Richard Smith
Performance coach
An MSc sports science and coaching post graduate, Richard has over 20 years experience of working and coaching in elite sports programmes, including 10 years heading up England Cricket's sports science and medicine programme and as a conditioning coach, sports scientist and sport and remedial massage therapist. Richard's involvement in triathlon and open-water swimming started as part of a development project over 20 years ago, as the first sighted guide to paralympic/paratriathlon athlete Tim Reddish. Since then he's raced around the world over all distances up to Ironman, and coached/tutored on numerous training camps, coaching workshops and seminars. Based in the South West region for the past 5 years, Richard has helped to establish and coach with two triathlon clubs (Trowbridge Hot Chilli Tri & Frome Tri Club) local to training lake, Vobster Quay. He's also established and event directed a series of high quality open-water swimming and triathlon events at Vobster Quay. Richard coaches across all three disciplines of triathlon (swim, bike and run), and all aspects of open-water swimming from safe introduction to the open-water swimming environment through to advanced training plans, event preparation and 'race craft/strategy'. As a sports scientist, conditioning coach and sports therapist Richard can also offer an 'holistic' package of advice, coaching and support at all levels.