The club provides a number of coached sessions across each triathlon discipline. Our coaching team is encouraged to develop their skills and knowledge across individual sports as well as Triathlon.
- Steve McMenamin
Head of Coaching
BTF Level 2 (Personal Coach), Swim England Open Water Level 2 Coach & Sports psychologist
My introduction to triathlon was way back in 2005. Since then I have had a fairly successful career including two long-distance Ironman events and a couple of English Channel swims including a record breaking 2way relay. I have represented Ireland multiple times at all distances and adding to the mix, I’m also a type 1 diabetic.
I used to train in a very generic way with no real structure. Once I joined the club, I listened to the experienced people (we didn’t have coaches back then) took on a more structured training approach. That’s when things changed greatly for me. I really got into the technical side of it and following my sporting mentors, I took an interest in helping people achieve their goals. Ranging from tips on nutrition to training, this was a great thing to do and I’ve taken great pride in it.
I then decided to formalise my approach and achieved my first British Triathlon Federation (BTF) coaching cert level 1 in Feb 2017. I followed this with BTF level 2 in Jun 2018; BTF open water coach Jun 2019; Swim England Open Water coach level 2 in 2020 and most recently , took on the position of Head Coach Jan 2021.
- Jo Fleming
Coach
BTF Level 2 Coach (Group Coach)
I'm a runner who liked to cycle and took up swimming when I joined the club around 2013 after an adult life just doing my own training.
The club is fantastic at supporting beginners through to serious amateurs and I have massively improved all 3 disciplines in my time here. I take great pleasure seeing members get motived to train and this led me to coaching 4 years ago.
I have a relaxed and participative coaching style, encouraging people to understand and explore their technique. I coach the weekly runs, swims and help lead the weekly spin, which I see as complementary to the training sessions that we can easily do on our own.
- Joanna Millington
Coach
BTF Level 1 (Foundation Coach) & BC Group Ride leadership Level 1
I tried my first triathlon eight years ago and loved the adrenaline and thrill from the actual race day so much, it became my new hobby. I’ve always been a keen swimmer but only started road cycling in order to try out triathlon. Maybe ironically, cycling is now my strongest discipline, although hands down, open-water sea swimming is my favorite – especially on a sunny winter day with my tri-club swim buddies, out in those rolling winter waves. Ahh bliss.
I’m a great believer in the drill-based training to build improvement in your performance. Having followed programes to improve my swimming and running, I’ve seen the evidence that targeted training sets work!
Finally, yoga is the secret sauce that keeps me in good shape for training. I think too many of us neglect the basic restorative care our bodies need, especially as we age and train.
Looking forward to more training runs, swims and Sunday bike rides together!
- Kate Bradford
Coach
BTF Level 1 (Foundation Coach) & Level 2 Personal Trainer
I came to triathlon in around 2016, filling in a team event space left by a friend of my brothers.
I was reasonably fit, but not fit enough and it was hard! I became immediately addicted. Sure that I could do better.
I came from being a swimmer, who started long distance running and eventually took up cycling.
Since that first triathlon, I’ve completed a few different races with a lot more training and I’ve loved them.
I joined MSTC in 2021 and it has improved all three disciplines hugely for me.
It’s so lovely being surrounded by people who aren’t afraid to work hard and have some fun with their training.
I took up coaching because I love the club, the sport and watching people make huge improvements and feel great about themselves.
I have learnt so much from each member of the coaching team and many members of the club.
It’s such a fantastic and supportive community.
I also recently qualified as a Level 2 personal trainer to be able to extend my passion into a profession.
I look forward to meeting you!
- John MacTear
Coach
BTF Level 1 (Foundation Coach)
I started triathlon in 2008 as a father / daughter activity.
Kate and I joined Mid Sussex in 2012 after doing the Burgess Hill Triathlon. This triathlon demonstrated what a friendly and inclusive club it was.
The amazing coaching and support meant that Kate was outperforming me easily within two years of joining. I don’t hold the against the club!!
I love the sport, I love the training and I love the club.
The club hasn’t just given me the skills it has also added a real sense of belonging, that’s why I now want to give something back (some may say “about time!”) by becoming a British Triathlon Coach. I would like to help others benefit from the tremendous coaching that I have received.
- Kevin James
Lead Run Coach
UKA Leader in Run - CiRF
I joined Mid Sussex Tri Club after moving to Haywards Heath nearly 20 years ago. In the year before I joined the club, I completed my first marathon in New York where the only goal was to finish without walking (eventual time of 4 hours 45). But I knew I wanted to improve. As a result of this, I started training with the tri club and in subsequent marathons got my times down to a sub-3 hour time and gained qualification for the Boston marathon.
I attribute a lot of this success to consistently attending the club’s Thursday night interval-based sessions and turning up to race club mates at local events such as the Brighton 10k, Barnes Green Half etc. But I have also spent a lot of time on developing running technique and I’m passionate about the importance of treating running as a ‘skill’. Hopefully, whatever you are wanting to achieve you’ll get some improvement out of one of my sessions.
- David Turner
Assistant Head Coach
BTF Level 2 (Group Coach), SEQ Swimming Assistant (Teaching) & Sports psychologist
I love a physical challenge; the Mid Sussex Triathlon Club is perfect for its multi-discipline approach for the training of body and mindset.
I began my fitness journey in 2008, when I struggled to run a short distance. I taught myself to swim and needed to consider something bigger than the local pool. I joined the club in 2018, to participate in the open water swimming at Ardingly Reservoir. I had completed endurance challenges and my first Triathlon was Helvellyn in 2019. I continue to train and compete in other endurance events. Since 2018, I have enjoyed many club events, coaching sessions and the club community. Feeling so welcome, I decided I wanted to be more involved and give something back. In 2022, I started my swim coach journey and later qualified as a Swim England Assistant Coach. In 2023, I qualified as a British Triathlon Federation Foundation Coach.
I am passionate about supporting and coaching members to the best of their ability. As with other coaches we have a training environment that is friendly regardless of ability. Sessions have specific focus and plans. These are well attended whether an experienced athlete or a complete beginner to the tri disciplines. Whether for health, fitness or well-being; swim, bike and/or run has something for you.
- Clare Kenwood
Coach
BTF Level 1 (Foundation Coach) & L2 swim teacher, L1 swim coach
- Emma Smith
Coach
BTF Level 2 Coach (Group Coach)
I came to triathlon in 2013 after learning to swim the year before; and when I say learn, I mean overcoming a genuine fear of water. I couldn’t put my face in, couldn’t swim out of my depth, and had to start from scratch with a children’s swim teacher in the baby pool in the Triangle. A running injury led me to triathlon, and what started as rehab soon became a life changing passion. I came to sport later in life, as a former overweight smoker in my 30s, and triathlon showed me I was tougher than I ever imagined. Through the support and camaraderie of the club and coaches, I achieved my dream goal of becoming an Ironman in 2023.Now a Level 2 triathlon coach with multiple years’ experience, I bring openness, enthusiasm, and positivity to every athlete I work with. I’ve raced across every distance, from super sprint to Ironman, and I love long endurance events in single disciplines too, particularly century sportives. My approach to coaching focuses on meeting each athlete where they are at: from nurturing those with little self belief to helping elite age groupers find their marginal gains. My day job gives me deep experience in coaching different mindsets and working with neurodiverse athletes. It gives me a perspective that helps me connect with people in a genuine, practical way.My core values are Dedication, Integrity, Self-Care/Balance, and Consistency. These show up in my coaching through my commitment to helping athletes stay the course when training gets tough (Dedication), creating honest, respectful relationships built on trust (Integrity), championing recovery and mental wellbeing alongside performance (Self-Care/Balance), and building steady, sustainable progress over time (Consistency). Above all, I believe triathlon should be challenging, empowering, and most of all fun.