Cardiff Athletic is the only sports club in Cardiff that caters for the full range of athletics and is one of the leading athletic clubs in Britain. The club’s activities cover track & field, cross country and road running and it has members that participate in fell running and disabled athletics.
We are affiliated to the governing bodies of athletics in Britain and in Wales which are UK Athletics and Welsh Athletics respectively and the club is a voluntary organisation with officials, coaches, team managers and others providing countless numbers of hours without payment of any kind.
Below are a list of our Principal Officers, General Committee Members, Academy Administrator, Team Managers and Coaches. If you are interested in joining or helping our club in any way, please contact any of the club’s officers and you will be assured of a warm welcome.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’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.
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.
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.
UK Youth Development League (U20/U17) - Boys
Has been with the club for many years, staying an active member after her own children retired from athletics.
UK Youth Development League (U20/U17) - women
07887 487 676
This needs to be at the bottom but not if concertina used
UK Youth Development League (U13/U15) - Boys
07787 373 079
UK Youth Development League (U13/U15) - Boys
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.
Qualifications: UKA Level 2
Events Coached: Throws
Has been with the club for many years.
Qualifications: UKA Event Group: Jumps, sprints & hurdles
Events Coached: Jumps & Sprints
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
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.