Praise for coach after 20 years of volunteering

Dave smiles at the camera as the light shines on his face. He is wearing a black leather jacket with a black zip-up jumper underneath which has four white marks on He has short grey hair and his hands are held behind his back.

Dave Woodsford has been running the Jersey Spartan Tuesday training sessions for two decades

Chris Craddock
BBC Jersey communities reporter

A Jersey coach has been praised by runners he has supported after 20 years of volunteering with the island's athletic club.

Dave Woodsford has been holding the Tuesday training sessions for Jersey Spartans since 2005.

Members team and practice interval training each week in St Helier.

The club marked Mr Woodsford anniversary with a special 5km (3.1miles) race along the waterfront.

Bernie is wearing a grey hoodie with a high-viz top underneath and has grey hair on the side of his head. Janine is looking at the camera as she wears a red zip-up top with a yellow running shirt underneath. She has short light brown hair and is wearing a brown knitted hat.

Bernie Arthur (left) and Janine Fossey (right) say Mr Woodsford has helped them over the decades

Janine Fossey and Bernie Arthur have both been going to Mr Woodsford's training sessions since they started two decades ago.

Ms Fosse said: "He's excellent and he makes the training fun as well as disciplined... it's been tremendously good for me.

"I hope he carries on because we all need him and he should be recognised for all the time he's given up, as he hasn't missed many weeks, which makes him superhuman for carrying on."

Mr Arthur said: "It's brilliant and he does a great job... I remember him beating me in races back in the day, but I'm beating him now."

Carolyn is wearing a red coat with a pink zip-up running top under it. She has a head torch strapped to her head and her long light brown hair is tied into a ponytail as she smiles at the camera. Joan is wearing black sports jacket with a Jersey Spartans logo on it and a blue running top under it. She has black gloved on and is holding a water bottle in one hand as she gives the thumbs up to the camera.

Carolyn O'Boyle (left) and Joan Inwood (right) say the coaching has really helped them

Carolyn O'Boyle and Joan Inwood, who have become members in the last couple of years, said Mr Woodsford's training had made a big difference to them.

Ms Inwood said: "He's amazing and so supportive... I wouldn't know where I'd be without Spartans or Dave."

Ms O'Boyle added: "He doesn't take training too seriously.

"Having someone like Dave [has] made it a lot easier and made me want to keep on coming back.

"His sessions have improved my times and seeing Dave at the end of some of the Jersey Spartan races cheering us on is really motivating."

Runners look at their watches as they get ready to start the race.

More than 60 runners took part in the special race that marked Mr Woodsford's 20 years of volunteering

Mr Woodsford confirmed he had no plans to stop training sessions with Jersey Spartans.

He said: "The time has flown by... I only thought it would last about six weeks when they first asked me to lead the Tuesday training sessions.

"It's grown and grown and it's for all abilities and people encourage each other, but it's not all about me because all I do is blow the whistle and yell instructions."

The Jersey Spartans interval sessions are held every Tuesday at the Freedom Tree for club members.

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