Academy looking to bring on top Welsh prospects.

Byline: By Bob Cypher South Wales Echo 

Welsh Athletics has announced the names of 16 athletes who will form the first wave of athletes into the Welsh Talent Development Academy. The Welsh Talent Development Academy will be based out of the National Indoor Athletics Arena at Uwic, which is also the agreed venue through UK Athletics (UK:A) as a Talent Development Academy.

Among the first wave are Cardiff AAC's Paul Walker (pole vault), Gareth Warburton (400m), Lianne Clarke (javelin) and Brett Morse (discus), Bridgend AC's David Guest (combined events), Cwmbran and Uwic sprinter Andrew Watkins, Uwic's Chris Gowell and two Newport Harriers, Brigid Eades (300/400m) and James Nasrat (800m)

Announcing the initiative, Jeremy Moody, UK:A's performance manager for Wales, said the idea is to create the next wave of athletes who will be presented to UK Athletics for inclusion onto the lottery-funded World Class Performance Programme.

'The aim of the WCPP is to support athletes who have the ability to develop into world class performers, the definition of which is to have the potential to be podium/top eight-placed at a major championships (a major championships being World or Olympic Games),' Moody explained.

'With this in mind the success of the programme will be based on the number of athletes who not only make it onto the World Class Programme, but stay there and continue to progress.'

He revealed plans to bring top coaches and former international athletes like Steve Backley, to advise the squad and is researching the chances of providing an athletes' house where the occupants would live.

But all this comes at a price with a rigorous process of reviews put in place to ensure there are no freeloaders.

'Athlete review will be conducted through the process of meetings with the coach and athlete, technical observation in training and also observation at competition,' explained Moody.

'Formal evaluation of the programme will take place on an annual basis. In addition, athletes will be set a performance goal based on discussion and agreement with the coach and athlete.'

And he also handed encouragement to athletes not included in the first wave.

'There will be an opportunity for additional athletes to join the WTDA at the end of each season (and of course this would also be the time where athletes may depart the programme also).

'In exceptional circumstances, an athlete may be included in the programme following the indoor season - but this will not be solely on the basis of a successful indoor season in performance terms, but that the athlete is seen as having the development potential.'

Welsh Athletics will provide each athlete with a British Olympic Association medical insurance coverage. There will be an annual physiotherapy and strength and conditioning screening for each athlete that will form the basis for the rest of the season in terms of specific development required.

In addition, there will be a pounds 500 managed budget to assist with athletics performance costs.

Finally, there will be the provision of support services from the Sports Council of Wales negotiated on an individual basis.

'We are compiling a curriculum of coach development initiatives for the coaches who have athletes in the WTDA,' said Moody.

'This programme will commence on May 12 and 13 at SCW with a two-day event on plyometrics and strength and conditioning provided by GB international 400m runner Jared Deacon who is a strength and conditioning coach working with the English Institute of Sport and a specialist in strength and conditioning in athletics.

'In addition, we are looking at the availability of Steve Backley for September to provide a weekend on fundamental movement skills for athletes.

'Steve is currently working with UK Athletics as a mentor and specialist in fundamental movement skills.

'The feasibility of the entire programme has been made possible by support directly from Welsh Athletics, its sponsors Brecon Water and Jeff White Car Sales - and direct support from S4C in the form of individual scholarships.

'Finally, we are currently looking at the possibility of athletics housing similar to that occupied by Britain's top distance runner Mo Farah and his training colleagues and sponsored by the London Marathon.

'This type of focused performance environment is required to excel at the top level and we are keen to achieve this. We are also looking for potential sponsors for this initiative.: FROM PAGE 59: Welsh Academy INTAKE:Paul Walker (pole vault) David Guest (combined events) Gareth Warburton (400m) Andrew Watkins (200m) Chris Gowell (800m) Lianne Clarke (javelin) Toni Wells (shot/discus) Stephanie Owens (hammer) Brett Morse (discus) Caryl Granville (combined events) Non Stanford (3000m) Bridget Eades (300m/400m) Faye Harding (400mH) James Mills (800m) Liz Millward (shot) James Nasrat (800m)