Get to know our coaching team

Mike Lisle

os_L23@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 2 (Sefton)

I have been a member of the club for over 25 years and have represented the club and GB Age-Group teams throughout this period. I have set up coaching sessions (Crosby Pool, Litherland Track and Crosby Open Water) and organise club events in Sefton including Swimruns, Junior Aquathlons and our annual joint event with RNLI Lifeguards. My favourite coaching activity is open water swimming and as well as my work with Mersey Tri, I’m employed by Sefton MBC and SwimTrek.

Alan Kirkham

alan@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 2 (Wirral) and Honorary President

I joined Mersey Tri in 1990, my first event being a Try a Triathlon event, organized by the club at Crosby. I continued to coach the children’s group until 2019.  I have coached cycle and run sessions for seniors and children although most of my coaching time has been spent on poolside. In between coaching I raced many triathlons from sprint up to IRONMAN.  I have been NW Region Triathlon Champion in the 50-55 age group and National Middle Distance Champion in the 60-65 age group. I am still coaching but haven’t raced since suffering a double bout of cancer in 2013-14.

Emer McParland

emer@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 2 (Wirral)

I have been a member of Mersey Tri since 2013, and have taken part in a couple of half IRONMAN distances and some Olympic and Sprint events and several cycling events.

I oversee the run sessions on the Wirral and contribute to the swim sessions at The Oval and Calday Pool. I love coaching fellow club athletes of all abilities, the atmosphere at the Mersey Tri sessions is really inspiring, and it’s great to watch members go on to achieve their own personal goals.

Eddie Berry

eddieberry@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 2 (Wirral)

Hiya!!! I am Eddie, I have been a Club member since 2012 and completed my first race that year. After participating in many races up to and including IRONMAN races I decided to give something back to this wonderful club and its fantastic members. I enjoy coaching on our Wirral based sessions and get a real enjoyment from watching our athletes getting better and achieving their goals!

Peter Heron

peter@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Group Coach (Sefton)

Club member since 2017. Competed in triathlon at all distances; Sprint to IRONMAN (Barcelona x 2 + Outlaw). Set-up the Formby Pool swim session, Formby multi-terrain trail run, and Chaffers Track coached run. Previous event lead for the internal club championships and the club Aquathlon championships [SEALMAN] when held at Formby. V60 age-group category. Living on the coast my favourite disciplines are open water sea swimming, and beach trail running. Love to inspire and motivate and always open to new thoughts and ideas.

Sonia Cartey

vice-chair@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 2 (Wirral)

Joined the club in 1996. Created the Wirral Triathlon which ran successfully between 2014-2019 in partnership with Epic Events and I'm proud to say it attracted a huge spectrum of competitors, from first timers to elites representing GB. I’ve represented Mersey Tri on the North West Regional Committee. My philosophy is one of inclusivity and I especially enjoy helping those who 'never thought they could' to overcome their fears and achieve their personal dreams. My first race was Port Erin Triathlon when I was 21. My favourite race and best achievement was IRONMAN Lanzarote because I'd always wanted to achieve this goal.

Paul Lewis

BTF Level 1 (Sefton)

awaiting bio

Owen Barden

rep_lv@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 1 (Liverpool)

I have been a member of Mersey Tri since 2014. My first triathlon was the Liverpool Triathlon in 2013 and I joined the club in preparation for my first Ironman, Ironman UK in 2015. I have now completed five as well as many events at the other distances. My favourites are Challenge Roth and London Marathon, which I have done three and four times respectively. I represented GB at the 2016 World Duathlon Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland. I also regularly compete in trail and ultra running events, as well as more unusual and challenging races like the Half X triathlon. I’ve been a regular at the Sefton Park Tuesday run group since 2013 and am getting more involved in leading those sessions.

Tash Pearce

secretary@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 1 (Liverpool)

I came to my first Mersey Tri run in 2020 after completing a 2-day charity cycle via Manchester-Nottingham-Birmingham and then struggling through Southam Sprint Tri on the cheapest bike I could find.

Safe to say all the club sessions will help you improve in leaps and bounds especially when you get to meet such friendly, helpful people (Hopefully) taking part in several standard Tri’s tin2021, and helping to form some local connections and partnerships for the club.

Andy Doran

andydoran@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Level 1 (Sefton)

I’ve been a member of Mersey Tri since 2013 and now a newly qualified coach. I’ve benefited from access to club sessions led by dedicated coaches and feel it is my turn to put something back into the club. My coaching philosophy is: Making the athlete feel as equally welcome to our sport as the next athlete; encouraging and assisting the athlete to continuously improve; making training fun and challenging

Paul Cubbins

cubbo_iceman@hotmail.com

BTF Level 1 (Wirral)

I’ve been a member of Mersey Tri since 2113, in that time I’ve taken part in 8 iron distance races, many 70.3’s, Olympic and Sprint. Alpe D’Huez has been the best race, I’ve also represented GB at Olympic distance in ETU in Lisbon in 2016. I’m level 1 coach but looking forward to going for next level soon.

Martin Pritchard-Howarth

martinph68@gmail.com

BTF Level 1 (Wirral)

I've been a member of this fantastic club since 2005 and triathlon has been good to me. Over the subsequent years, I've completed all the distances, predominantly IRONMAN but I'm always seeking new challenges within the multi-sport arena. I believe that sport should be fun, friendly and inclusive. I took up coaching to try to repay some of the debts owed to the incredible coaches that have inspired me to enjoy triathlon whilst striving to be the best you can be. Hopefully I can encourage fellow club members to get as much enjoyment from the sport as I have been fortunate enough to.

Dave Brunton

dave@merseytri.org.uk

ASA Level 1 swimming coach (Wirral)

I’ve been a member of the club for close to 20 years, as a some-time triathlete,  committee member, organiser of 'Velo et Course' races. Part of the coaching team in Wirral, I coach swimming as an ASA Level 1 swimming teacher. I particularly enjoy coaching the more technical and intricate aspects of swimming, as good technique is the key to improving efficiency and, ultimately, swim speed.

Nikki Holden-Trust

ASA Swimming Coach (Liverpool)

Bio awaited

Barry Williams

rep_lv@merseytri.org.uk

ASA Level 2 swimming coach, and BTF Community Activator (Sefton)

I have been a member of the club since 2015. My favourite thing about the club is the community spirit that is at the heart of the club

My favourite race has to be either competing for Team GB in Russia and coming 9th in the European Sprint Distance Championships or competing at IRONMAN UK with so many members of the club, it was a fun day out!

Moyna O’Neill

BTF Community Activator (Sefton)

awaiting bio

Hold Space….

Lorna Harper

web@merseytri.org.uk

BTF Community Activator (Sefton)

I have been a member of MT since 2014 and I’m a regular at the Tuesday night Sefton Park sessions. My favourite race I have competed in so far is the Sundowner middle distance triathlon in Allerthorpe.

I am hoping to compete in my first full IRONMAN in Frankfurt in 2021.

Collette Chapman

BTF Community Activator (Wirral)

I joined Mersey Tri in 2012 after entering my first sprint triathlon without a bike or the the ability to swim front crawl My best achievement was traveling to Vichy with a great group of friends from Mersey Tri and completing my first IRONMAN. I became an activator last year and can’t wait for club sessions to be back up & running so I can give support to the coaches.

Lisa Lumb

BTF Community Activator (Wirral)

I have been a member of Mersey Tri since 2012.

As an Activator I will use my knowledge, energy and personal drive to motivate a lead session.

My best achievement to date is competing at Vichy 70.3.

Jason Ennis

BTF Community Activator (Sefton)

awaiting bio..

Shona Moore

BTF Community Activator (Liverpool)

awaiting bio..

Al Smithson

BTF Community Activator (Liverpool)

awaiting bio

Laura Ferguson

BTF Community Activator (Liverpool)

Joining in 2017. Working as a nurse gives me passion about health and fitness as well as creating a great support network for those in Mersey Tri. In 2019 I was the voted the second most improved in the club. I hope in 2021 I am able to complete my first standard distance triathlon inspiring others to join.