COACHES

BOB & ALISON COOPER - DIRECTORS
Bob & Alison have over 20 years coaching experience and are well known and respected throughout the world of Acrobatics. They have worked for British Gymnastics as National Tumbling and Acrobatic Coaches taking teams to World and European Championships and have produced many Senior & Junior World Champions for Spelthorne and Great Britain. They hold 5 National titles each (Bob in Mixed Pairs and Alison in Women's Pairs) and as former gymnasts won medals at World and European Championships. Both Bob & Alison are International Performance Coaches and are holders of the British Gymnastics Master of Sport and British Gymnastics Master Coach Awards. More recently they have assisted coaching the USA National Team whilst spending time abroad.

JULI COWLER
Juli is the Club Manager as well as a Level 3 Pre-School Coach which she has been teaching for 7 years. Juli’s ability to work with pre-school children is second to none and many of the gymnasts at Spelthorne started with Juli’s classes. Juli is also qualified as a Level 2 General Coach, a Level 1 Assistant Artistic Coach, and has also taken a Level 1 Judging Course.  She has 5 children, 3 of which have achieved International Success in the sport and 2 which are showing the ability to in the future.

LEIGHANNE COWLER
Leighanne was a member of 'Spelbound' and has been training as a gymnast since she was 2 years old! She was the 2009 Junior British Champion in Women's Groups and was part of the Acrobatic Team representing Great Britain at the European Championships in October 2009 and the World Championships in July 2010. Leighanne began coaching as an assistant at the very young age of 12 and has gained experience working at many different Clubs. She is a Level 2 Coach in Acrobatics, currently completing her Level 3. She is also a Level 2 Coach in Pre-School Gymnastics and Cheerleading, and she has a First Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science. Leighanne coaches over half of the current 700 gymnasts in the club.

TRACY AXTEN
Tracy has been working at Spelthorne for the past 5 years and is a Level 2 Coach in Acrobatics. Tracy coaches the Development Squads where she has tremendous knowledge, energy and enthusiasm and an excellent ability to work with children of all ages.

SHARON STURT
Sharon started coaching after training as an artistic gymnast for 8 years. She coached for 5 years and then took some time out to have her 2 children (both of whom have won World Medals in Acrobatic Gymnastics for Spelthorne). Sharon returned to coaching about 8 years ago and is now a Level 2 Coach and has experience in General, Artistic and Acrobatic Gymnastics.

KERI BURGESS
Keri trained as an artistic gymnast for 10 years before she got married and had 5 children. She is a Level 3 Pre-School Coach and a Level 1 Assistant Artistic Coach. Keri has tremendous patience and enjoys working with children of all ages especially teaching the Pre-School and General Classes.

SOFIA ANGELOVA - CHOREOGRAPHER
Sofi is well known for being one of the best Choreographers in the world for Acrobatic Gymnastics. She is professional in her work and produces some of the most artistic and unusual routines. She has many years experience not only in Acrobatics but also with Rhythmic and Artistic Gymnastics as well as Figure Skating.

Sofi worked as Choreographer to the Bulgarian National Team from 1985-2000 and now works independently for their National Team and at CSKA Sports School in Sofia. Alongside this she works with the Bulgarian Figure Skating Team.

Sofi has worked with Spelthorne Gymnastics since 1988 and has produced many World Medal winning routines. We are very fortunate to have her working regularly with our new groups of gymnasts.

ELLIE COOPER
Ellie is a former International performer in women's group and women's pairs. She placed 2nd in the World Junior Acrobatics Championships in 2004 and 2006 and was British Junior Champion and British Schools Champion. Ellie trained in dance at Laines Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey and spent one year at the Orange County High School of the Arts in Los Angeles, California studying commercial dance. She was also a member of the Cheerleading and Dance Team at Capistrano Valley High School, Orange County, California and a member of 'Orange Crush' cheerleading team where she competed at the California State Championships at Universal Studios.

FIONA MEANEY
Fiona began coaching gymnastics when she was 15 years old. She taught artistic gymnastics for 15 years as well as pre-school and primary school gymnastics and trampolining, before having her three children and working in childcare. She is a Level 2 Artistic Coach and a Level 1 Assistant Trampolining Coach. She has a B.A. (Hons) in Sports Science, specialising in performance pyschology.

OLIVER PARSONS
Oli was an elite tumbler at Spelthorne for many years. In 2002, at the age of 10, he represented Great Britain at the World Age Games in Hanover, Germany. He is currently at college studying for a National Sports BTEC qualification, has completed a Level 1 Sports Leaders course and is now working towards the Level 2. He is also studying Higher Sports Injuries and has attained a General Sport and Leisure First Aid qualification. Oli is a Level 1 Tumbling Coach and is currently coaching our young tumbling team.

KIM HUNTER
Kim was a highly successful gymnast at Spelthorne for seven years, specialising in Mixed Pairs.  She was Junior World Champion in 2008, came 2nd at the European Championships in Portugal in 2009, and 2nd in the World Championships in Poland in 2010.  Kim is now using her wealth of experience to coach our boys' squad.

HELEN CRIPPS
Helen has been coaching gymnastics for 10 years and took her first qualification aged just 12. She was an acro and tumbling gymnast herself before moving on to coaching and judging. She is a Level 2 Coach in Acrobatics, soon to be taking Level 3, and a Club Judge. She also has qualifications in first aid, safeguarding and child protection, a Level 3 OCR Nationals Certificate in Health and Social Care and Early Years, and has a knowledge of basic sign language. Helen is one of our Welfare Officers.

KIM SEWELL
Kim is a Level 1 Coach in Acrobatics and is currently working with our recreational and pre-advanced gymnasts. She has tremendous energy and enthusiasm and takes the time to listen to the children she coaches. She has qualifications in first aid and child protection, and a Distinction in health and social care.