RG Active Coach Profiles
These are the biographies of our Coaching Team. We are a friendly bunch and hopefully you will enjoy finding out a little more about the athletes and coaches that "Live what they Love" and make RG Active the success it it today!
Dermott's Sporting Biography
After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University in 1996 with my Sports Science degree, I decided to continue in the sports profession and began with my first job in a small gym, before moving down to London in 1998. From here I went on to manage a number of corporate gym facilities until 2006, when I became a full-time Personal Trainer.
In 1998 I began working with a friend who was a very keen triathlete and ended up joining in with what he was doing and like everybody else, became hooked. After a couple of years of races I tried a Half Ironman which I found was an ideal distance for me, this lead to representing GB at the 2003 World Long Course Champs in Ibiza.
I took a few years out from triathlon to concentrate on my cycling and competed in lots of cyclosportives in the UK and Europe, before returning to triathlon in 2008 with my first Ironman race in Florida. A respectable finish time has confirmed that long distance racing is more for me.
In 2004 I began RG Active along with John, and we have been coaching all level of athletes since then. Our approach is to make the sessions and training an enjoyable experience and this allows the athletes to improve in a relaxed environment.
My philosophy is that a well structured, organised and challenged athlete will be a successful athlete.
John's Sporting Biography
John has been around Sport his whole life starting as a swimmer and runner before finding cycling at the age of 15. The love of cycling lead to his first Triathlon at 16 years old and from there he has never looked back!
John was part of the World Class Performace Plan as a Junior and Under 23 Triathlete representing Great Britain as an Elite athlete across Triathlon and Duathlon. John
In 2000 John took the bold step of moving to Italy where he trained with fellow British Pro Cyclist Jamie Burrow (US Postal Service Pro Cycle Team) and Italian Federico Morrini (Gerolsteiner Pro Cycle Team). John joined Pro Cycle Team ‘Kopstal Sidi Luxembourg for the 2001 season and spent his time based in Massa, Tuscany, while racing across Italy and France.
Two years in Italy and a huge amount of experience gained, John returned to London to start his life as a Coach before starting RG Active with Dermott in 2004.
John's Philosophy is that you ENJOY your triathlon! When you are enjoying your training and racing everything else comes easy. But don't be mislead by his laid back 'FUN' approach to triathlon, when it comes to training and racing, no one does it harder!
Marsha's Sporting Biography
Marsha started Triathlon in 2007 after 3 years of training and competing in Marathons, Half Marathons and 10kms.
Marsha's first triathlon was the Dallas Half Ironman and two months later completed Ironman France in the spectacular time of 13 hours 37 minutes (Top Ten British Women Finishers), from here on she knew Triathlon was her sport!
Marsha has since completed Monaco 70.3 and the Lanzarote Ironman as well as being a regular across the Racing circuit around the UK.
With many Ironman events to add to her CV and qualification for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii on her to-do-list she continues to challenge herself.
Marsha is a great addition to the RG Active Coaching staff with her unconventional entry into the sport, an endless level of enthusiasm and ever increasing level of Ironman and triathlon experience.
David's Sporting Biography
David is a new member of the RG Active Team. He is qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist as well Certified Naturopath and Nutritionist, so will be a valuable addition to the growing Coaching list.
David has competed at the top level having won the Mr National titles as a bodybuilder in 2005 and 2006.
With over 20 years of experience working in the Health and fitness Industry, Davids goal is to provide the most sophisticated and cutting edge technology for assessing and treating health problems in order to achieve the best results.
David graduated from the University of Ulster in 1988 with a BSc Honours degree in physiotherapy and then 10 years working as a physiotherapist, David decided to pursue his passion for nutrition by retraining as a Naturopath and Nutritionist gaining Certification and Diploma status in both fields. David is currently studying at the Academy of Bio-energetic Sciences and for his Certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition as a Sports Nutritionist.
David is a regular on TV with his most recent TV appearance as the nutritional 'Guru' on the holistic program 'Mind, Body, Spain'. He is also a regular contributor in National and International press.
Ian's Sporting Biography
Many of you will know Ian from our long running and ever popular Open Water Swim sessions at Roydon Mill Lake in Essex where Ian is on hand to pass on his wealth of knowledge and experience.
Ian Gummery has been involved in competitive sport since his early childhood and has more than 20 years experience in the coaching of sport.
He has coached and competed in a number of sports, but for the last 15 years has focused on the sport of triathlon. He has achieved international status himself within triathlon, at age group level.
Ian has a MSc (Sports Coaching & Sports Science) from Brunel University, including research into Teenage Attrition from Sport.
Early in 2003 he was voted Essex Coach of the Year 2002-03, and in September 2003 was nominated for the Sport England Coach of the Year.
In 2001 he was voted the Eastern Region Volunteer of the Year for British Triathlon, and is a British Triathlon Association qualified Coach Education Tutor and a Coach Assessor
Ian is a very valued member of the RG Active Coaching Team and you can all look forward to seeing more of Ian as RG Active look at growing and putting on more sessions in the East London and Essex area going forward.
