Begg will coach the young and new skaters with assistance from Chrissie Clarke.

Shannell Wooding and Daryl Mattingley, will both help and assist with coaching and training sessions.

Begg said the shuffle would work well and everyone has stepped up to keep the club moving forward.

An Oceania team training camp will be held in Timaru this weekend and ten South Canterbury speed skaters will be attending.

The South Canterbury speed skaters are: junior girls, Emily Thompson and Samantha Clarke; junior boy, Karl Boles de Boer; cadet girls, Kyla Beveridge, Grace Worner, Lauren Crawford and Georgia Kortright; and cadet boys, Callum Sandri, Brayden Teague and Tom Crawford.

The training will commence at the Caroline Bay Track at 9.30am on Saturday and will continue on Sunday.