Lancashire Telegraph, "Senior Sports Personality of 2013" in the United Utilities "Grassroots Heroes Awards"
Relevant experiences Was a regular student and instructor on the IBF Summer Camp from the mid 80s for eleven consecutive years. When I flew the nest to go to university I trained all over the country, with, amongst others: Chris Kent and Alan Gibson (Wado, Brighton); Joe Tierney (Shukokai, Bolton); Master Thamm (Wu Shu Kwan, Brighton); Paul McGee (Shotokan, Bolton) and John Boyle (Goju, Manchester), but I attended scores of courses in loads of different disciplines in this time. Notable were: Mitsusuke Harada, Terry O'Neill, Dave Hazard, Billy Higgins, Mike Lambert, Ernie Molyneux, Chew Choo Soot, Lim Kee Yan, Alfie Lewis, Steve Brookes, Julian Mead, Steve Cattle, Bob Rhodes, Aidan Trimble, Kissho Inoue, Frank Brennan, Steve Morris, George Andrews, Charles Gidley, Terry Pottage, Keiji Tomiyama, Patrick McCarthy, Tony Christian, Leo Lipinski, Christophe Pinna, Martyn Harris, John Burke, Iain Abernethy, Simon Oliver, Yukiyoshi Marutani, Kando Shibamori, Paul Coleman, Tomiko Mitsuoka, Amanda Winstanley, Wayne Otto, Scott Langley, Rick Hotton, Steve Ubl, Christine Pullan, Masataka Ohshita, Haruyoshi Yamada, Richard Jorgensen, Jane Naylor-Jones, Kesakatsu Hisenaga, Yoshihiro Kiyohara, Shigenori Sato, Terry Wingrove, Ronnie Colwell, Masao Kagawa, Akira Shiomi, Peter Allen, Steve Scott, Tsutomu Kamohara, Bob Honiball, Simon Bligh, Gavin Mulholland, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Anthony Blades, but loads of others, and the list continues growing.
Biggest influences On coaching, undoubtedly Geof Gleeson and Martin Clarke. From a karate point of view, the Goju guys especially Morio Higaonna, Steve Morris and Harry Cook certainly made a mark, but I learnt a great deal from my IBF peers, Steve Merrett, Simon Ford-Powell and (now professor} Richard Bailey.
2006 AMA North West Open Kumite Champion at U65kg.
Any other relevant info Writer on matters karate. ("Combat" Hall-of-Fame 2003). P.R.O. for AMA, formerly also for EKGB and Karate England.
Favourite technique(s) / aspects of karate I like the technique that gets in!
Favourite food Anything really fresh and natural, like fresh-caught fish, but I love Thai cooking, and sashimi.
Favourite book / author "Judo Inside Out" by Geof Gleeson, "Chocolat" by Joanne Harris or "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller.
Desert Island Disc What a daft question. Right now probably "China Girl" by Bowie, or "Anarchy.." by the Pistols, but it changes by the hour. I'd ask Kirsty for an iPOD!
Favourite film / movie genre / director "Young Frankenstein" or "A Clockwork Orange", or "The Sting" or "Life of Brian"... maybe. I'm really into Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick.
Other external interests I like cooking, drinking, keeping fit, and try to keep abreast of the arts (in my spare time!). Currently taking a break from horseriding lessons. I have an ambition to write a book (don't we all?) and attended a non-fiction writing residential weekend. I was a Parent Governor at Edgworth School, and a member of Victoria Hall Am Dram Society, playing Charlie the court Chamberlain in the 2009 Panto, "Snow White". In May '09 I played Bloome in the classic farce, "Big Bad Mouse."