Who's who

President - Rhys Williams

Starting at the club aged 17, Rhys competed for the club until the age of 32. During this time he made many lifelong friends, as well as meeting his wife Leila, who also ran for the club. As an athlete at the club, he went on to achieve Welsh, British and European titles in the 400m Hurdles. Winning the European Championships and competing at the Olympic Games have been career highlights.

Chairman - Gordon Harold

Originally from Dublin, Gordon has been a competitive middle and long-distance athlete most of his life. It is fair to say that everything he enjoys in his life today (from parent to academic professional) has been facilitated as a result of his involvement in the wonderful world of competitive athletics. He has competed for Ireland, travelled to the United States on an athletics scholarship (Iowa State University), spending a decade in the US as an athlete and student, where he had an amazing opportunity to run, compete and develop friendships with some of the world’s finest athletes, many of whom remain friends today.

Head of Welfare and Safeguarding and Senior Welfare Officer. - Melonie Gregory

Melonie main role on the committee is Head of Welfare and Safeguarding and Senior Welfare Officer.

Melonie has been involved in sport since a young age. Introduced to the sport of Table Tennis by her dad she soon mastered the skills needed to compete, her career highlights include:- Somerset Ladies champion, 5 consecutive years, English National under 14 ranking 3, England National girls u17 doubles winner, English schools under 19 Winner 1988, English schools under 16 team winners 1986 and World Student Games 1992. Melonie also spent time completing her coaching qualification to Level 2 as well has well volunteering at local events. Melonie continued in sport by studying at Cardiff Institute, graduating in 1992 with a Human Movement Studies degree. This then led to her career in sports development. Starting out as South West Regional Development Officer for Table Tennis England, to a Local Authority role and to her current role at the West of England Sport Trust (Wesport) where she is a Senior Manager leading operational delivery, safeguarding, equity and workforce.
Melonie Joined the club when daughter started in the Academy and is truly a family effort as husband Neil officiates for the club and manages the club shop. Melonie brings great experience to the club and utilises her knowledge and experience to continue to improve and modernise the club.

Treasurer - Mike Farrell

Mike’s main role on the committee is Club Treasurer, overseeing the financial performance and liabilities of the club. As Treasurer, Mike also sits on the Board of Trustees, responsible for the overall care and management of the club.

Mike’s involvement with Cardiff Athletics actually dates back to the late 1970’s, when he briefly joined and competed for the club when it was based at Maindy Stadium. More recently, Mike became involved again when his boys joined the club and his wife Gayle first volunteered and later became employed by the club as Academy Manager.

Mike joined the committee after being asked to be a parent representative and almost immediately took on the role of Club Treasurer.

Last season, Mike also donned the club vest and competed for Cardiff Athletics in the Master competition at Aberdare, winning two regional Gold medals along with one Silver and one bronze medal on the day (much to his surprise)!

Outside Cardiff Athletics, Mike also coaches football for AFC Whitchurch in the Cardiff & District U12 A Division, runs the occasional half marathon and is Managing Director of a global healthcare company with their UK base in Bridgend.

Officials Co-Ordinator (Field) - Peter Gregson

Peter Gregson – Officials Co-Ordinator (Field)
Peter’s main role on the management Committee is to recruit and support new volunteer Field officials and coordinate officials for all club fixtures.

Peter joined the club in 2012 when his children started in the Academy, by 2014 Peter started volunteering as a parent helper during sessions, this progressed to Peter becoming a Coaching assistant coaching the U11 group and a multi event multi age group.

Peter started helping officials at competitions in the field events, Peter had found a new passion and completed the level 1 field officials course January 2016 gaining his licence in March 2016 by August 2016 Peter graded as a level 2 Field Official. In October 2017 Peter was awarded the Welsh Athletics Newcomer to Officiating Award.

Rory McKerlich - Officials Co-Ordinator (Track) - Rory McKerlich

Rory’s main role on the management Committee is to recruit and support new volunteer Track officials and coordinate home club fixtures.
Rory joined the Club just after the Olympics 2012 along with his son, and soon started volunteering for the club at Track and Field event. Rory had a thirst for officiating and completed the level 1 track judge course, level 2 race walk Judge and has propelled himself through officiating pathway and is now a level 4 Track Judge.
Rory also became an assistant coach and started coaching in the track rats. Rory continued the coaching pathway and completed the athletics coach course. Rory continues to coach in the clubs Academy.

Coaching Coordinator - Lorraine Mulvaney

Lorraine’s role as the coaching coordinator is to: support and encourage exiting coaches in their coaching development; act as the go between (when needed) to access coaching development opportunities; communicating various items of interest/information specific to Cardiff Athletics coaches; and overseeing some aspects of the administration behind the scenes such as, chasing individual coaches to renew their DBS licence and CPD events.

Lorraine has been involved in athletics for many years, and her love for athletics began as a child, initially competing for her school county. In later years, she took a more hand on approach to athletics as a coach, Masters athlete and mother of a competitive athlete for Cardiff AAC in 2008.

Lorraine is a Level 2 Athletics coach, Level 1 Track official, Level 2 Field official, Level 1 Photo finish official and a Welsh Athletics Equalities board sub group member.

Following a break from coaching due to a career change that demanded a considerable amount of her time both during the day and evenings, Lorraine returned to athletics coaching in 2016 with a specific additional interest in supporting athletes with (and without) Developmental Disorders. Lorraine is now involved in coaching mainly short and long sprints to a group of athletes who compete at local league competitions, National and International competitions which she thoroughly enjoys.

Elected from the floor - Bernard Plain

Bernie has been a valued member of the club since 1968 first as an athlete and then stay to help with the day to day running of Cardiff AAC, now Cardiff athletics.

Liz Davies

Qualifications: UKA event group endurance

Events Coached: Middle distance

Derrick Stephenson

Qualifications: Athletics Coach, UKA Event Group- Sprint and Hurdles

Events Coached: Sprints & Hurdles

Coaches Junior hurdles between 18:00 and 19:00, Senior Sprints between 19:00 and 20:00.

Alyson Hourihan

Qualifications: UKA Level 2

Events Coached: Throws

Has been with the club for many years.

Peter Lane

Qualifications: UKA Level 3

Events Coached: Sprints

Robert Hooper

Qualifications: UKA Level 3

Events Coached: Sprints

Sharon Heveran

Qualifications: Level 2

Events Coached: High jump

Stephen Bailey

Qualifications: UKA Event Group: Jumps, sprints & hurdles

Events Coached: Jumps & Sprints

Stephen Knight

Qualifications: UKA Level 2

Events Coached: Middle Distance

Diane Hains

Qualifications: UKA Level 2

Events Coached: Endurance

Helen James

Qualifications: Level 2 Coach

Events Coached: Sprints

Helen was a successful sprinter winning Welsh Championships, and representing Wales in International competitions. Following retiring from sprinting, Helen became a sprints coach, and has been successful, winning Sport Wales Coach of the year, a few seasons ago. Helen continues with her coaching, bringing through many young sprinters to represent Wales

Lorraine Mulvaney

Qualifications: UKA Level 2 speed/sprints

Lorraine’s role as the coaching coordinator is to: support and encourage exiting coaches in their coaching development; act as the go between (when needed) to access coaching development opportunities; communicating various items of interest/information specific to Cardiff Athletics coaches; and overseeing some aspects of the administration behind the scenes such as, chasing individual coaches to renew their DBS licence and CPD events.

Lorraine has been involved in athletics for many years, and her love for athletics began as a child, initially competing for her school county. In later years, she took a more hand on approach to athletics as a coach, Masters athlete and mother of a competitive athlete for Cardiff AAC in 2008.

Lorraine is a Level 2 Athletics coach, Level 1 Track official, Level 2 Field official, Level 1 Photo finish official and a Welsh Athletics Equalities board sub group member.

Following a break from coaching due to a career change that demanded a considerable amount of her time both during the day and evenings, Lorraine returned to athletics coaching in 2016 with a specific additional interest in supporting athletes with (and without) Developmental Disorders. Lorraine is now involved in coaching mainly short and long sprints to a group of athletes who compete at local league competitions, National and International competitions which she thoroughly enjoys.

Alex Jachontow

Qualifications: UKA Level 2 speed/sprints

Events Coached: Sprints

Connor Lane

Qualifications: UKA Level 3 Events Sprints and Hurdles

Events Coached: Sprints

Anthony Lee

Qualifications: UKA Level 2 Sprints and Hurdles

Events Coached: Sprints